How to Paint Old Cabinets Dark Brown

Apply wood filler to any deep gouges in the cabinetry. Spread the filler smooth using a putty knife and wait for it to dry.

Sand small surface scratches and any fresh patches of wood filler using 150-grit sandpaper. These blemishes will show up through new layers of paint if left unsanded.

Sand all the cabinetry surfaces with 220-grit sandpaper. This finer grit sandpaper helps further smooth patched areas and small blemishes. More importantly, 220-grit sandpaper abrades old cabinetry's existing glossy finish for better paint adhesion.

Wash the cabinets with a trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleanser and a rag. Over time, your old cabinets have accumulated thin layers of oil and dirt that you may not even notice. TSP cleansers remove this residue as well as leftover sandpaper dust.

Remove any cabinet hardware that you don't want painted. Typically, hardware is removable with a simple screwdriver.

Protect walls and trim with painter's tape.

Apply tinted general purpose primer to the cabinetry. Use a paintbrush for tight spaces, and a roller for the main cabinetry surface. Tinted primers cost a few dollars more per gallon, but a dark primer will ensure adequate dark brown coverage in fewer coats. Wait for the primer to dry.

Paint the cabinets with dark brown oil-based semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. Paint the edges with a brush, and use a roller on main surfaces. Kitchen and bathroom cabinetry are regularly exposed to moisture damage from stove-top or shower steam. Oil-based paint is better at withstanding this damage than latex paint.

Apply a second coat of dark brown paint if needed after the first coat dries. With underlying tinted primer, you may find that a single coat actually covers the surface adequately.

Remove the painter's tape and reinstall hardware once the final coat has dried for a full 24 hours.