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Start by carefully removing all kitchen cabinet doors and drawers from your kitchen cabinetry. Unscrew and remove the hinges and any attached hardware from the doors and cabinetry.
Use masking tape to label each kitchen cabinet door at the top, and group all the hardware and screws for each door together, clearly labelling them so everything stays organised.
Before painting, it's essential to thoroughly clean the laminate surfaces. Use sugar soap wipes to remove any grease, grime, or dust. Follow up by wiping the surfaces with a damp cloth to remove any residue, repeating this step twice for a spotless finish.
If you're not painting the inside of the cabinet doors or drawer faces, apply masking tape around the edges to ensure a neat finish. This will prevent any paint from getting where you don’t want it. If you’re painting both sides, you can skip this step.
To help the primer and paint adhere to the laminate, lightly sand the cabinet doors, drawers, and other surfaces with 400-grit sandpaper. This roughens up the laminate and ensures the paint will stick properly. After sanding, wipe the surfaces clean with a microfibre cloth to remove all the dust.
If you're replacing the cabinet handles with a different size, fill the existing holes with wood filler. Let the wood filler dry completely before lightly sanding it to create a smooth, even surface.
Before applying any paint, coat the surfaces with a laminate primer. Use a paint roller to apply the primer in long, even strokes. Once you've covered the entire surface, go over it with an empty paint roller to smooth it out. Make sure to prime both the front and back of your cabinet doors and drawers.
Once the primer has dried, it's time to apply your paint. Make sure you’re using paint specifically designed for laminate surfaces. When selecting the finish, satin is a popular choice, but you can also opt for a gloss finish if you prefer a shinier look.
Apply thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry fully (at least eight hours) before applying the next. Multiple thin coats will give you a smoother, more professional finish, while thicker coats could lead to drips or uneven patches.
For a durable, long-lasting finish, apply a clear coat over the painted surfaces. This will help protect against scratches, chips, and wear and tear, particularly in a high-traffic area like the kitchen.
Once the paint and protective coat are fully dry, re-attach the handles and hinges. Carefully rehang the doors and insert the drawers into your cabinetry to complete your transformed look.
Now that you’ve painted your laminate kitchen cabinetry, learn how to put new handles on kitchen cabinetry.
Looking for more D.I.Y. painting projects? Learn how to paint a bath tub.
Painted laminate kitchen cupboards
Workshop member Ari painted his original 1995 kitchen using White Knight Tile and Laminate paint and found the transformation process easy.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
