The Ultimate Guide to Cabinet Painting

Everything you Need to Know Before you Start

By: MacFarland Painting

April 2, 2025

Cabinet painting is the best way to refresh your kitchen without the price tag and hassle of a full renovation. When you hire professional cabinet painters, painted cabinets can give your space a modern, updated look while maintaining durability for many years to come. At MacFarland Painting, we specialize in cabinet painting and are here to guide you through everything you need to know before getting started on your project.

Before We Arrive

Proper preparation is KEY to achieving a “new cabinet” finish. Before our first visit, we ask you to please clean your cabinets thoroughly. Removing grease and grime is essential for proper paint adhesion and durability.

We also ask that you remove all items from your drawers, and push all items back about 6 inches in your cabinets. *You do not need to empty out your cabinets, or clear off your counters!

The Process

Cabinet painting is a detailed, time-consuming process, but the good news is that your kitchen remains functional throughout! Here is what you can expect:

Day 1: Removal of Doors & Drawer Fronts

We will be spraying your cabinet doors and drawer fronts in our shop. We have a large facility that includes 12 cabinet spray booths in Livonia – feel free to stop by and check us out!

We begin all projects by removing all of your cabinet doors, drawer fronts, hardware and hinges. We take your doors and drawer fronts back to our shop. This steps allows us to spray them for a perfectly smooth finish, and be as mess-free as possible in respect of your home.

Days 2-4: Prepping & Painting the Cabinets

While the doors and drawer fronts are in shop, we will prep and paint the cabinet boxes in your home. This involves:

- Wiping down and sanding the surfaces.
- Applying a bonding primer to ensure the paint adheres perfectly.
- Cabinet painting with a professional-grade acrylic enamel. *we brush and roll the cabinet boxes, taking care to replicate the flawless appearance of new cabinets (see here)*
- Sanding between coats for a smooth finish.
- Any carpentry work *if applicable.

Day 5: Reinstallation

Once the cabinets are fully painted and cured, we will return to reinstall them. At this point, we will also install new hardware if you opted in for this.

White kitchen cabinets with a black island

The Paint 🎨

For all of our cabinet painting projects, we use a professionally formulated acrylic enamel designed for long-lasting durability. This paint is chip-resistant, making it ideal for high traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Its toughness eliminates the need for a clear coat, leaving your cabinets with a clean and seasmless finish. To ensure your confidence in our work, we also include a 2-year warranty* on all of our projects.

Why Spraying Makes a Difference

We achieve a flawless finish by using the best methods possible for each part of your cabinet painting project. Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed in our facility, equipped with over 12+ dedicated spray booths.

While the flat surfaces of the cabinet boxes allow us to achieve a smooth, spray-like finish with a simple brush and roll technique, doors and drawer fronts are a different story. Their beveled edges, and detailed profiles are better suited for spraying. Spraying ensures even coverage across every curve and corner, delivering a flawless, professional-grade finish. Since the doors and drawer fronts are the focal point of your cabinets, this meticulous approach ensures they stand out beautifully.

The Benefits of Professional Cabinet Painting

Hiring a professional cabinet painter for your project means more than just a great finish. Here are just a few reasons as to why we believe it is worth the investment.

1. Unmatched craftsmanship: With years of experience and a proven process, we deliver a flawless, factory-like finish that transforms your cabinets into the centerpiece of your space. From detailed prep to the perfect painting technique, every detail is handled with care to ensure a flawless finish.
2. Save Time & Effort: Cabinet painting is a detailed, labor-intensive process that requires precision and skill. By hiring a professional cabinet painting company, you skip the stress and let experts handle every step. We will take care of the hard work so you can focus on what matters most! 😄
3. Professional-Grade Durability: We use a premium acrylic enamel specially designed to handle daily use. Chip-resistant and durable, our finish ensures no peeling and no fading. And with our 2-year warranty* you can enjoy complete peace of mind.
4. Spray Booths in Shop: We spray your cabinet doors and drawer fronts in our Livonia shop* to achieve a smooth, factory-quality finish that brush and roll cannot replicate – all while keeping your home mess-free. With 12+ professional spray booths and a dedicated cabinet painting team, we have the tools, expertise, and precision to deliver the best results for your cabinetry.
5. Elevated Home Value: A professionally painted kitchen can SIGNIFICANTLY increase your home’s aesthetic appeal and resale value. It is an investment that truly pays off, whether you are staying or planning to sell.

Convinced Yet?

Cabinet painting is a cost-effective way to breathe new life into your home, but preparation and the right technique is key. Let us take care of the hard work while you sit back and enjoy the results.

If you are ready to start your cabinet painting project with us, contact us for a free in-home estimate by clicking the button below. Thanks for reading!