How to Paint Laminate With Oak Trim Cabinets

Paint Laminate Only

• 1

  Remove the cabinets from the hinges and take the hardware off the cabinets.

• 2

  Clean the laminate with warm soapy water and a grease-fighting liquid dishwashing soap. Rinse the soap away and dry the surface with dry cleaning cloths.

• 3

  Place painter's tape along the oak trim edges. Make sure to place the tape directly at the edge of the laminate and oak wood.

• 4

  Scuff the laminate with 80-grit sandpaper. This medium texture sandpaper prepares the laminate surface by removing the glossy finish to enable the primer to bond with the surface.

• 5

  Apply a coat of acrylic water-based primer. Use either a small sponge paint roller or paintbrush to paint the coat of primer. Let the primer dry four to six hours.

• 6

  Sand the cabinets gently with fine 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the dust away with a tack cloth.

• 7

  Paint the laminate area with water-based latex paint. Use the foam paint roller and paintbrushes to apply the paint. Let the paint dry overnight. Apply a second coat if desired.

• 8

  Remove the painter's tape from the oak trim. Replace the hardware and hang the cabinets back onto the hinges.

Paint the Laminate and the Oak Trim

• 9

  Take the cabinets off the hinges and remove all hardware. Clean the cabinets with warm soapy water. Dry the cabinets with a clean cloth and let them air dry for an hour.

• 10

  Sand the entire cabinet surface with 150-grit sandpaper. Wipe away all the sanding dust with a tack cloth.

• 11

  Prime the laminate and oak surfaces with an acrylic oil-based primer. Use small foam paint rollers for large areas and a paintbrush for the corners and crevices. Let the primer dry six to eight hours.

• 12

  Scuff the cabinets with fine 220-grit sandpaper. This prepares the primed surface for the final coats of paint.

• 13

  Paint the cabinets with water-based latex paint. Use the rollers for larger surfaces and paintbrushes for the corners and crevices on the cabinets. Let the paint dry overnight. Apply a second coat if needed. Replace the hardware and hang the cabinets back onto the door hinges.