Do you have a piece of furniture you’re no longer loving? Maybe it no longer fits your style, or maybe it’s just no longer functional. Sometimes, it’s simply time to let go… but other times, you can breathe new life into it with a coat of paint! That’s just what I decided to do with this cabinet/hutch I snagged off Facebook marketplace for $60. I was never crazy about the finish, and after two years, I decided the time had come. Keep reading to learn how to paint a cabinet!
I should start by saying this is how I painted my cabinet. I am no professional by any means, but since I love how it turned out, I thought why not share. Here are the materials I used, along with a step-by-step tutorial with some tips I learned throughout the process.
What You’ll Need:
- Drop cloth
- Microfiber cloth
- Murphy Oil, or other wood cleaner
- Angled paint brush
- Paint tray + Small foam roller
- Cabinet paint (I used a quart, but for larger projects you’ll want a gallon)
- Screwdriver (to remove door)
- Spray Paint for hardware
How To:
Step 1: First, you’ll want to clean whatever you’re painting. Mix a very small amount of Murphy Wood Cleaner with warm water and dampen your microfiber cloth with the mixture. Wipe down the whole piece and you’ll want to give it time to fully dry. Now, I did not sand down my hutch at all because the particular paint I used doesn’t require it, but a light sand will help the paint to better adhere.
Step 2: Lay down your drop cloth to protect your floors and remove any hardware, doors, or drawers. My cabinet had a door I removed to make it easier to paint. I got all my painting materials from Lowes, who were also super helpful with helping me select the right paint. Per their recommendation, I went with Valspar Satin Cabinet & Furniture Paint Enamel and asked for it to be color matched to Tricorn Black. They can color match it to whatever you’d like! It’s supposed to be super durable against stains and scratches and requires little to no prep.
Step 3: I started with the inside of the cabinet first, and I’m glad I did because it was the most time consuming (and most forgiving if I slipped up lol). I used my angled brush, dipped it in the tray of paint, and painted all the inside edges first. Then, I’d go in with my foam roller and paint the shelves, back, and insides of each tier. I pretty much repeated this for the outside as well, using my brush to outline the edges, filling in with my roller. My hutch/cabinet (whatever you wanna call it) has some intricate detailing on the front and legs, so I would use my brush on these areas and go light on paint.
+PRO TIP: Try to use your roller as much as possible to avoid any brush marks. Also, less is more! To avoid dripping, make sure you use a light to moderate amount of paint.
Step 4: After you get your first coat done, let it dry a few hours (I think I waited 3), and go in with your second coat. The second coat will go a lot quicker, I promise!
+PRO TIP: Take your tray of paint – roller/brush and all – and stick it in the fridge. This will keep your paint from drying out in between coats.
Step 5: While the cabinet dried, I painted the door of my cabinet (which doesn’t have glass, so it was super easy). I also spray painted the knob of the door in ACE Metallic Antique Gold (linking similar). The little keyhole on my hutch door was already gold, so I just took a q-tip with some nail polish remover and wiped away any paint that got on it from the roller.
Step 6: Once dry, I re-attached the door and knob and voila!
I am so so happy with how it came out! It did take a lot more time than I anticipated (about a whole day from start to finish), but I am re-in love with this piece of furniture again. In fact, I’m kicking myself for not painting it sooner!
I hope this how to paint a cabinet tutorial is helpful if you are thinking of doing your own furniture flip. It really is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do. I urge you to try it! And if you do, please share with me — I’d love to see!
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