How to Spray Paint Kitchen Cabinets in 9 Steps

Remove all items from drawers and cabinets. Fill a bucket with warm water and dish detergent, and use a rag or cloth to clean cabinet doors, drawers and frames. Make sure to remove all grease and oil from the cabinets otherwise paint won’t adhere to them.

Remove cabinet drawers and doors from the hinges. Label each door and drawer near the hinge to easily match up the doors and drawers correctly later. Remove hardware and place all doors and drawers in another area for painting, such as the garage.

Tape off and cover everything that connects to the cabinets, such as the walls, ceiling, and flooring. Cover the countertops and appliances with sheet plastic and place a drop cloth on the ground to protect the floors.

If your cabinets have dings or deep scratches, fill in the areas using a putty knife and a spackling compound or wood putty before moving onto the painting steps.  

Next, lightly sand the cabinet surface with 320-grit sandpaper. You don’t need to sand off the finish, just enough so the paint has enough grit to hold onto. Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth and then again with a dry cloth. Place tape on cabinet hinges and hinge holes so paint doesn’t fill them up.

Prepare and fill the paint sprayer with primer. You’ll need to thin some latex primers and paints before using them in a sprayer, so check the manufacturer’s directions on your specific primer. 

Turn on a fan near your spray area to help diffuse the fumes and wear a respirator and safety goggles. If needed, prop up cabinet doors on plastic cups to easily spray at all angles. Start with cabinet doors and drawers and spray evenly over the surfaces, covering all corners and crevices. Then, spray the primer over the cabinet frame. Let dry, about 12 to 24 hours. Remove primer from the paint sprayer and clean the tool so it’s ready for paint.

Primer often dries rough, so it’s important to give the cabinets a quick sand before painting. Sand the doors, drawers, and frame with 320-grit sandpaper, taking care to sand in the direction of the grain. Then, wipe the surface clean with a cloth.

As you did to prime, turn on a fan to diffuse the fumes and wear a respirator and safety goggles. Spray paint on the cabinet doors and drawers. Spray lightly and evenly to avoid drips and splatter. 

Next, spray the cabinet frame. Vertical surfaces are more likely to drip, so keep the coat light. Allow the paint to dry overnight.

Let the first coat of paint fully dry. Then, go over the cabinets with a second coat of paint with the paint sprayer. Leave to dry for at least 24 hours.

Once cabinets are completely dry to the touch, reattach the doors and drawers to the cabinet frames. Scrape out any paint that may have seeped into the hinge holes. To upgrade your cabinets even more, consider swapping out old cabinet hardware for new handles and pulls.