Hello friends,

I’ve been procrastinating on writing this post for over a year! For some reason, I didn’t have all pictures and information saved in a single place,  so I knew it would take a lot of time and effort to do put everything together. The holiday break and freezing temperatures outside gave me the perfect conditions to just sit down and get it done, so here we go!

I prepared this tutorial to show you how I painted the bathroom cabinets in my previous house back in Connecticut. When I tackled this project I had no idea that six months later I would be moving to Virginia. Anyways, it was a good learning experience for me, and the nice result probably gave the potential buyers a very good first impression.

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Here is how they looked before.

Ok, they didn’t look so bad, but I grew tired of that dark brown stain on top of dark tiles. It made the space feel small and cramped. I wanted it to feel more open and fresh, so I decided to lighten it up.

Here is what it looks now.

Better, right? I knew you would agree.

I started by removing all drawers and doors then uninstalling all hardware.

Since the wood was in pretty good condition and not horribly dirty, I skipped sanding altogether. Instead, I wiped all areas to be painted with this deglosser.

I just rubbed well twice using a paper towel but you can also use a clean rag.

After you apply the deglosser, it is very important to remove it completely by cleaning all areas thoroughly. I used TSP diluted in water for that step.

To avoid getting the walls, counter and tiles dirty with paint, I taped all the edges of the vanity.

Since that bathroom was a high traffic and high-humidity area, I decided to take an extra precaution to ensure paint adherence and durability. I primed everything with an oil-based primer.

I used my favorite foam roller for the larger areas and quality paint brushes for corners and narrow areas.

One coat of primer is enough. It doesn’t need to look perfect.

I used the brushes on nooks and crannies.

I waited overnight for the primer to dry, then I lightly sanded everything with a very fine grit sand pad.

Finally, I rolled and brushed two coats of  Valspar Cabinet Paint in “Graceful White”. I let the first coat dry completely then lightly sanded and cleaned everything before applying the second coat.

The best thing about this paint is that it requires NO SEALER. It is super resistant and durable and it has a beautiful semi-gloss sheen. Another big advantage for me is that I can clean my brushes with soapy water. No harsh, stinky solvents needed.

Finally, here is the video tutorial I made of the full process. Remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you don’t miss any of my tutorials!

Let me know what you think, and feel free to leave your questions in the comments.

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Thanks for reading!

 

Patricia.