How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the highest-impact renovations you can do without tearing anything out. For the cost of materials and a weekend of work, you get a completely transformed kitchen—new color, new finish, new life. The catch is that cabinet paint fails when you skip prep or use the wrong products. Cabinets take abuse: steam, grease, repeated opening and closing, sunlight. Your paint has to stick permanently and handle that wear. Done right, a painted cabinet finish lasts 7–10 years. Done wrong, it chips and peels within a year.

1. Photograph and Label Everything. Take a photo of your cabinet layout before you start. Unscrew hinges and remove all doors, labeling the back of each one with painter's tape so you know where it goes. Remove knobs, pulls, and any other hardware—throw them in a bag and set them aside. Leave the cabinet boxes in place.
2. Strip Every Surface of Grease. Wipe down every door, drawer front, and cabinet face with a degreaser or TSP (trisodium phosphate) solution and a lint-free cloth. Grease and grime block primer adhesion. Pay special attention to edges and corners where dust accumulates. Rinse with clean water and let dry completely—at least 2 hours, or overnight if you have time.
3. Dull the Gloss, Not the Wood. Use 120-grit sandpaper on a sanding block or orbital sander to dull the finish on all cabinet doors and frames. You're not trying to strip the paint—just break the gloss so primer grips. Sand in the direction of the wood grain when you can. Wipe away all dust with a tack cloth or damp rag. Let dry.
4. Lock in Permanent Adhesion. Apply bonding primer (also called adhesion primer) to all cabinet doors and frames with a high-quality brush or foam roller. One coat is usually enough if coverage is solid. Work in thin, even strokes and avoid puddles. Let primer dry per the can's timeline—typically 1–2 hours.
5. Apply Thin, Even Coats. Use cabinet-grade paint (semi-gloss or satin finish) and apply it with a quality brush or foam roller, working in thin, even coats. Paint the doors first, then move to the cabinet boxes. Avoid overworking the paint—let it level on its own. Dry time is usually 2–4 hours before a light sand and second coat.
6. Sand and Seal with Second Coat. Once the first coat is dry, use 220-grit sandpaper to lightly scuff the surface and remove any drips or dust nibs. Wipe clean with a tack cloth. Apply your second coat of paint the same way as the first. This coat seals the finish and provides durability. Let dry fully—at least 8 hours, ideally overnight.
7. Hang Doors and Test Smoothness. Once paint is fully cured (wait 24 hours), reattach doors using your labels as a guide. Screw hinges back in place. Install new hardware or the original hardware you removed. Open and close each door smoothly to make sure nothing binds. Adjust hinges if needed.
8. Wait for Full Cure Before Use. Dispose of used paint materials properly. Wash your brushes and rollers or toss disposable ones. Wipe down your workspace. Don't load cabinets heavily or expose them to moisture for at least 2–3 days while the paint fully cures. Avoid slamming doors.