To Paint or Not Inside Cabinets

Deciding whether to paint the inside of your kitchen cabinets can be a difficult decision. On one hand, a fresh coat of paint can give your cabinets a clean, updated look while covering up unsightly stains or odors. But painting the interiors does require extra work and expense compared to simply repainting the exterior surfaces.

Necessity of Painting Cabinet Interiors

When considering taking on an interior cabinet paint job, it helps to weigh the potential benefits against the extra effort required.

Pros of Painting Inside Cabinets

There are several advantages that a fresh coat of paint on the inside can provide:

• Helps refresh the look of older cabinets
• Covers up existing stains, grease, or strange odors
• Protects and preserves nice wood grain patterns
• Allows you to change color without replacing cabinets
• Much cheaper than installing custom cabinetry

For kitchens with damaged, dated-looking cabinets, an interior paint job often gives them a near-total transformation. The clean white or colored interiors help modernize the space with a brighter, sleeker look.

Additionally, painting inside cabinets is an affordable way to update less-than-perfect cabinet boxes you want to preserve rather than replace. This approach saves thousands compared to the cost of new custom cabinetry.

Cons to Weigh Before Painting

While the pros are compelling, undertaking the process of painting cabinet interiors has definite downsides to consider upfront:

• Involves much more intensive prep and painting work
• Spray painting makes more of a mess
• Paint may wear faster due to friction
• Door and drawer removal is often required
• Special painting skills needed for tight spaces

Preparing and painting the inside of cabinetry is far more tedious than simply repainting the exterior surfaces. To do it right, you'll likely need to remove doors, drawers, and shelves during the process.

Spraying paint has advantages for getting full coverage, but also tends to create more of a messy overspray. The paint itself also may wear quicker inside cabinets due to constant friction with shelves and cookware.

For many DIYers without refined painting skills, reaching the back walls and corners of cabinet interiors can prove extremely difficult. Spray painting tight spaces also requires getting comfortable with using a paint sprayer properly.

Preparing Cabinets for Interior Paint

Taking time upfront to thoroughly prepare your cabinets will ensure the new paint has a sound surface to adhere to. Proper prep sets the stage for a smooth, durable finish.

Cleaning Surfaces

Before painting, it's critical to clean cabinet interiors thoroughly:

1. Remove all shelves, drawers and doors from cabinets
2. Wash all surfaces with warm water and mild dish soap
3. Rinse soap residue and allow boxes to fully dry

Pay special attention to greasy areas around former stove spaces. Degreasing solutions help dissolve oil and grime so surfaces are clean for painting.

Sanding Down Surfaces

After cleaning, sanding creates an optimal paint bonding surface:

• Lightly sand all interior wood surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper
• Sand laminate and primed surfaces with 220-grit paper
• Thoroughly wipe sanded surfaces to remove all dust

Be sure to sand inside corners and crevices that will get painted. This roughs up glossy areas for better paint adhesion.

Priming Bare Wood

For unpainted wood cabinet boxes, priming is an essential first coat before painting:

1. Apply oil-based primer to all interior raw wood surfaces
2. Allow primer to fully dry for at least 24 hours
3. Sand primed surfaces lightly with 220 grit sandpaper

Primer seals the wood grain and provides a uniform base layer the paint can grip. Oil-based formulas work best for bare wood compared to latex-based options. Be patient and allow the primer adequate dry time before sanding or moving onto painting.

Painting Inside Cabinet Boxes

Brush Painting vs Spraying Methods

• Brushing - Applying paint with an angled trim brush
• Spraying - Using an airless spray gun and compressor

Painting Hard to Reach Areas

• Use painter's tape and drop cloths to mask off areas
• Mask ventilation holes to prevent paint dripping
• Use a small trim brush and mini roller for tight spots
• Shine a bright work light to clearly see all areas
• Take your time painting hidden corner areas

Finishing Touches After Painting

You're not completely done with the kitchen cabinet transformation after painting. Proper drying time and reassembly of the doors, shelves and drawers are final important steps.

Allowing Paint to Dry and Cure

The drying time is critical with paint applied

• Let painted cabinets dry for 24 hours between coats
• Allow the final coat to cure for several days
• Run fans to circulate air and speed drying time