I started to paint this cabinet door white today.  I painted the recessed areas and the edges.  I was about to paint the raised panel and just couldn’t.  I really like it this way.  I have already painted all the other doors white.  I can’t decide if I should paint this one white or paint all the upper doors to match this?  Any thoughts?

     I thought it would be helpful to go into more detail on the doors for anyone who hasn’t painted cabinets before.

After you take the doors off of their hinges, it is easier (and you get better results) if you paint them on stool or some other surface that allows you to get to all the edges easily.  I do not like to paint them while they are lying flat on a tarp.  The paint always sticks on the tarp and messes up your edges, then you have to take time to sand and who wants more work?  I like to start by painting the recessed areas. 

After you are done painting the recessed areas, you can move on to the edges.  Paint all the way around.  Check for drips after each side is complete.

After you work all the way around (checking for drips as you go), you can move up to the top and paint the short flat parts.

When you are done with the short flat parts you can paint the long flat parts.

Now you are almost done.  The last step is to paint the inner flat part.  Before you do, check for drips in the recessed parts.  If there is a drip of puddle of paint, just take your brush and smooth it out.  Now just roll the paint on.  I get the best results by rolling first vertically then long horizontal strokes the length of the inner flat part.    That’s it.  I know it may seem a little overwhelming if you haven’t tried painting cabinets before.  It really isn’t hard (just watch for drips) and it really doesn’t take too long.  The results are totally worth the effort.  Happy painting.

       I covered the basics of painting cabinets yesterday but I thought that I could add a few more tips.  When I paint the bases/frames I like to first use my brush for odd little spaces like the spot between the counter and the top drawer.  Then I like to use my sponge roller to do the horizontal areas first, like above. 

      Then I do the vertical areas.  I’ve tried it both ways and this looks better to me.  It’s not really a huge deal because the doors and drawers cover up most of the base.

     Phase two of my laundry room project has me painting the cabinets white.  Cabinets are really pretty easy to paint.  So, go ahead take the plunge, be green, be frugal, be creative and above all have fun with your home.  If you haven’t tried it before here are the steps and some tips.  First, remove knobs or pulls, then the drawer fronts from the drawers.  Just unscrew them with a screwdriver.  Next, take the doors off the hinges (just need your trusty screwdriver for this too).  If you have alot of doors/drawers it might be helpful to number them on the backs.  Step two:  If the cabinets are stained or if you are painting latex over an oil, you need to lightly sand all the wood.  I usually use steel wool because I think it does a better job scuffing the finish and I think it molds to the curves and crevices of the doors better than sandpaper.  Remember you only need to lightly scuff the finish so the paint will adhere to the surface, you don’t need to go to bare wood.  Step three:  Wash everything.  If the cabinets are in the kitchen or are old and grimy, I suggest TSP for cleaning.  If the cabinets are anywhere else and in pretty good shape, you can probably get away with a tack cloth to remove the dust from sanding.  Step four:  Prime.  I’ve had good luck with latex primer and with bonding primer.  I find that one coat of primer is usually enough.  If your paint color is fairly dark or red I would suggest a tinted primer.  When I first painted these cabinets red, I had the paint store tint the primer a lilac color.  Step five:  Paint.  I find that two coats of paint is usually enough.  I use both a brush and a smooth, sponge roller.  The brush is for all the nooks and crannies.  The sponge roller is for making everything smooth.   I like to paint backs and sides, then fronts (for example, prime the back and sides of a door, let it dry four hours, flip it and prime the front). While the drawers and doors are drying, I paint the bases. Don’t forget to tape off the walls, ceiling and floors first.   This part really goes fast.   I like using a semi-gloss.  Satin could be okay in an area that doesn’t get much use, as it scuffs more easily.  High gloss is very tough, but can be a little tricky to get a nice uniform finish.  When all the paint is dry, just reattach all the hinges and hardware, and screw the drawer fronts onto the drawers.  Ta Da.  Your cabinets should now look fresh, clean and like something you are proud of, not something you want to hide.

     Better Homes and Gardens emailed me these ideas today.  They have some really great ideas.  I’ve been inspired to experiment a little more with a cabinet door I have leftover from when we did our kitchen.  Here’s the link… 
Better Homes & Garden