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Easy in-store ReturnsHow to paint laminate kitchen cabinetry
How to paint laminate kitchen cabinetry
Overview
Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.
Tools and materials
Steps
Remove cabinet doors and hardware
Start by carefully removing all kitchen cabinet doors and drawers from your kitchen cabinetry. Unscrew and remove the hinges and any attached hardware from the doors and cabinetry.
Labelling doors and drawers
Use masking tape to label each kitchen cabinet door at the top, and group all the hardware and screws for each door together, clearly labelling them so everything stays organised.
Clean the cabinet surfaces
Before painting, it's essential to thoroughly clean the laminate surfaces. Use sugar soap wipes to remove any grease, grime, or dust. Follow up by wiping the surfaces with a damp cloth to remove any residue, repeating this step twice for a spotless finish.
Lightly sand the surfaces
If you're not painting the inside of the cabinet doors or drawer faces, apply masking tape around the edges to ensure a neat finish. This will prevent any paint from getting where you don’t want it. If you’re painting both sides, you can skip this step.
To help the primer and paint adhere to the laminate, lightly sand the cabinet doors, drawers, and other surfaces with 400-grit sandpaper. This roughens up the laminate and ensures the paint will stick properly. After sanding, wipe the surfaces clean with a microfibre cloth to remove all the dust.
Fill existing holes if needed
If you're replacing the cabinet handles with a different size, fill the existing holes with wood filler. Let the wood filler dry completely before lightly sanding it to create a smooth, even surface.
Apply laminate primer
Before applying any paint, coat the surfaces with a laminate primer. Use a paint roller to apply the primer in long, even strokes. Once you've covered the entire surface, go over it with an empty paint roller to smooth it out. Make sure to prime both the front and back of your cabinet doors and drawers.
Apply the paint
Once the primer has dried, it's time to apply your paint. Make sure you’re using paint specifically designed for laminate surfaces. When selecting the finish, satin is a popular choice, but you can also opt for a gloss finish if you prefer a shinier look.
Apply thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry fully (at least eight hours) before applying the next. Multiple thin coats will give you a smoother, more professional finish, while thicker coats could lead to drips or uneven patches.
Apply a clear protective coat
For a durable, long-lasting finish, apply a clear coat over the painted surfaces. This will help protect against scratches, chips, and wear and tear, particularly in a high-traffic area like the kitchen.
Re-attach the hardware and doors
Once the paint and protective coat are fully dry, re-attach the handles and hinges. Carefully rehang the doors and insert the drawers into your cabinetry to complete your transformed look.
Keep watching
Now that you’ve painted your laminate kitchen cabinetry, learn how to put new handles on kitchen cabinetry.
Looking for more D.I.Y. painting projects? Learn how to paint a bath tub.
More D.I.Y. Advice
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.