Remove adjustable shelves and paint them first, so they’ll be dry when you’re ready to reinstall them. If possible, paint them in another room to get them out of your way. We like to hang them on sawhorses by hammering nails into predrilled holes on the ends. That way, you don’t have to wait for one surface to dry before painting the other one. Be sure to remove the shelf supports before you paint the inside of the cabinet. You can paint the cabinet doors on or off the cabinet, but removing them makes painting easier. Remove the hardware from both the cabinet and the doors. If you prefer to leave the doors on, you probably won’t need to paint the interiors of the cabinets, but if you do paint them, work from the inside out. Our how-to guide shows you both painting methods, so pick the one right for your ability and time frame. A self-leveling paint is one that smooths out as it dries, making it perfect for cabinets. However, this type of paint does dry quickly, which can make blending brushstrokes tricky. If you plan on using this type of paint, work in small areas. Make a key or use tape to label where the doors and drawers should return for easy reassembly. Use a cordless drill or screwdriver to remove hinges and hardware. Depending on the type of hinge your cabinets have, you might be able to label your cabinet doors where your hinge will be reinstalled and cover it with a small piece of painters tape. Don’t forget to remove the interior adjustable shelves. Before painting, clean the faces of the cabinet boxes and drawers and both sides of doors and shelves with a product that removes dirt, grease, and glossy finishes. A liquid deglosser should do the trick for this step. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging, wearing protective goggles and rubber gloves. Apply the deglosser in sections small enough that you can paint them within an hour. Alternatively, you can scuff-sand cabinets with 150-grit sandpaper. To get your sandpaper into all the contours of paneled doors, use a contoured sander, a small sponge wrapped with sandpaper, or a commercial sanding sponge. On extra-glossy surfaces, sand the cabinet with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper ($3, The Home Depot) to dull and smooth the surface. A contoured sander works best for reaching the contours of paneled doors, but if you don’t have that, again, a small sponge wrapped with sandpaper or a commercial sanding sponge will work. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove the dust after sanding. Make sure you have kitchen cabinet paint colors you like by testing the new color on the back of a cabinet door (if in doubt, white kitchen cabinets are a classic choice.) This gives you a chance to make sure you like the look and, more importantly, that the paint finish you’ve chosen will adhere to the cabinetry and your prep steps will yield a smooth finish.
