I would recommend you use either semi-gloss finish or satin finish when you paint cabinets to get that smooth finish. This is because high gloss will easily show wear and tear (there's a lot of everyday damage in kitchens) and a flat finish will easily show dirt and it just doesn't look very appealing.
Painting Unfinished Cabinets: The Short Version
Remove the doors and drawers. Sand lightly to knock down the raised grain. Touch up the bare spots, and sand them after the primer is dry. Sand gently and touch up paint as necessary.
Before installing the same, numerous homeowners choose to have them nicely primed and painted. They may even choose to go ahead with unique effects for the unfinished cabinet doors, such as stains and grains. Priming the unfinished cabinet doors well, before painting them, is important.
What Kind Of Paint Do You Use On Unfinished Wood? Water-based, semi-gloss, or gloss interior paints are the most common choice for unfinished furniture, followed by latex or acrylic. A paint that is oil-based can also be used to paint unfinished furniture to make it look attractive and durable.
Leave your existing wood unfinished: If you like the current natural wood color of your cabinets, you could apply a finish without painting or staining them. A colorless polyurethane finish protects your wood cabinetry from moisture and stain damage.
Even though cabinet insides can go unpainted, you can color them if you want to. The matching or contrast style adds to the interior beauty of your kitchen. If your cabinets have glass doors, painting inside is extremely wise.
The most common interior paint choice for unfinished furniture are water-based, semi-gloss or gloss, and latex or acrylic. Oil-based enamel paints can also be used as an attractive and durable paint for unfinished furniture.
If you are deciding to paint bare wood, you should seal all knots (spot prime) with a shellac based primer. Shellac based primers are great for sealing wood knots and sap streaks. They do carry a pungent odour, but dry very quickly and will not let the knot bleed through the top (finish) coat.
If you want to add color to untreated wood, a fresh layer of paint does the trick. However, untreated wood requires some special attention before painting. If you don't properly prepare the wood, moisture damage could destroy the wood, or natural tannins may bleed through the paint.
While there are many types of paint to choose from, the best paint for kitchen cabinets is typically semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Matte is not practical in kitchens and baths where you will need durable paint you can easily clean.
Time Is Money
Buying finished cabinets reduces the length of time it takes to finish the remodel. If you're on a tight schedule, it might not be worth the discount to buy your cabinets unfinished. While some installers don't want the liability of finished cabinets, others will take the risk for a higher price.
Do the Work Yourself
When it comes to remodels, labor is often half the cost. By installing your unfinished cabinets on your own, you'll likely save thousands of dollars in labor, reducing the cost of your remodel even further.
You should use at least one paint coat & a maximum of two primer coats on the cabinets. One coat of primer is enough to satisfy the primer's need in most cases. You can use two coats of primers, too, depending on your wooden furniture's surface conditions.
Unfinished wood cabinets are relatively cheaper than the ready-made wood cabinets. They are affordable for everyone even at budget prices. Unfinished wood gives you more bang for your buck while the average price for a kitchen remodeling project is around $25,000.
Paint and primer in one is a thicker paint that builds higher to give you a sturdier coat of paint. Since it is tinted just like conventional paint, there is no need to cover up the initial layer of white primer.
Omitting the primer is a mistake for several reasons, however, and you're likely to be disappointed with the final results, no matter how many coats you apply. Apart from the fact that you'll probably get uneven coverage and bleed-through, the finish coats are more susceptible to peeling, chalking and other defects.
Don't over or under apply the primer: You should aim to apply two coats of primer to your wood's surface. Brush the primer on, and allow the first coat to dry completely before adding the second coat.
You can use any type of acrylic you like for painting on wood. Take a look at our brilliant range of acrylic paints here if you are looking for some. Use a wide, flat paintbrush to apply the paint to the wood. Allow the paint to dry before applying a second coat, and then paint the back if you wish.
Sealer protects wood materials and tends to be a glossy, non-absorbent substance that protects the wood surface by creating a barrier. Protect your wood panel by applying a sealant to it prior to painting. The natural chemicals that wood contains can break down a painting over time, but sealing protects wood from this.
And for the most part, you can use just about any kind of paint on wood surfaces. Basic latex paint that you find at local home improvement stores is usually fine to paint wood furniture with. It tends to be one of the easiest paints to work with when it comes to painting furniture.
The first step is sanding the wooden piece to remove all the ridges and rough patches. You can then prime your wood to glue your final paint more strongly onto your wood. The last step is coating your wood with a sealer to help it endure dust, UV rays and prevent Yellowing from making it more durable.