How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Dark Brown

Wash the kitchen cabinets with non-scented dish soap, water and a sponge. Chemical cleaning products leave behind residues that react poorly with paint, but basic dish detergent is safe for painting prep.

Remove the cabinetry hardware, including the hinges. Place loose doors and drawers on a plastic sheet for easier painting.

Sand glossy cabinets with 220-grit sandpaper to abrade the surface. Primer and paint don't adhere well to slick, nonporous surfaces.

Protect wall surfaces with painter's masking tape.

Prime the kitchen cabinets using a tinted primer, a medium-nap roller and a synthetic-bristle paintbrush. Tinted primers are available at most hardware stores. They work just like regular primers, but they go on dark for faster coverage with deep color tones. Tinted primer costs a little more than regular primer, but with fewer required coats of color, you'll save money on paint. Wait for the primer to dry.

Paint the kitchen cabinets with a dark brown oil-base paint. To cover in fewer coats, use a heavy-nap roller and a natural-bristle brush. Wait for the first coat to dry.

Add a second coat if necessary. Let the final coat sit for 24 hours.

Apply a coat of polyurethane to the cabinets using a foam brush and foam roller. Oil-base paints are highly durable, and a painted cabinet will last for several years, but polyurethane finishes even further extend this lifespan.

Reattach the hardware and remove the painter's tape.