The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. When you consider how many times cabinets are opened and closed in a day, it’s amazing how well they hold up to constant wear and tear. If you’re planning to sell your home, any agent will tell you that buyers are focused on kitchens. If you are considering a renovation, this is the room to start with. Unfortunately, renovating a kitchen is also one of the most expensive home repairs; Simply having a set of updated cabinets can cost thousands of dollars.
A few years ago, dark wood doors were all the rage; now, they just make a room look small and old-fashioned. For a minimal cash outlay and a little time on your part, you can refresh those old cabinets and give your kitchen a whole new look.
Many opt for a clean white or velvet black door that shows off the wood grain underneath. Either can be just as effective and, if done right, will look like a professionally refinished closet door. Follow these steps for a flawless professional paint job.
1. While it may seem easier to paint the doors while they’re hanging, do it like the pros do and remove all hinges and handles. Lay your doors on a flat work surface in a well-ventilated area.
2. Get yourself some rubber gloves and clean the cabinets with liquid polish remover. This will prepare the old finish for repainting by lifting the grain of the wood and removing any remaining substances such as wax or oil. Using 220 grit sandpaper, lightly sand the cabinets and wipe them down with a tack cloth.
3. Investing in new hardware is a great way to perk up your new-looking doors. If you have fallen in love with a slightly different handle size, it doesn’t matter, this can also be fixed. Fill the holes with wood filler and once dry, simply give the door a quick sandpaper.
4. Using a china bristle brush, apply an oil-based primer. You might think any old brush will do, but for really good work, these brushes work exceptionally well with oil-based coatings, allowing for better flow and a smoother finish.
5. Once dry, lightly sand the doors and remove any dust with a tack cloth.
6. Apply your first coat of paint with a brush, not a roller, using long strokes and following the grain of the wood. Avoid dripping by using only the top third of the brush and wiping off excess paint.
7. After 24 hours repeat sanding and cleaning and you are ready for the second coat. After another 24 hours, you can replace your hardware and hang your cabinets “like new.”