Project Spotlight: A Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets

November 1, 2023

Hi! My name is Abby from Making It With Abby. I am a self-taught DIYer who loves to learn new things and take on all sorts of different projects. I find so much joy in creating with my own two hands and teaching others how they can do it too! As a new homeowner, I started building furniture, but it wasn’t until 7 years later that I started taking on other types of home projects, which is when Making It With Abby was born!

When we built our second home 7 years ago, I didn’t have a strong design sense or style, so when my builder suggested a dark gray/brown stain for our kitchen island, I agreed. I never really liked it and especially disliked how much dirt it showed. I recently renovated our dining area, and it left our island looking out of place. I started thinking about painting it to better fit the space and be a color I actually love.

I think a lot of people are in the same boat and don’t like the color of their cabinets, or their cabinets just need a fresh coat of paint. It may seem daunting to think about painting your kitchen cabinets or an island, but it is actually very simple. Best of all, painting your cabinets can breathe new life into your kitchen, giving it a fresh and updated look. In this tutorial, I’ll take you through the entire process using KILZ 3^® PREMIUM Primer, ensuring a durable and beautiful finish that will stand up to the demands of a high-traffic kitchen. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Prepare Your Cabinets

The first step in this cabinet transformation journey is preparation. To do this, you’ll need to:

• Remove Decorative Hardware: Begin by taking off all the hardware from your cabinets. Place screws, hinges, and other small parts in a secure place to ensure you don’t lose any.

• Remove Cabinet Doors: Carefully remove the cabinet doors so you have easy access to the cabinet frames for painting. I also removed the hinges where it was blocking areas that needed to be painted, but the other hinges just needed to be covered with painter’s tape.

Step 2: Clean and Degrease

Before applying any primer or paint, it’s important to clean your cabinets thoroughly to remove dirt and grease buildup. Use a degreaser to cut through kitchen grime, ensuring a clean surface for the products.

Step 3: Scuff Sand the Cabinets

To improve paint adhesion, lightly scuff sand the cabinet surfaces. This step removes any sheen and provides a better grip for the primer. I recommend using 150 or 180 grit sandpaper.

Step 4: Wipe Down the Cabinets

After sanding, wipe down the cabinets with a damp cloth to remove any dust and residue from sanding. A clean surface is essential for a smooth finish.

Step 5: Primer Application

Priming is a crucial step in cabinet painting, especially in a high-traffic area like a kitchen.  It makes all the difference between a job done and a job done correctly. I selected KILZ 3^® PREMIUM Primer because it provides excellent adhesion to prevent any paint chipping or peeling in the future, and the mildew-resistant coating prevents any mildew growth in moisture-prone areas like a kitchen. There is nothing worse than fixing your old mistake; using a primer helps ensure that this job is done right the first time. KILZ 3^® PREMIUM Primer was also the best choice for my project because it provides coverage for medium-to-heavy stains, which will ensure that the current dark color of my island doesn’t bleed through the paint.

Apply a uniform coat of KILZ 3^® PREMIUM Primer to your cabinet frames and doors. The thicker formula fills in imperfections in the wood grain of your cabinets, creating a smooth surface for paint application.

I used a brush to get into corners and crevices and a mini foam roller on the rest of the surface and to cover any visible brush strokes.  I find a mini foam roller gives the best and smoothest finish when painting cabinets or furniture without the use of a paint sprayer.  I decided to use my paint sprayer on the cabinet doors, but you can definitely use a brush and roller for the doors as well.

Using a paint sprayer may seem intimidating, but it’s really quite easy to use. I like to use an airless sprayer, and it really is as simple as pulling the trigger and moving in a slow, even motion. I have used a few different kinds of sprayers at all different price points, and all have been easy to use and have given an impeccable finish.

Step 6: Sand and Wipe Down Again

KILZ 3^® PREMIUM Primer is ready for paint in just one hour. After the primer has dried, lightly sand the surfaces once more to ensure a smooth finish. Be sure to remove any dust with a tack cloth or damp cloth.

Step 7: Paint Your Cabinets

For the paint, I used Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines^® Cabinetry and Furniture Paint. Choose a color that suits your kitchen’s style. There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from in the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines^® Paint line, but I decided on the color Anatolian, a perfect warm tan with gray undertones. I love this line of paint because of the perfectly curated color options and the superior durability and stain resistance. Their cabinetry and furniture paint offers superior flow and self-leveling which is crucial when painting cabinets to get a smooth and sleek finish.

Apply the paint in even, thin coats to achieve a sleek and professional finish. Be sure to allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.  Once again, I used a brush for corners and crevices and then went over the surfaces with a mini foam roller.

Step 8: Sand and Wipe Down Between Coats

Between coats of paint, lightly sand the surfaces again and remove any dust with a tack cloth or damp rag. This step ensures a flawless finish.

Step 9: Hardware Upgrade

After painting the cabinets, you might want to also update the hardware for a complete transformation. I used KILZ^® ORIGINAL Aerosol to prime the metal hardware and then BEHR PREMIUM™ Metallic Spray Paint to give it a fresh, new look. This small change can make a significant impact on the overall look of your kitchen.

Step 10: Reinstall Hardware and Cabinet Doors

Once everything is dry, reinstall the hardware onto your newly painted cabinet doors, and then reinstall the doors to the cabinet frames. Painting your kitchen cabinets can be a rewarding DIY project that transforms your kitchen’s appearance. By following these steps and using KILZ 3^® PREMIUM Primer and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines^® Cabinetry and Furniture Paint, you’ll achieve a beautiful, durable finish that will make your kitchen feel like new. Enjoy your freshly updated space!

*This post is a paid partnership with Making It With Abby.

Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.