Can I redo kitchen cabinets myself? Yes, you absolutely can redo your kitchen cabinets yourself! Many homeowners successfully complete this project using simple tools and steps. This guide will show you how to redo cabinets in kitchen spaces, whether you want a light refresh or a total change. We will cover everything from prep work to the final coat of paint, helping you achieve a professional look for your kitchen cabinet makeover on a budget.
Why Redo Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Kitchen cabinets take up most of the visual space in your kitchen. When they look tired, the whole room feels old. Redoing them is often much cheaper than replacing them entirely. It is a big job, but breaking it down makes it easy. This project can dramatically change how your kitchen looks and feels without emptying your wallet.
Deciding Your Cabinet Makeover Path
There are several ways to approach this project. Your choice depends on your cabinets’ current material, your budget, and how much time you have. The main options involve painting, staining, or resurfacing.
Painting vs. Refinishing vs. Resurfacing
| Method | Best For | Effort Level | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | Wood, MDF, or even laminate | High | Complete color change, modern look |
| Refinishing/Staining | Solid wood doors | Medium to High | Keeps wood grain visible, classic look |
| Resurfacing | Damaged doors or laminate surfaces | Medium | Quick way to cover old surfaces |
If your cabinets are solid wood and you love the grain, stripping and staining cabinets might be your best bet. If you want a clean, modern look or need to cover up dated wood, you will likely want to repaint kitchen cabinets.
Step 1: Planning and Preparation – The Key to Success
Good planning saves time and frustration later. Do not skip this part!
Assessing Your Cabinets
First, look closely at what you have. Are the doors flat or do they have many grooves (raised panels)? This affects cleaning and sanding time.
- Solid Wood: Great for painting or staining.
- Veneer: Be gentle when sanding; too much sanding can go through the veneer layer.
- Laminate: This requires special primers for paint to stick well. We will cover laminate cabinet transformation later.
Budgeting Your Project
A kitchen cabinet makeover on a budget is very doable. The main costs are paint/stain, sandpaper, cleaners, and new cabinet hardware replacement. Setting a clear budget helps you choose materials wisely.
Gathering Your Tools and Supplies
You need the right gear before you start.
Essential Tools:
- Screwdrivers (for removing doors and hardware)
- Sandpaper (various grits: 80, 120, 220)
- Tack cloths or microfiber rags
- Painter’s tape
- Plastic sheeting or drop cloths
- Good quality brushes and rollers (foam rollers work well for smooth finishes)
- Degreaser or TSP substitute
Removing Doors and Hardware
This step helps you work faster and gives you a smooth finish on all sides.
- Label everything! Use painter’s tape to mark the inside of each door and where it belongs on the cabinet frame (e.g., “Upper Left Door”). This stops mix-ups later.
- Remove all hinges, handles, and knobs. Place small parts (screws) into labeled plastic bags.
- Set the doors and drawers aside in a safe, dry area. A workbench or clean floor space works well.
Step 2: Deep Cleaning and Degreasing
Paint will not stick to dirt, grease, or wax. This cleaning phase is vital for a finish that lasts.
Tackling Grease
Kitchen grease builds up over years, especially near the stove. You must remove it all.
Use a strong degreaser. A solution of water and a good quality cleaner (like TSP substitute or a strong kitchen degreaser) works wonders. Wipe down every surface—doors, frames, and hinges. Rinse well with clean water and let everything dry completely. If you skip this, your paint will peel, no matter how to update old kitchen cabinets you try to do.
Step 3: Surface Preparation – Sanding Secrets
Surface prep determines 80% of your final result. Rough surfaces grab paint better than slick ones.
Sanding the Cabinet Boxes and Doors
If you are planning to refinish kitchen cabinets by painting them, sanding is crucial.
- For Painted Cabinets: Use 120-grit sandpaper first to rough up the surface. Then, follow up with 220-grit for a smoother feel. You are not trying to remove all the old finish, just dulling the shine so the primer adheres.
