One of the cabinet hacks and ways to give your kitchen a fresh look without a significant redesign is to paint your cabinets. Freshly painted cabinets will completely change the face of the space, whether they are all-white, sage green with brass hardware, or a striking blue. This project can be a surprisingly economical (though time-consuming) DIY if you take on the task yourself.  

To avoid future paint chips and cabinets that look perennially dirty, you’ll also want to prevent several frequent cabinet painting missteps. We consulted an expert and shared lessons from personal experience to discover the most crucial cabinet painting mistakes to prevent. When painting your kitchen cabinets, avoid doing these things. Of course, you have the alternative in case something bad happens such as calling the kitchen cabinet painting Charlotte NC. 

 

You Ignore to Unscew the Door 

While painting over the cabinet doors may be tempting without first pulling them off, doing so is necessary for the best effects. This will stop drips while enabling you to paint the cabinet’s interior and exterior surfaces entirely. Additionally, you’ll be less likely to run into the cabinet doors while the paint is drying if you store them out of the way, such as in a garage or separate work area. 

 

You Don’t Want to Waste Your Time with the Preparation Part 

Most cabinets require sanding the surface and applying wood filler to any gaps or uneven surfaces and drying time. Use a moist towel or a lint-free tack cloth to wipe dust and debris after sanding. Uncleaned tiny particles could float into the paint and tarnish the cabinet’s smooth surface. 

This is a project you might be able to complete on your own if you’re patient and have some DIY abilities. Still, depending on how complicated the cabinet design is and what you want from the finished product, it might be wise to engage a professional. 

 

You Painted the Surface Thickly 

Painting kitchen cabinets aims to provide a rigid surface that can withstand regular use. The ideal technique to build the character is several thin coats of paint instead of one thick skin that can peel off more quickly. A durable finish can be obtained by being patient and waiting the necessary time between coats. 

 

Skip Using the Primer for Your Cabinet 

Primer will provide a barrier, so your chosen paint color will show whether you’re starting with dark paint or wood cabinets. Primer can also create traction, so the paint will stay if the surface you’re starting with is glossy and smooth. Just make sure you use the appropriate primer for painting cabinets. 

 

Don’t Have Time to Dry Them 

Cabinets painted with paint may feel dry to the touch in a few hours, but drying may take several days. The cabinets will be more prone to chips and blemishes until they have thoroughly dried to a hard, durable surface. The cabinet doors and hardware should be reattached after at least 48 hours, and you should take care not to bang or scrape the doors for the first week after that.