Laminate cabinets might be more difficult to paint than wood cabinets, but don't let that stop you from giving your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room the facelift it needs.
Commonly found in older homes from the 1980s and 1990s, laminate cabinets are inexpensive and durable—but they aren't always eye-catching. If you're eager to update the look of your outdated laminate cabinets, painting the cabinets is an easy and affordable way to give them a renewed appeal.
Before You Begin
Unlike wood cabinets, laminate cabinets are not porous, which makes painting them more complicated. Laminate cabinets have a unique and glossy surface that paint doesn't always stick to easily. While you don't have to, sanding and priming the laminate cabinets will break down some of that gloss, helping the paint adhere to the surface for a long-lasting finish.
Safety Considerations
Proper safety gear should be worn whenever you are completing a project that entails sanding and painting. To get the job done safely, consider wearing gloves, protective glasses, and a dust mask or respirator.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Bucket
- Clean rag
- Marker
- Medium-grit sanding sponge or sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Mini paint roller
- Vacuum
- Screwdriver
- Drop cloth
- Caulking gun
- Paint tray
- Putty knife
- Small plastic bags
Materials
- Water
- TSP (trisodium phosphate) or TSP-substitute cleaner
- Wood filler
- Paintable caulk
- Bonding primer
- Oil- or latex-based paint
- Painter's tape
- Paint stirrer
- Protective gear
Instructions
How to Paint Laminate Cabinets
Prepare the Area
Lay down a drop cloth over floors and surfaces you want to protect. Apply painter's tapearound the perimeter of the cabinets to protect the countertops, walls, backsplash, and other areas you don't want to get paint on.
To protect yourself, put on any protective gear you plan to wear.
Clean Cabinets
In a clean bucket, mix two quarts of warm water with half a cup of powdered TSP (trisodium phosphate) or similar cleaner that will effectivelycut through grease and grime.
Wearing gloves, wipe down the cabinets with the cleaning solution. Allow them to fully dry.
What Is TSP?
Trisodium phosphate, commonly called TSP, is a packaged, blended cleaning product consisting of 75 to 80 percent trisodium phosphate and 20 to 25 percent sodium carbonate. It is an excellent cleaner for heavy-duty dirt and stains, especially grease.
Remove Doors, Drawers, and Hardware
Remove all doors and drawers and place them in a designated workspace.
Remove all cabinet hardware from the doors and drawers, and place them in plastic bags. Using a marker and painter's tape, write down the source of the hardware so you can easily reinstall it later.
Repair Any Damage
Examine the cabinets for any dings and dents. Use a wood filler to fill in the scrapes and holes. Using your finger, smear the wood filler into the crevice with your finger. For larger holes, use a putty knife to apply the wood filler. Allow to dry completely.
Sand Cabinet Surface
Once the wood filler has dried, use a medium-grit sanding sponge or sandpaper to lightly sand the cabinets. Don't sand too much, as you could scrub through the laminate finish and damage the cabinets.
Sanding the laminate will roughen the surface, which will help the paint adhere better.
Prime the Cabinets
Using a paint stirrer, stir the bonding primer vigorously. Apply the bonding primer to the cabinets using a paintbrush or mini paint roller, being careful not to leave any brush strokes.
Lightly Sand Cabinets Again
Once the bonding primer has dried, use a medium-grit sanding sponge or sandpaper to lightly sand the cabinets. The goal is to create a surface texture that is rough enough for paint to adhere to it.
Clean Cabinet Surface
Using a clean cloth or vacuum, remove any dust residue left over from the sanding process.
Paint the Cabinets
Before you begin apply paint on all the cabinets, test the paint's bonding ability on a small area of the cabinet (such as the back of a door you rarely open). Let it dry. If you see any bubbles appear, that's a sign that it isn't adhering well and you'll want to choose another paint.
If you're happy with the paint, then it's safe to apply. Stir the paint thoroughly and pour it into a paint tray. Using a high-quality paintbrush and/or mini paint roller, apply the paint to all cabinet surfaces.
While painting, be careful to avoid drips and runs, especially around corners. Once the frame, drawers, doors, and drawers are all coated with paint, let them dry.
Repeat this step if you determine you need a second or third coat.
Reinstall Doors, Drawers, and Hardware
Once the paint has fully dried, reinstall all door and drawer hardware and return the doors and drawers to their places.
FAQ
What kind of paint do you use on laminate cabinets?
You can use any oil- or latex-based paint that's suitable to paint wood on laminate cabinets. When it comes to painting laminate cabinets, the type of paint is not as important as the use of primer, which will enable the paint to adhere to the surface.
Can you just paint over laminate cabinets?
While you can paint over laminate cabinets, doing so without sanding them first can lead to the paint chipping or peeling away. For long-lasting results, it is important to sand and prime laminate cabinets before applying paint.
Will paint peel off laminate cabinets?
While paint will stick to laminate cabinets, it's important to sand and prime them first. If not properly sanded and primed, the paint will peel or chip soon after it's applied.
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