- For Staining: If stripping and staining cabinets, you must remove all existing finish completely. Use 80 or 100-grit paper to strip the old stain or paint off, then move to 150 and finally 220-grit for a surface ready to accept new stain evenly.
Tip for Flat Surfaces: Using an orbital sander speeds things up greatly for large, flat door fronts. For detailed areas or corners, use sanding sponges or wrap sandpaper around a small wood block.
Dealing with Laminate Cabinets
Laminate cabinet transformation requires a special approach. You cannot sand laminate down to bare plastic easily. Instead, you need strong adhesion.
- Clean thoroughly (see Step 2).
- Scuff the surface lightly with 180 or 220-grit paper. You just need to make it less slick.
- Use a bonding primer specifically designed for slick surfaces like laminate or melamine. This primer is the secret weapon here.
Step 4: Priming for Durability
Primer locks in the bond between the old surface and your new topcoat. Never skip primer when painting cabinets!
Choosing the Right Primer
The best paint for kitchen cabinets relies on a great primer underneath it.
- Oil-Based or Shellac Primer: These primers block stains (like wood tannins bleeding through) and offer the hardest finish. They are ideal for wood cabinets being painted. They clean up with mineral spirits.
- Water-Based Bonding Primer: Essential for laminate or glossy finishes. They are low-odor and clean up with water.
Apply a thin, even coat of primer to all surfaces—boxes and doors. Let it dry completely according to the manufacturer’s directions. Lightly sand again with 220-grit paper after the primer dries. This removes any raised grain or imperfections. Wipe clean with a tack cloth.
Step 5: Painting or Staining Your Cabinets
Now comes the fun part—applying the color!
Painting Cabinet Doors and Frames
When you repaint kitchen cabinets, thin coats are better than thick coats. Thick paint drips and looks uneven.
Painting Technique:
- Start with Doors: Paint the edges and sides of the doors first. Then, move to the large, flat faces.
- Apply Thin Coats: Use a high-quality synthetic brush for cutting in edges and a foam roller for smooth coverage on flat areas.
- Wait Between Coats: Allow the first coat to dry fully. Lightly sand (scuff sand) with 220-grit paper between coats. This helps the next layer stick better.
- Aim for Three Coats: Most cabinet jobs look best with three thin coats of topcoat paint.
What is the Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets?
You need a durable paint that resists chipping, scrubbing, and moisture.
- High-Quality Acrylic-Alkyd Hybrid Enamels: These are often favored by pros. They level out well (meaning brush marks disappear) and cure to a very hard finish. They offer the durability of oil paint but clean up like latex paint.
- Cabinet-Specific Paints: Several brands make paints labeled specifically for cabinets, often needing no sanding, though prep is always recommended.
Achieving a Stained Finish
If you are stripping and staining cabinets, the goal is smooth wood absorption.
- Apply wood conditioner first if you are staining soft woods like pine. This stops the stain from looking blotchy.
- Wipe on your chosen stain color following the grain. Work in small sections.
- Wipe off excess stain after a few minutes. The longer you leave it, the darker the color.
- Allow the stain to cure completely (often 24–48 hours).
- Apply several coats of a durable polyurethane topcoat for protection.
Step 6: Advanced Cabinet Resurfacing Ideas
Sometimes the doors are too damaged, or you have laminate that standard paint won’t grip, even with primer. This is where cabinet resurfacing ideas come into play.
Using Peel-and-Stick Vinyl Wraps
For a very fast DIY cabinet update, vinyl wrapping is popular. This works well for laminate cabinet transformation too.
- Pros: Very fast, huge variety of textures (wood grain, matte color), easy to clean.
- Cons: Durability can be an issue in high-heat areas like right next to the oven. Requires precision to avoid bubbles.
