Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets
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While shiny new appliances are nice, nothing will vibe in your kitchen if the cabinets aren’t in tip-top shape.
This doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars to get the updated look your kitchen needs.
In fact, you can completely transform your existing cabinets by refinishing them yourself.
1. Start with the bare bones
First, make sure your cabinets are completely stripped of all doors, hinges, handles, drawer fronts and shelves. This allows you to work on individual pieces in your garage (or other area that can handle a mess), rather than put the rest of your kitchen at risk for stains.
2. Get Your Cabinets Spotless
Cleaning might be the most important part of this process. Cabinets that haven’t been scrubbed and sanded won’t hold the stain or paint nearly as well—if at all. Use both a citrus-based cleaner and solvent-based cleaner for best results. Then, sand away.
3. Have All Materials on Hand
If you aren’t quite sure how much paint or stain you’ll need to refinish your cabinets, ask a professional at your local home improvement store. By having everything on hand before it’s time to start painting, you can rest assured that you won’t run out the door half-finished.
4. Protect Yourself
Remember, you are working with chemicals that can easily irritate your eyes and lungs. Make sure to use gloves and a protective mask so you don’t spend the better part of a weekend ingesting harmful fumes.
5. Don’t Move Too Fast
Even though refinishing your kitchen cabinets may not be the most exciting task, all that extra work will be in vain if you rush through the staining or painting process. Make sure that each door and drawer is completed properly. That way you won’t have to start again from square one.
