How to paint kitchen cabinets so the finish lasts

Should you test for lead paint before painting cabinets?

If your home was built before 1978, check for lead before you sand anything. The EPA explains that the federal government banned consumer use of lead-based paint in 1978, that homes built before then are more likely to contain it, and that the older the home, the more likely lead-based paint is present. Sanding and scraping painted surfaces can create hazardous lead dust and chips, and the EPA warns that even a small amount of that dust can poison a child.

For pre-1978 homes, the EPA recommends hiring a certified lead inspector or risk assessor to test the surfaces you plan to work on, and it recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor for the job. If you cannot find out when your home was built, the agency says it is safest to assume the area contains lead-based paint. The federal Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule generally does not apply to homeowners working in their own homes, and it does apply if you rent out all or part of the home, run a child care center there, or renovate homes to sell for profit. If you do the work yourself, the EPA asks you to follow its lead-safe practices: seal off the work area with plastic sheeting, mist surfaces before sanding, use wet-dry sandpaper or a sanding sponge, wear a disposable N-100 respirator, clean up with a HEPA vacuum, and wash your hands and face each time you stop working. The same guidance asks you to remove food and household items from the work area, cover the floor with plastic, keep eating and drinking out of the space, wash work clothes separately from the family laundry, and clean the area at the end of every day.

How do you ventilate the kitchen while you paint?

Paints and many degreasing products contain organic solvents that release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. The EPA notes that levels of several organic compounds average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors, and that some of these compounds can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and nausea. During and for several hours after some activities, such as paint stripping, the agency says levels may reach 1,000 times background outdoor levels. Its advice is to increase ventilation when using products that emit VOCs, meet or exceed the precautions on the label, and provide plenty of fresh air, for example by using an exhaust fan or opening windows when a label calls for a well-ventilated area.

The EPA also suggests buying only as much paint as you will use soon and taking leftovers to a household hazardous waste collection when your community offers one. One point needs planning in older homes: the EPA's lead-safe setup for work involving lead-based paint calls for closing windows in the work area and turning off forced-air heating and cooling while you work. If testing shows lead, follow the lead-safe guidance for that stage of the job, or hand it to a certified contractor.

Step 1: Remove the doors, drawers, and hardware

Flat surfaces are much easier to paint well, so the manufacturer Benjamin Moore starts its cabinet instructions by removing every door and drawer along with the hinges, knobs, and pulls. Then choose a work area with enough room to lay the pieces out and leave them to dry for an extended period.

Protect the kitchen before you move on to cleaning. Benjamin Moore suggests taping a drop cloth or another protective cover over the countertops and the surrounding work area while you paint. If you are also planning new wall colors, our paint color guides can help you choose shades for the walls and cabinets together.

Step 2: Clean, degrease, and sand the surfaces

Sherwin-Williams describes a properly prepared surface as clean, solid, and dry, and Benjamin Moore recommends wiping the cabinets and doors with a gentle grease remover and a damp sponge, then letting them dry thoroughly. For any previously painted surface, Sherwin-Williams advises that you wash off dirt, grease, soap, and oil buildup with the appropriate cleaner, rinse thoroughly, remove any loose paint, and fill holes and cracks with a patching compound that you sand smooth once it dries.

Most cabinet finishes are too smooth or glossy for primer to hold well. Benjamin Moore suggests sanding with medium-grit sandpaper, in the 100- to 150-grit range, just enough to rough up the surface without removing the existing finish, and Sherwin-Williams advises lightly sanding glossy surfaces to a dull finish or using an abrasive cleanser. Wipe away the dust with a slightly damp cloth or a tack cloth and let the surfaces dry. In a pre-1978 home, complete this step only after testing, or use the EPA's lead-safe practices described above.

Which primer and paint should you use on kitchen cabinets?

Benjamin Moore describes a high-quality primer as the foundation of a successful paint job and uses an acrylic primer with strong adhesion to wood in its cabinet instructions. Sherwin-Williams recommends priming all bare wood and patched areas, and priming every bare spot before the topcoat so primed and unprimed areas do not end up looking different. For bare wood, it suggests finishing with an easy-to-clean latex semi-gloss or gloss topcoat.

Primer and paint also need to work together, and Benjamin Moore warns against a lacquer-based primer under its cabinet paint because it can interfere with adhesion, so read both labels and use the pairing each manufacturer recommends. Sherwin-Williams suggests testing your products first by preparing, priming, and painting a spot that will not show, waiting the drying time on the label, and checking for adhesion problems before you paint the whole kitchen.

Step 3: Prime and paint in thin coats

These steps follow Benjamin Moore's published sequence, and the labels on your own primer and paint give the drying and recoat times to respect.

1. Apply the primer and let it dry for at least 1 hour in a well-ventilated area.
2. Sand lightly with 220-grit sandpaper or a sanding block without cutting through the primer, paying attention to drips in inside corners, then wipe off the dust.
3. Apply the first coat of paint with a microfiber roller on flat areas and a nylon and polyester brush on the edges, then let it dry completely.
4. Sand again with 220-grit paper to remove small imperfections, taking care not to remove the first coat, and wipe away the dust.
5. Apply a second coat for complete coverage and an even cure.

For more projects of this kind, browse our renovation and DIY guides.

How long should painted cabinets dry before you rehang them?

Drying time has a direct effect on how well the finish holds up, and Benjamin Moore explains that the longer the paint dries, the more durable the finish becomes and the less likely the doors are to stick when you reinstall them. The company recommends letting the cabinets dry in a well-ventilated area for at least 24 hours, and says two or three days is even better. Your paint label may list its own drying, recoat, and cure times, and those should take priority for the product you use.

Once the paint has dried, reattach the hardware, rehang the doors, and return the drawers. If you enjoyed this project and want to carry a color into the next room, our accent wall ideas offer a smaller place to start.