Applying Thin Wood Veneer Over Old Cabinets
If you have cabinets with textured fronts or deep damage, you can sometimes apply thin, pre-glued wood veneer sheets over the old surface before painting or staining the new veneer. This effectively gives you new door skins without replacing the doors.
Step 7: Reassembly and Hardware Update
Once all painted or stained pieces are fully cured (wait at least a week before heavy use!), it is time to put things back together.
The Importance of Cabinet Hardware Replacement
One of the most impactful parts of a kitchen cabinet makeover on a budget is changing the handles and knobs. New hardware is like jewelry for your cabinets.
- Measure Carefully: Before ordering new hardware, measure the distance between the existing screw holes (the center-to-center measurement). Standard sizes are 3 inches, 3.75 inches, or 4 inches.
- Update Style: Moving from knobs to modern pulls, or changing from dated brass to sleek matte black, instantly updates the look. This small change makes a huge difference when you redo cabinets in kitchen projects.
Rehanging Doors and Adjustments
Carefully reattach the doors using your labeled system. Hinges often need adjustment after being taken off.
- Most modern hinges allow you to adjust the door up/down, in/out, and side-to-side using the adjustment screws on the hinge plate. Take your time to ensure all doors line up perfectly. This detail makes the whole job look professional.
Special Considerations for Common Cabinet Types
Different materials need different care when undertaking a DIY cabinet update.
How to Update Old Kitchen Cabinets Made of Oak
Old oak cabinets often have deep, heavy grain patterns that can look dated when painted white.
- Fill the Grain (Optional but Recommended): If you want a super smooth finish, you must fill the deep oak pores. Use a grain filler product before priming. This is labor intensive but creates a modern, flat look.
- Choose the Right Primer: Use a quality oil-based primer to seal the tannins in the oak, preventing yellowing over time, especially if painting white or a light color.
Painting Melamine or Thermofoil Cabinets
These cabinets are tough because they are plastic or vinyl-covered pressed wood. Standard paint often chips off easily.
- Do Not Skip Bonding Primer: A specialized bonding primer designed for slick surfaces is non-negotiable.
- Use Durable Topcoats: Choose a very hard enamel topcoat. While you can repaint kitchen cabinets made of these materials, they may never be as durable as solid wood, so be mindful of heavy impacts.
Maintaining Your Newly Redone Cabinets
To keep your newly painted or stained cabinets looking new, follow these simple care rules:
- Avoid harsh chemical cleaners. Use mild soap and water.
- Do not scrub painted areas vigorously, especially for the first 30 days while the paint fully cures.
- Wipe up spills immediately, especially acidic liquids like tomato sauce or citrus juice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I paint my kitchen cabinets without taking the doors off?
A: You can paint the cabinet boxes without removing the doors, but it is highly discouraged. Painting doors while they are attached makes it very hard to get an even coat on the edges and the faces. It also leads to a messy, inconsistent finish where the door meets the frame.
Q: How long does it take to refinish kitchen cabinets?
A: For a standard-sized kitchen (about 20 doors and frames), expect the total project time to take 5 to 10 days. Most of this time is waiting for paint and primer to dry fully between coats. The actual hands-on labor might only be 3 to 4 full days spread out over that week.
Q: Do I need to strip cabinets before painting?
A: If the existing paint or finish is in good condition (no peeling or major chipping), you usually do not need to fully strip them. Proper degreasing and sanding (scuffing) are enough for the primer to grab onto the old surface. Full stripping is only needed if you plan on stripping and staining cabinets or if the old finish is failing badly.
Q: Is a kitchen cabinet makeover on a budget always successful?
A: It can be very successful, but success depends on prep work. Cheap paint or skipping sanding and priming are the main reasons budget makeovers fail quickly. Investing in high-quality primer and topcoat paint usually pays for itself in longevity.
Q: How long does the paint take to cure fully?
A: While paint may feel dry to the touch in hours, it takes time to “cure” or harden completely. For most cabinet paints, full hardness is achieved between 14 and 30 days. Be gentle during this period.