DIY: Updating Kitchen Cabinets with Paint Sprayer
This DIY Updating Kitchen Cabinets with Paint Sprayer is a great way to inexpensively update your kitchen. These tips will leave your kitchen looking beautiful for years.
I love finding ways to update our home without breaking the bank. Updating kitchen cabinets with paint sprayer is a technique that will transform the look of your kitchen. Using a paint sprayer allows for an even distribution of paint that handles years of wear and tear.
When starting a big project like updating your kitchen cabinets, sanding all surfaces is an important first step to insure the paint goes on smoothly. Cutting corners and throwing some paint up will look okay for a few months, but the paint will begin to chip, flake off, or even make it hard to open and shut. A great post to check out is Dust Free Sanding before Painting, which outlines the first step to updating kitchen cabinets with paint sprayer.
What you’ll need to start your update:
- KILZ Adhesion Bonding Primer
- BEHR Premium Plus Ultra Enamel Interior Paint
- Painters Tape
- Painters Drop Cloth
- Wagner Double Duty Paint Sprayer
- Knobs and Pulls (Optional)
Step 1: Prep for Painting
- Clean out all cabinets and drawers of food, dishes, glassware, silverware etc.
- Put painter’s paper or drop cloths down on the floors.
- Label each cabinet and drawer using blue painters tape label system — We labeled our cabinets A, B, C, etc. and our drawers 1, 2, 3 (See image below).
- Remove all cabinet doors and drawers. Unscrew hardware and hinges, making sure to put the hinges in zip lock bags and write the matching letter of the cabinet it belongs to. **If your home is as old as ours, make sure to indicate which is the top hinge and which is the bottom. Over time, hardware has a tendency to warp and bend. This will ensure the doors open and close properly when finished.
- Use putty if holes need to be filled. Our cabinets went from a pull to a knob, which meant we needed to use putty on one of the holes.
Step 2: Sand for Success
Sand each door and drawer, making sure to sand the walls and all surfaces that will be painted.
- Sanding can be a messy job, so I recommend sanding the cabinets and drawers outside.
- Sand the inside using an electric sander hooked up to a Shop vac. Click here to learn how!
After sanding, wipe down and clean all sanded cabinets, drawers, and walls with a heavy duty cleaner such as Savogran TSP All Purpose Heavy Duty Cleaner. Make sure to closely follow the directions on the box. Last, wipe down the area with clean, wet rags and let dry completely.
Step 3: Paint to Perfection
- Lay out drop cloths or tarps with cabinets and drawers on top.
- Start by reading the directions on the paint sprayer you have purchased. We are using a Wagner Double Duty Paint Sprayer.
- Spray 1-2 coats of primer making sure the old color or wood does not show through.
- Followed with 2 -3 coats of paint.
- When painting the kitchen cabinets inside, make sure to have everything covered and taped off to prevent overspray on appliances and counter tops.
Step 4: Final Touches
- Allow dry time according to the paint can before hanging doors and installing drawers.
- After your kitchen is put back together, consider upgrading the knobs and pulls. It not only adds a beautiful finishing touch, but protects the paint (and your hard work) even more.
- We decided to update our faucet and it turns the kitchen from drab to fab.
If you need to update your kitchen tile or backsplash, click here for a quick and inexpensive option!
Neely Moldovan
We are watning to update our kitchen cabinets too. So many great things you can do for not so much money!
Heather Johnson
What simple and effective way to update old cabinets! That room looks like a totally new place!
Brandy
Okay I am in love with that gadget! I am horrible at painting and think this paint sprayer is just what we need around here. I will have to share with my boyfriend to see if he thinks we should get one sometime!
Jeanine
Wow they turned out just gorgeous! I’m a big fan of white cabinets. These look wonderful. What a great way to get it done!
jill
Wow, this is incredibly helpful. I cannot believe how different your kitchen looks with just painting it. I am considering doing my kitchen at some point so this is really going to help.
Tami
I have grown to love all things white in my home. Yet, my home is full of wood surfaces. I can’t wait to update my kitchen with this look.
Tami
I have grown to love all things white in my home. Yet, my home is full of wood surfaces. I can’t wait to update my kitchen with this look.
Shelley R Zurek
Your labeling tips are perfection. You thought of every step where doors could be mixed up. I have always wanted to paint some or our cabinets I love this approach.
Emily Smith
Wow, who knew you could do this yourself? The results look amazing, like a whole new kitchen!