Can You Use Paint on Varnished Cabinets?

Considerations

• Dark wood cabinets sometimes feel like they are sucking all of the light out of a space. Create a more open, inviting interior by brightening up the cabinets with some new paint. As long as wood cabinets are still sturdy and structurally sound, there's no reason you can't update them instead of replacing them. Bring some swatches home from the paint store to see what complements your kitchen best. There's no unbreakable rule that says that all cabinets have to be the same color. Use complementary colors on upper and lower cabinets, or paint the island a bold color for contrast.

Preparation

• Proper preparation is the key to using paint on varnished cabinets. Remove all of the doors from your kitchen cabinets. Remove the hardware and store it in a safe place. Clean all of the wood surfaces with TSP substitute or a degreaser to vanquish all of the dirt and oil that have built up over the years. Sand all surfaces with 100 grit sandpaper to ensure that your primer and paint will adhere correctly. Wipe the surfaces with a damp rag afterward to pick up any sanding dust. Fill dents and scratches with wood putty.

Priming

• Strongly grained woods, such as oak, might need two coats of primer to fill in grain. Use a high-build, sandable primer, and apply it with a small, angled paintbrush. Prime the interior panel first and then prime the sides. Wait until one coat of primer is dry to the touch before applying the second coat. Keep the doors flat so that the primer spreads easily and doesn't drip. Sand the primer to remove brushstrokes.

Painting

• The process of painting your varnished wood cabinets should be easy if you've done all of the necessary prep work. Use latex paint in a gloss or semigloss finish. Work from the interior panel to the outer edges with a chiseled brush. Alternatively, you can use a paint sprayer for a smooth, flawless finish. Most rental centers have commercial-grade sprayers available to rent. Let the paint dry completely between coats, and wait two to three days before rehanging the doors and reinstalling the hardware.

Conclusion

• Painting varnished wood cabinets is a great alternative to ripping them out and installing new ones. Not only does this method provide a cost-effective way of updating your kitchen's look, it also keeps the old cabinets in use and out of the landfill. Proper prep work is the key to successfully painting varnished cabinets.