DecoArt Satin Enamel Cabinet Paint
In the past, if you wanted to paint cabinets or furniture, you had to strip, sand and generally kill yourself getting a good surface ready to paint on. Now, with DecoArt's Satin Enamel paints, you don't need to do any of that.
Once your cabinets are clean and dry, use a 100 or 150-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the cabinets. Cabinet paint won't adhere properly to a smooth or shiny surface. You don't need to completely remove the prior finish, just rough up the surface enough to give the primer something to stick to.
Wood cabinets are ideal for painting, but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted. Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. A gloss finish will make your cabinets sheen, but it may show a lot of dings or mistakes.
Whether you're starting with wood cabinets or dark paint, primer will create a barrier so your chosen paint color can shine. If the surface you're starting with is smooth and shiny, primer can also generate some traction so the paint will stick. Just be sure to use the right primer for the cabinets you're painting.
Can You Paint Over Cabinets Without Sanding? Skipping the sanding step is OK if you're making a change from one newly painted surface to another, or painting raw, unvarnished wood cabinets.
Proper cleaning, deglossing, and using good-quality cabinet paint are key to painting cabinets without sanding. What happens if you don't sand cabinets before painting? If you don't sand cabinets before painting, at worst the paint will chip or peel. At best, the paint will remain solid and durable for years.
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer
This is a great overall water-based primer that seals uniformly and will stick to surfaces without sanding.
GF Milk Paint is incredibly high-quality acrylic paint with EXCELLENT adhesion (so good that you can even paint laminate cabinets with it). It has low VOCs and is incredibly durable, so it is a great choice for painting kitchen cabinets without sanding or priming. It also really minimizes brush strokes!
I recommend using the Benjamin Moore “ADVANCE” paint and primer. This paint is a water-born Alkyd that dries like oil paint but can be clean with soap and water. It's the easiest product to use for homeowners and easy to apply with a brush and roller.
By wiping a layer of Oil Bond directly onto the cabinet surfaces (see before and after pictures on the infographic in this post), the paint will naturally adhere the same way as a freshly sanded surface. Oil Bond won't affect paint finish, durability, color, or UV Rating.
The initial condition of the surface will determine what exactly will happen if you don't sand before painting. A clean, smooth, not glossy surface will take paint well. However paint can feel rough, streak, peel, chip, or even not adhere if not sanded first.
Then, hang it next to your backsplash and appliances to make sure it really works. Whether you're using a paint sprayer or brush, start with the doors and drawers; they take the longest, since you need to paint both sides and let them fully dry in between the two top coats.
We usually use professional-grade lacquer because it has a lovely, silky-smooth feel to it, and is what cabinet manufacturers use. We think it's the best paint for cabinets, hands-down (although there are some great pro-level water-based options as well).
Oil paint is the hardest, most durable paint to use for painting cabinets. It takes longer to dry and is harder to clean up, but when applied right and allowed to cure, the result is a finish that can hold up scratches and hard use for years.
Latex paints are water-based and super easy to apply, last a long time, and, depending on the formula, can even be scrubbed clean. Their VOCs are low, they dry quickly, and you can even use them on previously painted cabinets.
Before your final coat of paint, gently sand your cabinets using 300-400 grit sandpaper. This super-fine sandpaper will knock down any brush strokes and roller marks to give you a super smooth surface to work with. Be sure your paint brush is clean and the bristles are smooth.
A fast drying, low odor and very low VOC primer, KILZ 3® Premium provides exceptional adhesion and durability – ideal for high traffic and high touch surfaces including kitchen cabinets and drawers.
Depending on what kind of primer you're using and the state of the cabinets, you will need 1-2 coats of primer. For many cabinets, one coat is plenty, but if you're uncertain, a second coat won't hurt as long as it's not applied too thick. When it comes to the actual paint, you will need at least two coats.
If your kitchen cabinets are in good condition with many years of life left in them, a do-it-yourself paint job could be the ideal way to update them. Spray painting kitchen cabinets is one way to give them a sparkling, fresh look at a dramatically lower cost than purchasing new ones.