--- title: "How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets" description: "Reviving a tired vanity with fresh paint will transform the look of your whole bathroom. This easy, step-by-step tutorial will show you how to get started today..." date: "2018-03-21" modified: "2022-07-14" authors: - name: "Manasa Reddigari" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/manasa-reddigari.md" - name: "Bob Vila" job_title: "Founder" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-vila.md" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-paint-bathroom-cabinets/" categories: - "Bathroom Design" - "Bathroom Remodeling" - "Bathrooms" - "DIY" - "Interior" - "Painting & Finishing" tags: - "How To" --- # How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets ![Photo: istockphoto.com]() *How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets Photo: istockphoto.com* Whether your bathroom vanity has gone dingy with heavy use and exposure to moisture, or it’s just looking dated, painting your bathroom storage is an easy way to refresh it. Yes, you can successfully paint both solid wood or engineered wood, no matter whether the bathroom cabinets are unfinished, sealed, or previously painted. Careful surface preparation, meticulous technique, and the right products are key to professional-quality results. Get started with our thorough guide on how to paint bathroom cabinets; you’ll find all the tools you need to [give that vanity a beautiful and durable new look](). ## Project Overview ***Working Time:** 9 hours* ***Total Time:** 24 hours* ***Skill Level:** Intermediate* ***Estimated Cost:** $200* ## Before You Begin Painting your bathroom vanity is not a difficult project, nor one that requires a lot of physical strength or skills with tools, but there are lots of things DIYers must do and think through before they pick up a paint brush. Determining the kind of primer and paint to use is one concern. What's more important to think about is how you'll protect yourself as you tackle this project. Bathrooms are typically fairly small spaces, and fumes from paint, primer, and trisodium phosphate can become bothersome quickly if the room is not well ventilated. Always be sure to run the exhaust fan and open windows while you're painting in the bathroom. We also recommend protecting your body by wearing protective goggles, clothing that covers your skin, and a respirator. ### Tools & Materials Bobvila.com may earn a commission from purchases made through these links. - [Drop cloths]() - [Screwdriver]() - [Work gloves]() - [Safety goggles]() - [Respirator]() - [5-gallon bucket]() - [Sponge]() - [Vacuum cleaner]() - [Tack cloth]() - [Paint tray]() - [Paint roller]() - [Paint roller cover]() - [Oil-based paint or mildew-proof acrylic paint]() - [Natural-bristle paint brush]() - [Synthetic-bristle paint brush]() - [Painter's tape]() - [Trisodium phosphate powder]() - [220-grit sandpaper]() - [120- to 150-grit sandpaper (optional)]() - [Shellac primer or oil-based primer]() ## STEP 1: Prepare the space for painting. ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Lay [drop cloths]() on the floor around the bathroom cabinets to protect it from sanding dust and paint. Remove all items from the cabinets and temporarily store them elsewhere. ## STEP 2: Remove the cabinet doors. Removing the cabinet doors will help you achieve a cleaner, more uniform paint finish. - If the hinges of the cabinet doors are mounted with clips, unclip the side of each door hinge mounted to the interior, then lift each door from the cabinet. - If the hinges are mounted with screws, use a [screwdriver]() to loosen the screws that secure each cabinet door hinge to the cabinet. (There’s usually one set of screws securing the hinge to the door and another set securing the opposite side of the hinge to the cabinet interior.) Stow the screws in a safe place. Pull each door away from the bathroom cabinets, along with its hinges. Set the doors and hinges aside where they won’t get splashed with [paint](). ## STEP 3: Take the drawers out of the cabinet. Remove the cabinet drawers, starting with the upper drawers and working your way down. Pull out the drawer as far as possible (it will naturally stop rolling forward when the wheels reach the end of the drawer rail). Tilt the [drawer]() downward and toward you to lift its wheels off the rail, then pull the drawer straight out to remove it. Set drawers aside. ## STEP 4: Remove the cabinet hardware. With a screwdriver, remove the hardware from the doors and drawers. (The screws that secure each pull or knob are usually located on the back of the door or drawer face.) Lift hardware from the front of the door or drawer and set it all aside, away from the painting area. **RELATED:** [**The Best Cabinet Hardware**]() ## STEP 5: Protect surfaces you don’t want to paint. ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Use [painter’s tape]() to cover any bathroom cabinet surfaces you don’t want to paint, such as the underside of the vanity top and wall areas adjacent to the cabinet. Tape old [newspaper]() to the inside of the bathroom cabinets unless you also plan to paint the cabinets’ interior. ## STEP 6: Clean the cabinets with trisodium phosphate. Open bathroom windows and turn on the exhaust fan because TSP can cause respiratory irritation. After donning [work gloves](), [safety goggles](), and a [respirator](), dilute one-quarter cup of [trisodium phosphate (TSP)]() in one gallon of warm water in a [5-gallon bucket](). Vigorously scrub the outer and inner cabinet frame, the door and drawer fronts, and, if desired, the backs of the doors, with a [sponge]() saturated in the TSP solution. Make a second pass over the cleaned surfaces with a water-dampened sponge to remove the TSP solution. Towel-dry the cabinets well, and then allow all pieces to air-dry completely. **RELATED: [Solved! What Is Trisodium Phosphate, and Is it Safe to Use?]()** ## STEP 7: Sand the cabinets. ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* With a knife, test an inconspicuous area of the cabinet to determine whether it is coated with a sealant. If a coating flakes off, you’ll need to do some extra sanding. Make sure that your gloves, respirator, and goggles are still in place before proceeding. Sand the outer and/or inner cabinet frame, the door and drawer fronts, and, if desired, the door backs with sandpaper. - If you are sanding unfinished cabinets, make a single pass over the cabinet surfaces with [220-grit sandpaper](). - If you are sanding a cabinet that’s coated with paint or a clear protective sealer, make a first pass with a [medium-grit (120- to 150-grit) sandpaper]() over the cabinet surfaces. This will remove the clear coat or any [peeling paint](). Then, do a light sanding using 220-grit sandpaper. Need help with cabinet painting? A professional can help. Get free, no-commitment estimates from painting services near you. [Find Pros Now]() [+]() ## STEP 8: Clean up the sanding dust. Vacuum sanding dust from the cabinet [using the dust-brush attachment](). Wipe down the sanded areas with a water-dampened cloth, then make a final pass over the cabinet with a tack cloth. ## STEP 9: Prime the cabinet surfaces. ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* To prime the cabinet, pour a small amount of shellac or [oil-based primer]() into a [paint tray](). Both shellac and oil-based primers are generally more effective than latex primer in defending bathroom cabinets against moisture. [Shellac primers](), however, minimize brush marks more effectively than oil-based primers. A shellac primer also gives you more flexibility, because you can use either an oil-based or water-based paint over it. Coat the [paint roller cover]() with primer, then work the primer over the outer and/or inner cabinet frame in the direction of the wood grain. Next, tackle flat areas of the door and drawer fronts. For grooves in door and drawer fronts, apply [primer]() with a [natural-bristle paint brush]() to better reach recesses and tight corners. Let the first coat of primer cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions. ## STEP 10: Add a second coat of primer (optional). If you are priming bathroom cabinets that have been previously painted, especially if you’re going from a darker to a lighter paint color, apply another coat of primer on each cabinet surface and allow it to cure completely. (If you’re priming an unfinished cabinet, you can usually skip the extra coat.) Repeat Steps 9 and 10 to prime the backs of the cabinet doors, if you are painting them. ## STEP 11: Paint the cabinet. ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* To paint the bathroom cabinet, pour a small amount of [oil-based paint]() or [mold- and mildew-proof latex paint]() into a paint tray. ([The best paint for wood]() furnishings in bathrooms and kitchens is oil-based paint, but mold- and mildew-proof latex-based interior paints can be swapped in for oil paint if you prefer a faster-drying paint that emits fewer [volatile organic compounds]().) When choosing paint, note that [semi-gloss]() and high-gloss finishes repel moisture more effectively than flat and eggshell finishes, and darker shades hide dirt better than lighter colors. **RELATED: [Beyond White: 15 Alternative Hues to Color Your Bath]()** For a professional-looking finish, work with the tools best suited for the type of paint you’ve selected: - If you are using an oil-based paint, opt for a natural fiber, polyester blend, or [wool roller cover](). - If you’re applying latex paint, use a [synthetic roller cover](). Load the roller cover with [paint](), then apply a base coat to the outer and/or inner cabinet frame. Next, paint your bathroom cabinets’ flat areas (the door and drawer fronts) in the direction of the wood grain. Don’t forget to paint the nooks and crannies! - If you are using oil-based paint, use a natural-bristle brush to paint grooves in the door and drawer fronts. - If you’re using latex-based paint, use a [synthetic-bristle paint brush](). Let the base coat dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. ## STEP 12: Apply another coat (or two) of paint. ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Give your bathroom cabinets an additional coat of paint or two over the base as needed to achieve the desired depth of color. Allow each coat to dry fully before applying the next, then let the top coat dry completely. Repeat Steps 11 and 12 to paint the backs of the [cabinet]() doors, if desired. ## STEP 13: Clean up and reattach the cabinet doors. Roll up and remove the drop cloths, and remove the painter’s tape from the cabinet. Retrieve the hinge [screws]() (or clips) to reattach the door [hinges]() to the cabinet. Reinstall the cabinet doors and drawers as you removed them, then reattach the door and drawer hardware. Get the help you need for the home you want Professional painters in your area are available to assist—get free, no-commitment estimates today. [Find Pros Now]() [+]() ## Final Thoughts ![How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Painting a bathroom cabinet is a relatively easy DIY for those with a working knowledge of sanding and painting. Indeed, the most challenging part of this job is probably preparing the space for the priming and painting: removing drawers, cabinet fronts, and hardware, and protecting surfaces that you don’t want painted. Speaking of protection, always remember to wear gloves and proper respiratory protection, and [open windows]() and turn on your [bathroom exhaust fan]() while you’re working. It's easier than you think to transform a tired-looking [vanity]()! ## FAQs When painting a bathroom cabinet, there are lots of decisions to be made regarding the appropriate primers, paints, and tools to use. These frequently asked questions will help you learn more about the best products to use and procedures to follow in your particular situation. ## Author Manasa Reddigari has tackled topics ranging from computer software to home remodeling in her decade-plus career as a writer and editor. During her stint as a scribe, she's been featured by leading outlets in the real estate, home improvement, and lifestyle niches such as [Trulia](), [Stikwood](), and [Brit + Co](). Her design philosophy is, if you can dream it, you can DIY it! ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()