best advice for painted cabinets

We received a question from a sweet reader the other day when we revealed this kitchen. And it made us realize, we actually receive this question a lot. 

“…What is your process for refinishing these cabinets?” 

We take on a lot of projects for clients. Some are full on rehabs, some of them are “halfsies” depending on what the client needs, and what can be reused to their advantage. It’s a smart way to get the most bang for your buck. We’ve seen a lot of kitchens, and we’re flexible when it comes to spaces. We always advise our clients on the practical side of things. For instance, we’re never ones to come in and encourage people to do a full on gut out/remodel, if they plan to sell their home in a year, or their cabinets are in good shape.

There are a lot of ways to save money in the process, since cabinets and countertops will definitely be the priciest addition to your new kitchen. Sometimes, this includes having the client’s cabinets refinished, as a great option. Today we’re covering our best advice for painted cabinets.

We’re going to give you some totally honest answers.

There’s nothing we love more than a good before and after, that our clients will love for years to come. 

It would be incredible if we had the time/resources/energy to literally finish the cabinets ourselves. Maybe. But alas, we don’t. We believe in hiring out to our weaknesses, and letting the pros be the pros with what they do.

Fun fact: we started out as a furniture refinishing business, for our side gig. We soon realized that wasn’t what we wanted to do because it was a lot of work, and our kids were really young. We even took on our own kitchen once upon a time, in our old house to save money. But I’ll come back to this. 

The simple answer is, HIRE SOMEBODY. 

Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. HIRE SOMEBODY to paint those cabinets. We’ve seen a lot of kitchens and a lot of shoddy jobs. We’ve also talked to some sub-par companies so we’re going to cover what to avoid or look for, below. It’s our greatest hope in being brutally honest, that we save you a big fat headache. And some money in the process, when you decide NOT to make a costly mistake. So see our reasons below…

If you’re looking to save money, HIRE SOMEBODY.

If you’re looking to ever sell your home again, HIRE SOMEBODY.

If you’re looking to make a small change or a big change, HIRE SOMEBODY. 

It’s worth the splurge. It’s worth doing it right. 

Yes there are exceptions to the rule. Like, if you plan to rip your kitchen out in a year or two, and just want a temporary fix. Or if you have a small bathroom vanity project. Every situation is different, but we’re going to give you our best advice based on what we see working over and over again. 

Why? I’ll keep it short and simple here. 

DIY painted cabinets were all the rage circa 2010-ish. Were you even a blogger if you hadn’t refinished your own kitchen and shared tips and how tos for the process? #SHEDOESNTEVENGOHERE. We did our own, in our old house, and it was great for in the process… We had little money, and it worked at the time. 

But we regretted it.  

The finish scratched off. It was sloppy. It didn’t look like it should have.

You’re going to spend so much money on supplies, you may as well save a little more and hire someone to do it for you. Time is money, and if you’re going to dive into the process, you may as well do it right. AINTNOBODYGOTTIMEFORTHAT.
Short story long: You probably don’t have the experience required for a pristine finish in a DIY job. So just don’t. 

Wait a few months and save some funds for a professional. You won’t regret it. 

We’re all for some good DIY.

But we’ve seen both.

We’ve done both.

HIRE SOMEBODY.

All of the cabinets you see here in this post, were professionally refinished for a client. NOT by us. But by the professionals that we work with for a reason.

So here are a few tips we have for finding the pro for the job: 

Make sure they’re comfortable with this. 
Most professional painters, will have taken on kitchens. This means cabinets. Ask them. See what they’re comfortable doing. They should be able to talk about their experience, and show you photos of their work. 

Get a few quotes.
This will help you decide who to work with.
Here’s a hint: don’t go with the cheapest person. They’re usually cheapest for a reason. 

Here’s another hint: Don’t give someone all your money up front. You will never see them again. True story.

They should have a crew of people. 
Now, this isn’t always the case, but a kitchen is an extensive, multi-person job. A kitchen, in my experience, can not be out of commission for very long. And I’m talking about an experienced crew. Not the guys fresh outta high school looking for a summer job. Not the mom friend with a side gig who can brush it on for you. Sorry not sorry. A crew of experienced professionals. These are your only cabinets. Do it right.

They should use a sprayer. 
In our experience, a sprayer for a smooth, factory-esque finish, is the best approach for long lasting finishes. Yes, brushes will come into play for some areas, etc. But if the sprayer isn’t in their language, red flag. 

They should do the proper prep work.
This includes priming, and removing all the doors/hardware. {Another red flag would be if they don’t discuss removing the doors as a part of their process. This may sound like common sense, but sometimes it’s not.} It also includes prepping your house for mess and safety. Floor to ceiling plastic curtains and major taping, protecting, and more. 

They should use a certain type of paint.
Something along the lines of an extreme bond primer, and look for language like Urethane Trim Enamel. You want high-quality paint, done right. All painters have their process. Ask them about it, and why. You’ll learn so much.

Be wary of pricy “boutique” companies. 
This was the next trend birthed from bloggers doing their own kitchens. Trust us, run away. We’ve had experience with that, too. You want an experienced crew. PERIOD.

Please know that any painted surface has the potential to scratch. This approach minimizes those chances, in the future. Be prepared for touch ups and cure time. Take a step back and think about the most cost effective approach to your kitchen. We know it’s a painful gouge in the funds, but still a better price tag than all new cabinets. We’re fans of both for different reasons, depending on the situation. There is no one size fits all when it comes to a design solution for a kitchen. But we do know what to look for. 

We hope these have given you good ideas as to what to look for when it comes to someone who can refinish cabinets. 

As always let us know if you have any questions. 

Have an inspired day!