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Grab your screwdriver and get busy unscrewing all your doors, drawer fronts and their handles.
You'll want to be able to remember where everything goes when it comes time to put it all back together again, so grab a packet of stickers or tabs and write numbers on each door so you know where to re-fix them. Also – and this is important – remember to keep all the screws. They have a nasty habit of going missing – grab a mug from the kitchen and put each one in there for safekeeping.
You can keep your hinges on if you're repainting your cupboard doors.
The best way to do this is by using a packet of sugar soap wipes or you can use some sugar soap, a damp cloth and a bucket of warm water. Get right in there and get all the dirt and grime off (it's amazing how quickly it accumulates, especially around stovetops). The surfaces need to be sparkling clean before we begin painting.
We're not going to be painting the back, so tape up the underside of your cupboards and drawers for a crisp, clean look. Once this is done, grab a sanding block and give the front side a scrub – you want it roughed up a bit so the primer and paint stick well. Always wear a dust mask and eye protection when sanding.
We're using a plastic and laminate primer from the Dulux Renovation Range. It comes in a tin.
Add one entire tube of the laminate primer (which comes with it, in the blue lid), and give it a good stir for around two minutes. Once this is done, pour everything into a paint tray, and you're ready for rolling. Remember to roll your primer in long, smooth strokes – you want a nice even distribution. Once you've finished this step, run an empty roller over the doors to give everything a nice, smooth finish – this is called "layering off".
If your cupboards are wood, you can skip this step – they're good to go already.
Once the laminate primer has dried, you're ready to put your first coat of paint on. The great thing about the Dulux Renovator Range is that you can choose any paint colour available. Want bright pink kitchen doors? You got it! But the grey colour we're using is more to our taste. Apply your paint in the same way you applied your primer – long, clean, sweeping strokes.
Wait for your first coat of paint to dry – best give it a good eight hours to be on the safe side – then lightly sand again with a fine-grit sandpaper. Then you're ready for that second coat! We only gave our drawers two coats, and this should suffice for yours too. Once the second coat is done, give it another eight hours, and you're ready to rehang everything.
You've done it! You've given your kitchen a whole new lease on life! Remove that tape, re-attach your handles and you're ready to hang. Now sit back and admire your handiwork.
Watch the full kitchen makeover episode and more D.I.Y. projects from Make It Yours.
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.
