Tips for Painting Kitchen Cabinets Yourself, From Two Rehab Experts

Photography courtesy of The Grit and The Polish

Cathy and Garrett Poshusta live in a farmhouse in Washington, and, since 2014, have been chronicling their renovations in their blog, The Grit and Polish. "The farmhouse is the ninth kitchen with cabinets that we’ve painted,” says Cathy, “and with each, we’ve learned a lot.” Here are some of their tips.

Step 1: Remove the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and free them of any hardware. If painting already painted or wood-finish cabinets, clean them well and then sand them.

Step 2: After removing every speck of dust, apply primer. If painting cabinets a dark color, Cathy recommends tinting the primer.

Step 3: Paint. "When done properly, spraying gives a next-level finish," says Cathy, but paint brushes and rollers gives a more textured and handmade look.

Step 4: Install.

The finished cabinets.