Painting Knotty Wood Pine Cabinets

Set drop cloths on the floor beneath the cabinets. Tape off any areas of the cabinets you do not want painted.

Remove grease and dirt from the pine cabinets with a degreasing cleanser and a rag. Use a clean cloth to dry the cabinets.

Remove the cabinet doors from the cabinets. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the hinges and cabinet hardware. Place the doors and hardware aside.

Smear wood putty over dents or cracks in the cabinets with a putty knife. This is especially important for knotty pine cabinets because pine tends to dent easily. Additionally, knots in the cabinets may not be completely smooth. The knots will show up easily when painted. After all cracks, dents, or holes are filled in the cabinets, let the putty dry.

Sand down the pine cabinets and cabinet doors with fine grit sandpaper. This will degloss the finish on the cabinets and smooth out the wood putty. Remove sanding dust with a tack cloth.

Prime the cabinetry with latex primer. In some cases you can skip priming the cabinets. However, if your cabinetry is unfinished or you have a lot of knots in the wood you will need to prime the cabinetry. Priming unfinished pine knots is essential. Pine has sap that can leak through the paint and ruin the paint job. Let the primer dry per manufacturer directions. Repeat as necessary.

Cover the cabinets with several coats of latex paint. Use a foam roller and a paintbrush to apply the paint. Let each thin coat of paint dry before applying the next. Give the cabinetry a solid week of drying time before reinstalling the doors and hardware.