Painting Kitchen Cabinets: What to Expect, Step by Step

By Cameron Maltby, owner of PB Painting · Updated October 2026

Painting cabinets is one of the most dramatic upgrades you can make to a kitchen for the money. It is also one of the easiest jobs to get wrong. Cabinets are handled every day, splashed with cooking grease and cleaned constantly, so wall paint and shortcuts do not last. Here is how a professional cabinet project works and what to expect while it happens.

Step 1: Remove, label and protect

Doors and drawer fronts come off, and every piece and hinge is labeled so it goes back in the same spot. Countertops, floors, appliances and the inside of cabinet boxes are covered. Hardware is set aside for reuse or replacement.

Step 2: Degrease and clean

Kitchen cabinets carry a film of cooking grease and hand oil, even when they look clean. Paint will not bond to it. Every surface is degreased and wiped down before any sanding. This is the single most skipped step in DIY cabinet jobs, and the main reason they peel.

Step 3: Repair and sand

Dents and gouges are filled, loose edges are glued, and all surfaces are scuff-sanded to dull the old finish so primer can grip. If you are changing hardware, old holes can be filled and new ones drilled.

Step 4: Bonding primer

Factory cabinet finishes are slick and hard. A bonding primer made for glossy surfaces, such as Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond, creates the grip the topcoat needs. On stained wood, primer also blocks tannins that can bleed through light colors.

Step 5: Urethane enamel topcoat

We use a hard, self-leveling enamel made for cabinets and trim. Our usual choice is Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, which shows up in about a hundred of our proposals. Dunn-Edwards Aristoshield is a strong alternative. Doors and drawer fronts are typically sprayed for a smooth, factory-like finish, and cabinet boxes are sprayed or finished with fine rollers and brushes, depending on the kitchen.

Step 6: Cure and reinstall

Enamel dries to the touch quickly but takes longer to fully harden. Doors are reinstalled once they can be handled safely, and we ask homeowners to be gentle for the first couple of weeks: no harsh cleaners and no slamming doors while the finish cures.

The oak grain question

Many San Diego kitchens have oak cabinets with a deep, open grain. Paint will not hide that texture on its own. You have two options: embrace the grain, which looks fine in many homes, or add grain filling to get a smooth, modern look. Grain filling adds time and cost, so we will show you samples and let you decide.

Living with the project

• Timeline: A typical kitchen takes about a week, depending on the number of doors, the condition of the cabinets and cure time between coats.
• Using your kitchen: Most homeowners keep using the kitchen during the project, with some cabinets empty or doorless for a few days. Plan easy meals.
• Clear the cabinets that are being painted inside, or at least the shelves near the edges.
• Odor: Modern waterborne enamels are low-odor compared with old oil-based paints.

Choosing colors and sheen

Satin and semi-gloss are the most practical sheens for cabinets because they wipe clean. Whites and off-whites are timeless, while greens, blues and warm greiges are popular on lower cabinets and islands. Look at samples next to your countertops and floors, in your kitchen’s light. We offer up to 10 free samples through our color consultation.

Painting vs. replacing cabinets

If the cabinet boxes are solid and you like the layout, painting is usually a fraction of the cost of new cabinets and can be done in days instead of weeks. If the boxes are water damaged, the doors are warped, or you want to change the layout, replacement may make more sense.

Warranty

Our cabinet painting carries a 3-year workmanship warranty. See all coverage periods on our warranty page.

Frequently asked questions

Will painted cabinets chip?

Any finish can chip from a hard impact, but properly prepped cabinets with a bonding primer and urethane enamel hold up very well. Keep a small jar of the paint for touch-ups.

Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?

Laminate can often be painted with the right bonding primer. Peeling thermofoil usually cannot, because the film itself is failing.

Do you paint the inside of the cabinets?

Usually only the exterior faces, frames and door backs. Interiors can be added if you want them.

Thinking about painting your cabinets? See our cabinet painting service, request a free estimate or call (619) 394-3888.