Can you paint laminate kitchen cabinets?

Although laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, yes, you can still paint your laminate kitchen cabinets. Painting your laminate kitchen cabinets is an affordable way to quickly improve the look of your kitchen’s décor. You don’t need to spend a lot, and it does not take much time. So, with some elbow grease, you can renovate your kitchen cabinets to give them a more vibrant and customized aesthetic look. 

Why choose to paint your laminate cabinets?

Today, custom cabinetry is expensive, and many people go for the installation of laminate cabinets. Keep in mind that besides laminate, wood, Formica, and Melamine applied to engineered cores also provide a great variety in design. However, you may face specific challenges when changing them, such as painting the laminate cabinets.

Luckily, many paint companies have made substantial efforts to allow painting contractors or homeowners to overcome the challenge. They have done this using cutting-edge technology to create formulas that would enable people to paint their laminate cabinet surfaces easily and from an impractical to do-it-yourself-type project.

So, the short answer is, “Yes, you can paint your laminate cabinets,” but you need to take care of a few things. Today’s article will tell you how to paint your laminate kitchen cabinets. Without further ado, let’s jump into the main topic. Read on! 

How to paint your laminate kitchen cabinets

1. First, you must understand that you can’t paint your laminate cabinets without sanding or abrading the surface. It is essential to sand the surfaces so that they “scuff” the finish and prepare the surface for the primer. This way, the primer will adhere well to the cabinet painting surface.
2. The first step is removing the hardware, doors, and drawers. If any areas require repair, you need to get those areas repaired not to slow down the project. When you finally manage to scrub away the grease, cleaner build-up, or grime from the cabinets’ surface with a high-quality degreaser or cleaner, the next step is to take off the gloss with 320-grit sandpaper. The whole purpose is to make the surface not so glossy
   . Make sure you carefully carry out the sanding process through the laminate. Remove all the dust once you are done with the sanding. Use a vacuum to brush the surface, and then take a damp cloth to wipe it down. 

How to choose the right paint for laminate cabinets?

1.) Once you are done with surface preparation, it is time to choose the paint. It would be best if you decided on high-quality paint. At the same time, you must select a suitable primer because it affects the painting more than the topcoat.

Today, you will find a wide range of brands on the market, and almost all of them have high-adhesion products. So, it is up to you to choose the brand; however, make sure to select the one you are comfortable with. For DIY cabinet painting projects, we recommend using an oil-based primer. Don’t forget some PPE and ventilation! 

2.) There are a few things to consider regarding the topcoat. First, the coat must be compatible with the primer you have applied. For this, you need to read the label on the primer product carefully to find the correct paint. For instance, you can determine if oil-based or acrylic-based color will work best with the primer.

3.) Choosing an enamel topcoat using paint that matches even the rough use of kitchen cabinets is usually recommended. While these products are not certified for Kitchen Cabinets like our professional products, they are readily available. Oil-based paint is an ideal choice, but it can go on slowly and messy. You can use something water-based but made for woodwork as the top coat and keep the leftovers for touch-ups later on.

I recommend trying this on a bathroom cabinet before tackling a Laminate Kitchen Cabinet Painting project yourself. It would help if you avoided glossy finishes because it would show any imperfections on the laminate kitchen cabinets. For many people, experts recommend a satin finish, and this might be the best bet for you.

DIY Laminate Cabinet Painting Overview

With appropriate preparation, sanding, selection of the paint brand, and carefully carrying out all steps, you can accurately transform your kitchen laminate cabinets into something attractive and aesthetically appealing. This likewise affects the décor of your kitchen. So, following the tips mentioned above, you can do the job accurately and have a beautiful customized kitchen décor. Good Luck!

If you are not ready to take on a project like this, you can always call The Picky Painters at 833-PICKY4U (742-5948) or check out our website and set up a Cabinet Painting Appointment. Don’t forget we have the best Interior Painters and Exterior House Painters.