Decorating a kitchen can be expensive and a time consuming job. If you’re decorating on a budget, one of the fastest ways to transform the space is painting the kitchen cabinets. While this does take a little time and effort, a kitchen can be made to look new again in a weekend. However, when you think about all the sanding and priming, it starts to sound like the perfect job to put off, right? No worries, you can learn how to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding! Check out how these bloggers makeover their kitchens with just paint. And, a few little tricks.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding
We love how easy they made it over at ‘Sustain My Craft Habit‘ to paint kitchen cabinets, complete with the exact products they used. (They even follow up in their comments section on how the paint has held up!) This is such a pretty two tone look, and light and airy too. Easy to follow instructions with step by step photos.
‘Jenna Kate at Home‘ found a really specific product that helps latex paint bond to glossy surfaces, and she used it to repaint her kitchen cabinets. They look so professionally done! Go check out what it is, and where to get it!
‘Chris Loves Julia‘ has a full lesson on how to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding, and this is how they turned out! Go check out the before and after of this kitchen, it really is amazing, the transformation you can do with just paint.
Chalk Paint Kitchen Cabinets
Another method for painting kitchen cabinets without sanding, is to use chalk paint, or milk paint. These paints bond to a surface without much prep, but they do require a sealing product to make them last. Check out these chalk paint kitchen cabinet tutorials!
‘Stacy Ling‘ has both a tutorial on using chalk paint, and a complete FAQ so that you get all your questions answered. And this cottage style kitchen is proof that you can do this, and make it look gorgeous!
If you want to take a slightly different approach to painting kitchen cabinets, try milk paint. Similar to chalk paint, it provides a durable finish. See how ‘Designing Vibes‘ used milk paint on their kitchen island, and how it stacked up to their previously done professionally painted cabinets.
This is how chalk paint kitchen cabinets look using a two tone design. ‘The Kitchn‘ painted their whole kitchen with it! Lots of tips on using it (and why to use it!) Such a pretty look!
Other options to dress up your kitchen cabinets are adding molding to the top edge of the cabinets, or changing out the cabinet hardware. Both can be found at home improvement centers and are easy to install.
Also consider removing the door of one cabinet and creating open shelving. Paint the inside of this cabinet a different, but coordinating color to set off your best dishes and collectible.
With a little bit of elbow grease, any kitchen can be transformed with paint! Learn how to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding, instead of replacing them can save you thousands of dollars. (And save tons of sweat, blood and tears!) We think you will want to check out our posts on Money Saving DIY Cabinets, DIY Kitchen Backsplash Ideas (That Go Right Over Old Tile!) and How to Make a DIY Kitchen Island over at OhMeOhMy! You may also be interested in our post on DIY Outdoor Kitchens & Outdoor Grill Stations over at TGG!
I just wanted to say thank you to thebudgetdecorator.com. I’ve been receiving it in my email box for several years now and I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you. I’ve just always taken it for granted that it would be there. I do appreciate being able to look at new and refreshing ideas, great projects, and beautiful photos of all styles in every room of the home. This website has provided all of this for me, and I love knowing that everything is created with a budget in mind. So thank you very much Mrs. Kathy Woodard for making this possible! God bless you!
Hi Gloria! Thank you so much for your kind words… It really means a lot to me when I hear from readers who have been with me a long time… and it always feels good to know all our hard work is helpful! Thank you again for taking the time to write such a kind worded note! -Kathy
Help! My daughter needs help re modeling her kitchen. She lives in southern calif. she needs new cabinets cheap. She doesn’t like ikea cabinets. So any ideas?
Re-Store (Habitat For Humanity) often gets cabinets in great condition that simply need repainting! Hopefully there is one in her area!
Just wondering if you can recommend the best product to use for cleaning & degreasing older cabinets?
If you are repainting, TSP is the best degreaser for that…its found in (usually) powder form in the painting section…
We have a birch colored veneer strip that runs down the middle of the doors (between where the doors close)on our cabinets… We are repainting white and are ordering if we can paint that veneer strip or leave it?
Without seeing it its tough to say, but if the birch is part of the base of the cabinets, and you are repainting the doors white, we suggest painting the whole cabinet white…
Have you ever used chalk board paint for cabinets? I would like to re do my cabinets in a primitive black.
Oh I love the Shabby Chic inspired kitchen! I painted my cabinets a few years ago but it’s time to paint them again. I am trying to figure out what color to do them in. I am in a bit of a Pink frame of mind these days but I think my husband would run away from home if I painted them pink! I am thinking light grey or white.
I’d love to paint the cabinets in my kitchen, but they are fiberboard with paper wood look. The doors are wood, but not the frames and the corner pieces are plastic. I was told I’d have to resurface all the frames because the paper will not hold the paint, it will just curl up and fall off. It looked nice for a couple of years, but is looking very used now. Very cheaply done. HELP!
Hi Jilly… It sound like up might have to reface your cabinets… Have you thought of looking at Habitat for Humanity Restore, and finding outdated, but wood,cabinets to replace yours, then give them a good refinish paint job? Might be a good option for you if you have someone who can do that kind of installation. otherwise, fiberboard is tough to refinish. Anyone have a creative idea for her?
A lot of the DIY instructions I’ve found for doing this includes using a Deglosser on the cabinet instead of sanding (including the “This Old House” site, which I love), but the priming must occur within an hour of using the deglosser. Plus, I really don’t want to use deglosser if possible as it is pretty toxic/fumey. It does have you sand in between coats for a smooth finish, too, which however I go about this I will do.
I imagine sanding does the same thing as using a deglosser, so my question really about that. How well does the paint stand up to just a sanding vs. using a deglosser. Have you see any chipping, or peeling? I hope, like I’m sure we all do, that it will stand up to time, and heavy use.
Thanks! :)
My feeling is that sanding the old fashioned way is probably going to get you a longer lasting finish… Anyone disagree?
I love this site! I’m considering repainting my kitchen cabinets, they are knotty pine, although the previous owner painted them with a high gloss white…Will I need to do prep work before I paint them? We live in a log cabin, and I would like to stay “rustic”…any ideas on colors that won’t make it seem smaller and too dark? I like greens and whites shades, my accent. Color is orange and black, all the walls are knotty pine with an orange shellac…thank you
You will have to sand or use liquid sandpaper on gloss cabinets… try considering gray… it’s a modern farmhouse color that looks great with rustic, but still updated!
Can I paint laminate cabinets?
Yes! Google “how to paint laminate”! The key is the primer!
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