article

Do's And Don'ts For Painting Your Bathroom Cabinets

By Jaymi Naciri via Realty Times

bluehammer

If your bathroom cabinets are old, ugly, tired, or all of the above, you've probably thought about painting them more than a few times. And if you're like us, you may have done a bit of research but failed to take it further for fear that they won't end up looking decent. But the truth is that if you follow the directions of those who've been there before (and, especially, if you heed their warnings regarding shortcuts and mistakes), you can transform your bathroom pretty easily. This list of do's and don'ts will help guide you.

Do: Get a paint sprayer: A paint sprayer will give you the cleanest, most professional look. You can buy a pretty basic unit for under $100, but for about the same cost, you can rent one for the day and get a much better version.

Don't: Fret if a paint sprayer isn't going to work out. A foam roller and brush can give you a pretty clean finish.

Do: Buy several of them in different sizes and shapes. They're cheap, so stocking up won't cost much, and having a variety will help you to easily get into corners, nooks, and crannies.

bluehammer Pinterest

Don't: Use a crappy product. The last thing you want is to walk into your bathroom every day and scowl at the poorly done bathroom cabinets - kind of the way you do now. One of our favorite DIYers from The Turquoise Home found a great product that we can't wait to try: "Ace's amazing Cabinet, Door and Trim Paint. You can brush it on and it will level and not leave any brush strokes!"

Behr Alkyd Semi-Gloss Enamel is another favorite for painting bathroom cabinets. "It basically performs like an oil-based paint but without the horrible smell and difficult clean up," said Provident Home Design.

Do: Take the time to sand. We've tried the lazy girl's version of painting right over other paint and it just doesn't work out well. Admittedly, sanding is a terrible, tedious process, especially if you have detailed panels that require you to get into lots of little corners, but it's well worth it in the end.

bluehammer Level Up House

Don't: Sand inside. Take it outside and put a mask on while you're at it. The dust you kick up is unkind, especially if anyone in the house has asthma.

Do: Clean the surfaces thoroughly. You'll want to use a degreasing product like "trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaner and a scrubbing pad or sponge (to) thoroughly wash all surfaces to be painted," said Lowe's. "Then rinse at least twice with fresh water and a sponge." And after sanding, you'll also want to make sure you vacuum up all the dust and wipe down all the surfaces thoroughly so you don't get little pieces stuck in the paint.

Don't: Leave the doors and hardware on when you paint. You can't easily get every part of the door if you don't take everything off, and the paint you inevitably get on the hardware will make it look like a DIY job.

Don’t: Forget to number your cabinet doors so you know how to put them back on when you're done. This is not a fun thing to figure out after the fact.

bluehammer The Turquoise Home

Do: Label the hardware, too. See above.

Don’t: Paint with your animals in the room. Just trust on this one.

bluehammer The Turquoise Home

Do: "Let the paint settle for a couple of minutes and then look back over it for paint pooled in the corners or drips underneath the edges," said The Turquoise Home. "The paint will still be wet enough to clean up those areas and will still level and dry flat.

Don’t: Quit after one coat. You'll probably be dying to be done after one, but remember: A little more effort here goes a long way.

Do: Prep, prep, prep. Tape stuff. Use dropcloths. Make sure everything you don't want covered in paint is nicely protected, or you'll be scraping paint off of it FOR LIFE.

Don’t: Use flat paint. Because it's not washable, it won't hold up as well as another finish.

bluehammer Tipsaholic

Want to estimate your home improvement costs before talking with a contractor? Claim your home for free with bluehammer to estimate costs, secure your home inventory and learn more about your home.

* THIS REPORT IS AN OPINION THAT MAY BE INACCURATE AND IS PROVIDED SOLELY AS AN INFORMATIONAL TOOL NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS. ALL ELEMENTS ARE OFFERED "AS IS" AND BLUEBOOK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, AND GUARANTEES OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABLITILY, NONINFRINGEMENT, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL BLUEBOOK (OR THEIR SUPPLIERS) BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM USE OF THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING : (1) RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS PRESENTED, (2) COSTS OF REPLACEMENT GOODS, (3) LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, (4) DELAYS OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, (5) AND ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF INFORMATION) WHETHER OR NOT BLUEBOOK HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Know what you should pay for your home improvement projects with bluehammer.Claim your home. It's free!

Popular


8 Ways to Love Your Small Space More

When we run stories on living in homes with petite proportions, you often tell us, "Small? You should see my house!" Because we aim to please, we've rounded up some of the tiniest rooms on Houzz, picking those that pack plenty of ideas and function into a small space. We think that these are indisputably compact. But, more important, do you?

Removing Your Popcorn Ceiling

More and more homeowners are changing out their popcorn ceilings for a more modern look.

A Homeowner's Guide To Water Filtration

Is a home water treatment system a luxury or a necessity? Based on surveys commissioned by the Water Quality Association (an industry trade group), people who viewed water treatment as a luxury rose from 50 to 54 percent between 2013 and 2015.

How To Design An Entryway That Fits Your Need

It's easy to think you need to live like a robot to have a beautiful home, but that's not the case! The design for your home should always support your unique lifestyle. Designing a house that embraces your life and look is easy: Notice how you live.

Early Planning For Retirement And Inheritance

Question: We are nearing retirement, and are becoming concerned about our future, and the future of our children.

The Most Expensive and Most Affordable Maintenance Projects to Update Your Home

A functional and beautiful home is important for you and your family. When it comes to home improvements and maintenance projects, your budget is likely a major deciding factor when it comes to upgrades.

5 Tips to Clean and Prepare Your Air Conditioner for Summer

Making it through the summer without a working air conditioning system isn't feasible in some parts of the country. Even if you live in a temperate climate, your AC system will make you and your family much more comfortable at home.

A Guide to Home Insulation Materials

Insulation is one of those building products that you never see, because it is usually covered up by something else. But if you don't have enough, or if it is installed incorrectly, you're wasting energy and paying more for heating and cooling than is necessary.

How To Create A Great Accent Wall

Bringing color into your space doesn't require you to splash paint up everywhere. Sometimes, focusing on just one wall can have even greater impact, or at least allow you to slowly get used to the idea of color before you take the four-wall plunge.

9 Places to Shop Online For Furniture and Home Furnishings

These days, there isn't much we don't shop for online. But if you have been hesitant to buy your furniture and other home items with a few clicks instead of being able to walk into a store and see them in person, it might be time to rethink that strategy. With so many great sites that offer easy delivery (and returns) and tons of reviews that can give you confidence in your purchase, furnishing or updating your home online is easier than ever. We have curated a few of our favorite sites.

See More Articles