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.
This post contains some affiliate links.
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.
I shared this post on these awesome Link Parties
Friday Favorites (Remodelaholic)
Silver Pennies Sundays Link Party
Thanks for reading!
Patricia.
It’s that magic white paint again, your bathroom cabinets look great you obviously did a brilliant job. Makes your bathroom look fresher.
LikeLike
Thanks Claire! It does look a lot fresher 🙂
LikeLike
Nice to meet you! Your cabinet looks spectacular. I hired out my kitchen a couple of years ago but I had no idea there was a cabinet enamel with NO BRUSH STROKES! I wonder how that might work on my banister? Great job
LikeLike
Hi Debbie, thank you so much! I’ve heard only one person complaining that this paint pealed easily. I used it in several projects and never had that problem. I do make sure my surface is either light sanded or deglossed, super clean, and primed with oil-based primer before I apply the paint. It has a beautiful finish, and I think it would work very well on banisters. Good luck!
LikeLike
Amazing! Love the way it turned out! The video is awesome, too!
LikeLike
Thank you Janice!
LikeLike
Pat it looks gorgeous. I always learn so much from your blog. I had no idea what a deglosser was or that you had to use TSP after that. You are like an encyclopedia.
LikeLike
Haha! Google and YouTube are the encyclopedia, not me 🙂 Thanks, Mary! The deglosser was a change gamer for me. You should try.
LikeLike
The cabinet looks great and really does give the bathroom a completely different look!! Wonderful job and I am impressed with your patience. I have such a hard time waiting for paint to dry, lol!!
LikeLike
Thanks Susanne! I have no patience either, but I couldn’t mess up with this one 😀
LikeLike
Beautiful job, Pat! Looks like brand new cabinets from the manufacturer. I’m going to have to try that paint. Thanks for sharing at our link party!
LikeLike
Thank you Stephanie! Go for it, this paint is good stuff 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful job!!!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
SO excited to find 2 new great time-saving products in one post (deglosser and the cabinet paint 😉 You made my day and bought me time to work on more projects!!! Many thanks 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcomed Shannon! Good luck on your project!
LikeLike