Painting Cabinets (without sanding!)

Painting Cabinets...

To start off I want to just say... THIS IS NO BIG DEAL. In all honesty I was terrified to paint my cabinets. So much so that I didn't do it at all in my last home, even though I hated my cabinets, because I was simply too afraid to even try it. I will tell you right now, if you are afraid... don't be. It's seriously no big deal, at least not the route we chose to go.

I knew I didn't want this to be a 3 week project. I am a "finisher". I absolutely loath starting projects and having them go unfitted for weeks, months or even years. If you start a project in this home, you better be fully committed to finishing it as quickly as you can.

I finally set my fear aside when the loathing I had for my cabinetry outweighed it, ten fold.

Like I said. I did NOT want this to be a drawn out process that took over my entire house/life for weeks on end while my children were banished from the very center of our home. I found the most incredible primer ever. It is called Gripper from Home Depot. The kind gentleman in the paint section promised me this was THE stuff to use, and I wouldn't haven't to sand my cabinets (you still can if you are so certain it must be done, but I'm here to tell you... with this stuff... it most certainly isn't necessary).

We started with our Kitchen, because why practice on a bathroom when you can go all in kamikaze style on the focus of your home. Once I got up the courage I literally just started taking the doors off the hinges. My husband walked in and was like... Okay... this is happening! (It's a good thing he likes me so much!)

The one thing I will tell you about prepping to paint cabinets is CLEAN THEM... clean them really really well. We used a straight blade to take off any "gross" deposits from the previous owners.... you don't even want to know...

Once they are cleaned and DRY then you can begin by priming them. Make SURE your primer is done as smoothly and evenly as possible. This is where your paint is going to be adhering to, so you want as smooth of a finish as possible. One other thing to note is that, primer is ugly, it just is. So don't freak out when you are priming that your cabinets will be hideous and this crazy Kelsie girl led you astray and now your house is going to be SO UGLY... calm down... deep breath, you're good girl! Primer is just ugly.

Gripper also dries insanely fast, so don't dilly dally... get er done! I used a small paint brush on the inside crevices of the doors and any small spaces that a roller just couldn't get to , and then I used my favorite high density small foam roller for the rest, it doesn't leave a texture like a regular wall roller does.

Now... the paint. I have said it before, you get what you pay for. If you are wanting beautiful DIY cabinets, you are going to need the best paint. I highly recommend not using just any paint. I wanted the best finish possible for my cabinets, so I went with Benjamin Moore Advance. It is a self leveling paint (you read that right... self leveling) and is an enamel paint so it dries hard and beautiful, just like a cabinet should look. It gives a gorgeous finished and polished look. I used Benjamin Moore Advance, in "White Down" for my kitchen and guest bathroom. and Benjamin Moore Advance in "Pure White" on the other two bathrooms.

Apply this generously. I learned that the more lovingly and thicker it is applied the better the end result is. Don't try to squeeze every last drop out of the roller. You aren't painting a closet here, you are painting a statement piece, GIVE IT LOVE. Don't just pour the paint out... but definitely put it on thick and evenly.

I let them dry over night before I attempted to hang them back up and put it all back together.

In the morning, they didn't look "finished" but I hang them up anyway. I have learned (after doing an entire kitchen, and 3 bathrooms) it is easier to get that "finishing touch" done when they are hanging up, you can get every last nook and cranny while they are hanging that you can't get as well when they are laying flat. Like the edges, those are difficult to get when they are on the ground or wherever, So I like to finish the job while they are hanging up.

I am SO in love with the finished product in all of the rooms we have done. I do think however, I will be going back in the next few weeks and giving them an "extra" seal with a high traffic crystal clear polyurethane. Just to make sure they are long lasting, and make me less anxious when my kids run at them with toys, or forks, or anything really.

I hope I covered enough here to help you with your - not so scary - project. I am MORE than happy to answer any questions. Please just leave a comment below if you have anything you need answered! And most importantly... HAVE FUN!!! It really is so much fun to do these projects and see your visions come to life in your home, plus it's really fun to be able to say... we did that! We made our home beautiful!

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Powder Room/Guest Bath

Kids Bathroom

Master Bath Vanity

HAVE FUN! XOXO