When I first walked into our basement, the most attractive feature in a sea of wood paneling were the built-in cabinets. They are well-constructed and a timeless style. We’re so thankful because I’m not sure we would’ve been able to make that investment – or at least it wouldn’t have been a priority!
You guys know how much I looooooove to use paint to transform a space or a piece of furniture – and now it’s cabinets! Hey-ya!!!
And you guys, this was one of the simplest projects we’ve completed for the basement so far! Sure, it took some time, but I’m convinced if I can do it, so can you! The best part? We had most of the materials already, so it only cost me $80 (primer and paint) to transform our cabinets – pretty epic!
I’ve searched high and low and Benjamin Moore Advance has had the best reviews for painting cabinets!
So, keep reading to see all the materials you’ll need as well as a step-by-step tutorial of how to paint your own cabinets! (Shhh…I might be dreaming of painting my kitchen cabinets now, since these turned out so well! 😉 )
Materials Needed:
- Liquid TSP Substitute Cleaner
- Sanding Block, Sand Paper, or an Electric Sander (here’s a super affordable one on Amazon!)
- 1″ Paint Brush
- 4″ Cabinetry Foam Roller
- Primer of your choice (I used this one)
- Benjamin Moore Advance Paint in Satin (1 gallon tinted to your choice of color; our’s is Dorian Gray by Sherwin Williams) I purchased ours from a local ACE Hardware. We only used half the gallon for this project.
- Microfiber Cloths
- Painter’s Tape
How to Paint Cabinets:
1.Remove all hardware or pulls. Plus, remove doors if you’re planning on doing that. We left our cabinet doors up on the hinges since there are soooo many (26 y’all), but removed the handles. Since we needed 26, instead of buying new ones, we will be spray painting the chrome handles.
2. Clean yo’cabinets. We used a Liquid TSP Substitute and a microfiber cloth. We were only painting the doors and part of the inner trim (not the inside of the cabinets), so we only cleaned that area.
3. Sand surfaces & wipe ’em down. I used our electric sander on the doors and in the more narrow areas just used sand paper. (If you need to patch any holes or blemishes, do that before sanding.) After you’re done sanding, wipe down the surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth.
4. Tape off walls with painter’s tape.
5. Paint with primer. First, I start on the trim and tiny spaces with a 1″ paint brush (this brush was a game changer for our project)! If you have any bevels in your doors, paint those first. Then, go back through with a 4″ foam roller (it’s best to roll over the areas your painted with a brush to smooth out the brushstrokes).
6. Paint first coat of BM Advance. Repeat the process above, but with BM Advance. Goodness, this paint is just luxuriously wonderful and is so easy to work with.
7. Wait 16 hours, then lightly sand the surfaces & wipe down. BM Advance is self-leveling, but this just helps smooth everything out. I just held sand paper in my hand and slightly skimmed the surface, then used a damp microfiber cloth to wipe everything down.
8. Begin second coat of BM Advance. This paint is designed for two coats, so even if you think the first coat looks good, continue with the second coat.
9. Touch up where needed. Wait another 16 hours to go back through to touch up where you need.
10. Attach Handles. Wait as long as you can to put the handles back on as to give the paint enough time to “cure” – at least 16 hours from the last time it was applied.
11. *At sooome point, clean metal hardware. Since I didn’t remove our doors from the hinges, I accidentally got some paint on the metal (it was inevitable)! I’m not in a big rush, but eventually I’ll attempt to clean up the metal.
I still can’t believe the transformation! What do you think? Seems doable, right? If you decide to go for it in your own space, I’d LOVE to see it! email me, tag me on Facebook or Instagram, and use #redeeminghamptonloves!
What’s next? Well, we have contractors installing our flooring and baseboards as I’m typing up this post! AH! I took a peek and can’t wait to show you!
Here’s where we are so far in the 1970s Basement Update checklist:
Get quotes for electrical, plumbing, and flooringPrice out materials for DIY projectsRemove all ceiling tiles and unwanted parts of the drop ceilingPatch, sand, and clean ceiling gridPaint ceiling grid & inset wood panelingElectrician install can lighting, remove fluorescent lights, update outlets & switchesPlumber to update pipes while ceiling tiles are outInstall ceiling tiles (without gouging my eyes out)Remove vinyl floorboardsPrep and paint stairwell ceilingOrder flooring from Home Depot for delivery by MarchPatch, repair, and sand wood panelingPrime wood paneled wallsPaint wood paneled wallsPrime trim & doorsPaint trim & doorsRemove hardware from built-in cabinetsUse liquid sander and then clean cabinet doorsPrime built-in cabinetsPaint built-in cabinets- Use spray paint to update stairwell light fixture, cabinet pulls, and
door handles - Sell old pieces (or other things around the house) to put into our budget
- Sand, prime, and stain banister/railing.
Go on vacation to Florida 🙂- Contractor install flooring and baseboards
- Onto the fun part of decorating, but that’s for another list
In case you missed it, here are the other posts in this series!
- Our 1970s Basement: Before Photos
- Basement Design Board Inspiration
- Our 1970s Basement: When DIYs are not Enjoyable
- The Drop Ceiling is Done and the Walls are Painted!
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