How to Redo Laminate Cabinets

Clean the cabinets of any residue like grease or stuck on food. Use rags and soapy water. Dry them completely when done.

Remove the hardware holding the doors in place with the help of a drill. Unscrew the screws to take the doors down. You will paint the doors separate on a flat surface so that they have less chance of drip lines.

Sand the laminate surface of the cabinets and doors. Laminate is a slick surface and needs to be roughened up so that the primer will stick to it better.

Tape around the edges of the cabinets with painters tape to keep the walls clean. Cover the counter with a drop cloth.

Paint on the primer coat with a brush and allow it to dry. Use long even strokes and ensure that you get into every crevice. After it is dry, add a second coat if needed. Generally if you can still see the color of the laminate through the primer, then it is best to apply another coat.

Brush on your paint of choice once the primer is dry. Use an enamel paint to protect against wear and tear. Let the surface dry and then sand it lightly. Add a second coat and let it dry as well.

If you want to stain the cabinets instead of painting them, brush on a stain over the laminate and let it sit as directed on the can, before wiping it off. You can create a light or dark-stained look on light-colored laminates. A dark-stained look can be created with a darker stain, or with repeated applications of a lighter stain. On darker laminates, there's no good way to make them lighter since sanding will ruin the surface. So for dark laminate you will need to use dark stain or just paint them.

Paint on two layers of clear coat to give it a hard durable surface. Sand in between coats so that they better adhere together. The best clear coat to use is one meant for flooring, because it will be extra durable. Apply this to either paint or stain.

Reinstall the doors once everything is completely dry.