How I Painted Our Oak Cabinets
Honey oak to soft white without a sprayer. The exact prep, primer and paint that held up to two kids.
- Time
- 4 evenings and a Saturday
- Cost
- $180-$260
- Skill
- Weekend warrior
- Posted
Painting oak cabinets is the project I get asked about most. This is the long version, with every step and every product.
Before & after
Materials
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| 1 gallon | Cabinet enamel paint |
| 1 quart | Bonding primer |
| 1 bottle | Degreaser |
| 6 | Sanding sponges, 220 grit |
| 2 rolls | Painter's tape |
How I did it
Clean like you mean it
Degrease, rinse, and let everything dry fully.
Fill the grain
Oak has deep grain that shows through paint. A thin skim of wood filler, sanded smooth, hides it.
Prime
Bonding primer keeps the tannins in the oak from bleeding yellow through the white.
Paint in thin coats
Two or three thin coats beat one thick one. Brush with the grain and don't overwork it.
What I'd do differently
- Test your white on one door first. Mine looked gray at night under our lights.
- Grain filler is optional, but it is the difference between painted oak and smooth painted cabinets.
