The Complete Guide to Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets Black For A Bold, Modern Look

Want to give your kitchen a dramatic facelift but don't have the budget for a full remodel? Painting your cabinets black is an easy and affordable way to transform the look of your kitchen into something bold, modern and sophisticated.

We'll also cover design ideas to inspire your new modern black kitchen.

Reasons to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Black

There are many great reasons to choose black for your kitchen cabinets:

• Black kitchen cabinets make a striking and dramatic statement. The dark color creates an elegant, upscale look.
• Painting cabinets black is an easy and inexpensive way to give your kitchen a modern makeover. The total cost is much less than installing all new cabinets.
• Black painted cabinets can make a small, cramped kitchen feel sleek and sophisticated instead of closed-in.
• Black also enhances other features like stainless steel appliances or white countertops for a monochrome, contemporary style.
• It provides a clean backdrop that makes decor and accents pop.

Black cabinets work well with any color scheme from bold primaries to muted neutrals. The dark color is rich and timeless.

Design Inspiration for Black Kitchen Cabinets

Some stylish ways to incorporate black cabinets in your kitchen design include:

• Painting just the island or base cabinets black for a two-tone look.
• Pairing with brass accents and hardware for an elegant black and gold vibe.
• Going for an industrial edge with black cabinets, exposed brick or ductwork.
• Adding pops of color with a bright backslash tile, fun range hood, or colorful appliances.

Prep Steps Before Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Prepping your cabinets thoroughly before painting is crucial for getting an ultra-smooth professional finish. Follow these steps:

1. Remove doors, drawers and hardware: Remove everything from the cabinets so you can paint the boxes separately.
2. Clean cabinets: Wipe down all surfaces with TSP or a degreasing cleaner. Scuff up any glossy areas.
3. Fill holes and imperfections: Use wood filler to patch holes from old hardware. Sand smooth.
4. Sand surface: Lightly sand cabinets to rough up the surface so paint can adhere.
5. Clean again: Wipe sanded cabinets with a tack cloth to remove dust.

Priming Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting

Priming is a crucial first step as it allows the paint to adhere evenly and prevents bleed-through. For laminate cabinets, use a bonding primer. For real wood, go for an oil-based wood primer or shellac-based primer like Zinsser BIN.

Be sure to apply primer in a thin, even coat fully covering all surfaces. Let primer dry fully before painting - at least 24 hours. Priming might take a little extra time up front but prevents headaches down the road.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

The key to getting an ultra-smooth factory-like finish on your painted cabinets is choosing the right paint and tools:

• Opt for a high-quality cabinet paint like Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin Williams ProClassic. Avoid regular wall paints.
• Oil-based paints like alkyds create the smoothest finish. However, they require cleaning brushes with mineral spirits.
• For tools, use a high density foam roller and angled sash brush. Purchase high-quality brushes made for trim work.
• Apply paint in multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat for best results.

Make sure to let each coat of paint fully dry for 24 hours before adding another coat. Lightly sanding between coats with fine sandpaper ensures an ultra-smooth finish.

Be patient and allow proper drying time between coats - rushing this step can ruin the final finish. Continue applying smooth thin coats until you achieve full coverage. Three coats is typical for the deepest jet black color.

Tips for Getting an Ultra-Smooth Painted Cabinet Finish

Follow these pro tips and techniques for getting your freshly painted cabinets looking like they were sprayed in a high-end factory:

• Maintain wet edge and overlap strokes as you paint.
• Keep your painting area well ventilated as paint dries.
• Sand lightly between coats with 220 grit sandpaper.
• Use a small high density foam roller and quality angled sash brush.
• Thin coats allow self-leveling for a glass-like finish.

Finishing Touches

Once your cabinet paint has fully cured, it's time for reassembly and adding protective clear topcoats:

• Reattach the doors, drawers, and any hardware you removed before painting.
• Seal the freshly painted cabinets with 2-3 coats of water-based or oil-based polyurethane. This gives added protection from cooking grease, moisture and regular wear and tear.
• As with painting, apply thin coats of polyurethane letting each coat dry fully before adding the next.

Your kitchen will look like you splurged on luxury designer cabinets for a fraction of the price!

Maintaining Your Black Painted Cabinets

While the polyurethane topcoats provide added protection, you'll need to take care to keep your painted cabinets looking like new. Follow these maintenance tips:

• Use only a soft microfiber cloth and mild soap and water to gently clean the cabinets. Avoid harsh cleaners or abrasive scrub pads.
• Immediately wipe up any spills or greasy splatters on the cabinets to prevent stains.
• Consider applying fresh coats of protective polyurethane sealant every 2-3 years or as needed to refresh the finish.

FAQs About Painting Kitchen Cabinets Black

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about painting your kitchen cabinets black:

What kind of paint should I use?

It's crucial to use a cabinet-specific paint formulated for furniture and kitchen cabinets. These paints contain resins that cure harder than regular wall paint for a more durable finish. Our top picks are Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin Williams ProClassic.

How do I get an ultra-smooth finish on my painted cabinets?

The key steps are proper prep, priming, using high-quality trim paint brushes, applying multiple thin coats of paint, allowing proper drying time between coats, and sanding lightly with fine grit sandpaper between coats.

Is it ok to paint over laminate cabinets?

Yes, you can absolutely paint laminate cabinets to give them a fresh new look on a budget. Use a bonding primer first to help the paint adhere to the laminate surface, then apply cabinet paint as normal.

How do I paint the insides of the cabinets?

Remove everything from the cabinets so you can fully paint the interiors. Use a small angled trim brush to cut in the edges and corners before rolling paint on the inside surfaces. This gives a polished finished look.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the cabinet painting process, many local painters offer cabinet painting services to handle the project for you while still saving on cost versus new cabinets. But with the right supplies and commitment to careful prep work, you can DIY your way to a gleaming new black kitchen.

Painting tired old cabinets black is an easy and budget-friendly route to giving your kitchen a dramatic modern makeover. Preparing properly and applying the paint in smooth thin coats results in a sleek, custom look for a fraction of the price.

Follow the steps and techniques in our guide to ensure your painted cabinets look flawlessly professional. We hope you'll gain confidence to take on this project and love the stunning results of your glam new black kitchen.