how to paint kitchen cabinets

The right color in the kitchen can change the whole look but doing it the right way will improve versus making it look worse. Follow these steps to do it the right way.

1. Make sure you have flat surfaces to paint and enough spaces to dry the cabinets. A flat painting surface is the key to refinishing kitchen cabinets. Remove the hardware, drawers and all cabinet doors. Make sure you have enough space so you dry all the doors as well as having enough room to work.
2. Prepping is vital. Make sure the cabinets and doors are clean and dry. Use a damp sponge to wipe them clean with grease remover and let everything dry all the way. After cleaning, it’s time to roughen things up! Most cabinet finishes are too smooth or glossy to reprime and repaint, so using a medium sandpaper (we like 100- to 150-grit), sand down your surfaces a little—not enough to sand away the current finish entirely, but enough to give the primer a little more grit to stick to. Wipe away any dust with a slightly damp cloth, then let dry.
3. Protect your surroundings by taping a drop cloth over the surrounding work area and countertops.
4. Knowing your surface is very important when it’s time to prime your cabinets before painting. If you’re painting wood cabinets, use a primer that has great adhesion and also can be sanded and levels well, ensuring a smooth finish and helping to mask minor imperfections.  If you’re painting laminate cabinets, use an all purpose primer. Do not use lacquer-based primers, as they can impede how some paints adheres to the surface of the cabinets.  After you’re done, take a break: the primer must dry at least 24 hours before moving on to Step 5.  Side note: Painting cabinet doors a darker color? Use a tinted primer as your base.
5. Let the primer dry completely for at least 24 hours in a well ventilated area then sand again. Using a fine 220-grit paper or sanding block, sand all surfaces lightly, focusing especially on areas that may have drips or pools (i.e.: inside corners and anywhere two flat areas meet). Make sure the surface is as even as possible—this ensures your paint will go on smoothly. Wipe away any dust with a slightly damp cloth, then let dry.
6. Time to paint the first coat. Using a premium nylon/polyester brush, apply the first coat of paint. Painting cabinet doors and similar large areas will go faster if you use a foam or microfiber paint roller instead of a brush. Let your first coat of paint dry completely before moving on.
7. Repeat Step 5. Sand a third and final time with 220-grit sandpaper.
8. Repeat Step 6. A second coat of paint gives you complete coverage and allows the finish to cure evenly. 
9. The longer the paint dries, the more durable its finish will be, and the less likely it will stick during reinstallation. Two or three days is best but at minimum is 24 hours. Once everything is fully dry, you can begin replacing the hardware in your repainted cabinets and returning them to your newly refreshed kitchen.

If you don't want the hassle of doing it yourself.  Give us a call, we are your Amarillo painters, and we will get job done right and on time guaranteed.