Here's How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets, Including Laminate

Painting kitchen cabinets doesn’t have to be daunting. While it does require a lot of preparation, organization, and a bit of patience, it’s definitely possible to do it yourself. If you're wondering how to paint kitchen cabinets without hiring a professional, our step-by-step guide below takes the guesswork out of giving your kitchen the makeover you’ve always dreamed of. Here, we'll tell you how to prep and paint kitchen cabinets, how to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding, and how to paint laminate kitchen cabinets—plus the materials you'll need for all projects. And if you need paint brand and paint color advice, make sure to check out the best paint brands and the best neutral paint colors for some inspiration.

Here's What You Need to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Plastic Sheeting

$25 at Home Depot

Drop Cloth

$5 at Home Depot

Painter's Tape

$10 at Lowe's$10 at tigerdirect.com

Scrub Sponge

$23 at Amazon$29 at Walmart

All Purpose Cleaner

$6 at Staples

Drill

Now 18% Off

$49 at AmazonShop at Walmart$360 at blackanddecker.com

Cup Hooks

$2 at Lowe's

Sawhorse

$79 at Amazon$86 at Walmart$60 at farmandfleet.com

2x4 Planks

$6 at Lowe's

Primer

$30 at Home Depot

Cabinet Enamel Paint

$26 at Lowe's

Pro Grade Paintbrushes

Now 24% Off

$7 at Amazon

Paint Roller

$26 at Lowe's

Sander

$79 at Lowe's

Liquid Deglosser

$6 at Home Depot

Laminate Paint

$45 at Home Depot

How to Prep and Paint Kitchen Cabinets

1. Cover countertops and backsplash with plastic sheeting with painter’s tape.
2. Prep cabinets. Before removing hardware, scrub all cabinets with a grease-cutting cleaner and scrubbing sponge.
3. On the inside of each cabinet door, label its placement to make it easy to rehang after painting. Remove from hinges and take off all hardware.
4. Remove shelves and wipe out cabinet interiors.
5. Screw cup hooks into the top of each cabinet door. This will offer an easy way to dry doors later on.
6. Lay out cabinet doors on a sawhorse with 2x4 planks on top. Prime cabinet backs. Let dry to touch, then turn over and prime fronts. While waiting to dry, prime cabinet boxes and shelving.
7. When cabinet fronts are dry to touch, hang them from cup hooks to dry completely.
8. Once primer has dried, use a random-orbit sander and medium-grit sandpaper to smooth out brush strokes.
9. Using a new paintbrush, repeat priming process with cabinet enamel paint—paint backs, let dry to touch, and flip to paint fronts. Paint cabinet boxes and shelving in the meantime.
10. When cabinet fronts are dry to touch, hang again on cup hooks. Dry for two hours.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 as needed until desired coverage is reached, then let dry for one or two days to let cure.
12. Reinstall cabinet doors to cabinet boxes. Reinstall or attach new hardware.

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding

1. Cover countertops and backsplash with plastic sheeting with painter’s tape.
2. Prep cabinets. Before removing hardware, scrub all cabinets with a grease-cutting cleaner and scrubbing sponge.
3. Apply liquid deglosser to all surfaces of cabinetry: Pour a small amount onto a soft cloth, then wipe in circular motions.
4. On the inside of each cabinet door, label its placement to make it easy to rehang after painting.
5. Remove from hinges and take off all hardware. Remove shelves and wipe out cabinet interiors.
6. Screw cup hooks into the top of each cabinet door. This will offer an easy way to dry doors later on.
7. Lay out cabinet doors on a sawhorse with 2x4 planks on top. Using a new paintbrush, repeat priming process with cabinet enamel paint—paint backs, let dry to touch, and flip to paint fronts. Paint cabinet boxes and shelving in the meantime.
8. When cabinet fronts are dry to touch, hang again on cup hooks. Dry for two hours.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 as needed until desired coverage is reached, then let dry for one or two days to let cure.
10. Reinstall cabinet doors to cabinet boxes. Reinstall or attach new hardware.

How to Paint Laminate Kitchen Cabinets

1. Cover countertops and backsplash with plastic sheeting with painter’s tape.
2. Prep cabinets. Before removing hardware, scrub all cabinets with a grease-cutting cleaner and scrubbing sponge.
3. On the inside of each cabinet door, label its placement to make it easy to rehang after painting. Remove from hinges and take off all hardware.
4. Remove shelves and wipe out cabinet interiors.
5. Screw cup hooks into the top of each cabinet door. This will offer an easy way to dry doors later on.
6. Lay out cabinet doors on a sawhorse with 2x4 planks on top. Use a random-orbit sander and medium-grit sandpaper to sand all surfaces on front and backs of doors.
7. Prime cabinet backs. Let dry to touch, then turn over and prime fronts. While waiting to dry, prime cabinet boxes and shelving.
8. When cabinet fronts are dry to touch, hang them from cup hooks to dry completely.
9. Once primer has dried, sand again to smooth out brush strokes.
10. Using a new paintbrush, repeat priming process with paint specially-formulated for laminate surfaces (we like Cabinet Rescue). Paint backs, let dry to touch, and flip to paint fronts. Paint cabinet boxes and shelving in the meantime.
11. When cabinet fronts are dry to touch, hang again on cup hooks. Dry for two hours.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 as needed until desired coverage is reached, then let dry for one or two days to let cure.
13. Reinstall cabinet doors to cabinet boxes. Reinstall or attach new hardware.