Paint over wood cabinets if you must, but know first that there are better options for your home.
Wood cabinets are one of the highest-quality features in a kitchen. If they’re:
- solid
- well-made
- still in decent condition
Painting over them takes away the value and warmth they bring.
Before you grab a brush, take a closer look at what makes them worth keeping and what else you can change in your kitchen to make the space feel fresh and modern.
Why You Should Think Twice Before Painting Over Wood Cabinets
Painting over wood cabinets feels like a quick way to modernize your kitchen. It looks easy in a video and seems like a simple weekend fix when your space feels dated. But covering wood with paint usually doesn’t solve much.
You risk ruining one of the best investments in your home. Wood cabinets are built to last decades. They hold up to wear better than most painted finishes, and they add real resale value because they’re still seen as a premium feature. Many newer cabinets are made from particleboard or laminate, which don’t age as well or hold their value like real wood does.
DIY paint jobs also chip and peel quickly. This happens because most DIY paints aren’t designed for heavy use, and without proper prep the finish won’t stick as well as a factory finish. The result can actually make your kitchen feel cheaper instead of better.
Instead of a quick fix, you can take steps that keep your cabinets’ quality intact and still make your kitchen feel new.
Are Your Cabinets Worth Saving?
Not every wood cabinet is worth keeping, but many are. If you’re not sure, check out our guide: How to Know When Your Cabinets Need Replacing.
If your cabinets are solid wood and the boxes are still in good shape, they are almost always worth keeping.
How to Restore Your Wood Cabinets Instead of Painting
You don’t need to paint over wood cabinets to refresh your kitchen. Focus on bringing your cabinets back to life and changing the elements around them.
Give Them a Good Clean
Wood can hide years of buildup. Use a gentle cleaning solution of water and dish soap and a soft cotton cloth to remove grease and dirt from every surface. This alone can make them look years newer.
Fix Loose Hinges
Sagging doors make even good cabinets feel old or cheap. Tighten all the hinges and adjust doors so they line up properly. Fix any broken hinges or misaligned drawers to improve function.
Touch Up Dings and Dents
Many custom cabinet manufacturers, including Decor Cabinets, offer touch-up kits. They can fill scratches, restore finish, and make blemishes almost disappear.
Replace Backsplash and Countertops
If your cabinets are in good condition, you can completely change the look of your kitchen by updating the surfaces around them. New backsplash tile and countertops can make wood cabinets feel intentional and current.
Change Out Hardware and Fixtures
Outdated knobs and pulls can date your cabinets. Replacing them with something more current, along with a new faucet and updated light fixtures, gives your space a new feel without painting.
Paint the Walls
One of the easiest and least expensive changes you can make is painting the walls. Choose a color that works with your wood tone and your whole kitchen will feel brighter and updated.
If your wood cabinets are still solid, focus on everything else. You’ll keep the quality you already paid for and still get a fresh look.
How to Paint Wood Cabinets the Professional Way
If you’re set on painting your wood cabinets, take your time and do it properly. A rushed weekend project almost always leads to streaks, chips, and an uneven finish. Professional painters and cabinet finishers follow specific steps to get long-lasting results. Here’s what they recommend.
Remove the doors and hardware
Take all cabinet doors and drawers off the boxes. Remove all knobs, pulls, and hinges. This ensures a cleaner finish and prevents paint from pooling around hardware.
Clean thoroughly
Grease and grime prevent paint from sticking. Use a degreasing cleaner and scrub every surface well. Rinse and let everything dry completely.
Sand the surfaces
Don’t skip sanding. Even if the wood looks smooth, it needs to be scuffed for the primer to adhere. Use a fine-grit sandpaper around 120 to 150 grit and sand all doors, drawer fronts, and boxes evenly. Wipe off all dust with a tack cloth.
Use a professional-grade primer
A quality primer blocks stains and helps paint bond properly to the wood. Use a shellac-based or stain-blocking primer and apply it with a high-density foam roller or sprayer for a smooth finish. Let it cure fully before painting.
Apply thin, even coats of paint
Use a high-quality enamel or cabinet-grade paint. These are formulated to be durable and washable. Apply in very thin, even coats with a sprayer for the best results, or a foam roller if spraying isn’t an option. Let each coat dry completely before adding the next. Plan for at least two coats of paint, possibly three for full coverage.
Allow plenty of curing time
Even when the surface feels dry to the touch, paint needs time to cure and harden. Let the doors and drawers cure for several days before reattaching them. This minimizes the chance of sticking or scratching the new finish.
For a more detailed professional guide, see this article on how to paint your kitchen cabinets from Benjamin Moore.
What to Do After Painting Cabinets
Once your cabinets are painted, it’s important to let them cure fully before regular use. Even if they feel dry, the paint is still soft and vulnerable underneath.
Keep the room well-ventilated. Open windows if weather allows and set up a fan to keep air moving. This helps paint fumes dissipate and speeds up curing.
Plan to wait at least 48 to 72 hours before lightly reattaching doors and hardware. Even then, avoid heavy use for the first few days. Most cabinet-grade paints take a full 7 to 10 days to cure completely, depending on humidity and temperature.
During that first week, open doors and drawers gently and avoid stacking heavy items inside. This helps prevent smudges, sticking, or indentations while the finish hardens.
Be patient. Giving the paint time to cure properly will make the finish last longer and look better.
Why Hire a Professional Painter
If you want a flawless, durable result, hiring a professional cabinet painter is worth it. Professionals use commercial-grade products, spray booths for a factory-quality finish, and curing techniques that you can’t replicate at home.
They also save you time and frustration. Prepping and painting cabinets properly takes days, not hours, and even small mistakes can lead to uneven coverage or peeling. A professional knows how to handle every step so your cabinets look and feel right.
Hiring a professional costs more upfront but gives you a better return on your investment in the long run.
The Budget Breakdown: Which Option Is Right for You?
One of the biggest factors in deciding what to do with your wood cabinets is cost. Here’s a simple breakdown of the most common options you may be considering.
Restore Your Existing Wood Cabinets
This is the least expensive way to update your kitchen while keeping the value of your wood.
Deep clean: $20–$50 for cleaning supplies
Touch-up kit: $50–$150 (if available from your manufacturer)
New hardware: $5–$15 per knob or pull
Paint for walls: $50–$100 per gallon
New backsplash: $500–$1,500 installed
New countertops: $2,000–$4,000 installed
Paint Your Cabinets Yourself
If you decide to paint, expect more time and some upfront costs.
Materials and supplies: $300–$500
Your time: several days
Hire a Professional Painter
For a flawless, professional result.
Professional cabinet painting: $3,000–$8,000 depending on kitchen size and your market
Replace Your Cabinets
If they truly cannot be saved.
Semi-custom cabinets: $10,000–$20,000
High-end custom cabinets: $20,000 and up
Restoring and keeping your wood cabinets gives you the best balance of quality, value, and long-term satisfaction. If painting is your choice, plan your budget carefully and make sure it is done properly.
Before Custom Decor Cabinets
After Custom Decor Cabinets
Keep What’s Worth Keeping
If you already have quality wood cabinets, you already own something people pay more to have. Don’t feel pressure to cover them up just to follow a trend. Change the things around your cabinets and you’ll get the best of both worlds: a kitchen that feels updated while keeping the quality you invested in.
And if you’re set on painting, at least do it the right way or hire someone who knows how to prep and finish properly.
