How To Paint Cabinets with a Sprayer

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Learn how to paint kitchen cabinets with a sprayer like a professional! It’s a big job so make it easier with these expert tips about using a paint sprayer to get long lasting, smooth, and beautiful results.

Easiest & Most Durable Method to Paint Kitchen Cabinets with before and after photos of kitchen remodel.

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I have been receiving a lot of questions lately about cabinets and I am painting a large set of kitchen cabinets for a client. This is our fifth set of painted cabinets (plus all the other furniture makeovers) so I thought this would be a great time to not only show a before and after, but to give some tips on working with a paint sprayer for cabinets.

My friend is looking to sell her house and doing all the prep work for a few budget updates to get the house ready. The kitchen was a wall of honey oak cabinets. She was a bit overwhelmed with such a large kitchen, so she asked if I could help and give her guidance on the best products, finishes, and process for making these cabinets shine.

If you want to know my most recommended best paint for cabinets and furniture, check out this post.

Here is the before:

Before photo of kitchen cabinets light oak with white countertops.

Why You Need A Paint Sprayer for Painting Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets is a HUGE job. I wouldn’t dream of hand painting cabinets with a brush and roller. Here is why I recommend a sprayer:

1. It’s a Time Saver

Painting kitchen cabinets is a big job, even if you don’t have a huge kitchen like this one. There were 47 doors and drawers and took us about 2 hours to do one coat! Brushing would have taken maybe 8-10 hours per coat. A Good Paint Sprayer is a lifesaver for large projects!

2. No Brush Marks

Nothing beats the easy-to-get smoothness of a sprayer. Period. The finish will look professionally done.

3. Less Paint Needed

A paint sprayer applies paint in very thin coats, much thinner than a typical brush. Therefore, even with the same number of coats, you get even coverage but use less paint.

Step-by-Step Prep for Painting

Especially for a large kitchen with multiple size doors and drawers, I HIGHLY recommend numbering them and making a chart. It will make it so much easier on you when you need to put everything back together.

Tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets - draw a map of where the doors and drawers go back to.

As you can see, we used painters tape and put the tape in an inconspicuous place behind the hardware that we removed. We did the backsides first with the tape on the front, and then moved it to the back to paint the fronts.

With painting anything in the home, the basic steps remain the same – Clean with TSP, sand, wipe thoroughly to remove dust, prime and paint.

We have a step-by-step guide to painting kitchen cabinets with a sprayer at the very bottom of this post.

With that being said, there are two questions I get asked ALL the time.

“Do I really need to sand ALL those cabinets?”

While there are many paints out there that tout themselves as “no sanding required”, I still HIGHLY recommend sanding. Sanding helps paint bond and kitchen cabinets are considered very high traffic pieces. The worst feeling is to do all that work, and then realize the paint is chipping/peeling because you skipped this step. To me, skipping sanding just isn’t worth it.

Comparison of unsanded cabinet door versus cabinet door.

The good news is you do NOT need to sand down to bare wood. A good rough-up with 120 grit sandpaper will do for most cabinet paints. Sand in the direction of the grain or use an orbital sander and mouse sander. These two tools will almost eliminate hand sanding, while making the process much faster and easier. To get a truly smooth, professional finish, sand with 220 grit sandpaper just before the last coat of paint.

How To Use A Paint Sprayer

Fun fact – I own 4 sprayers! But, don’t worry, you only need one. For this cabinet set, we used the Wagner 3000 sprayer. This sprayer comes with two nozzles – one for finer, detail work and one for larger projects like staining a fence or walls. We utilize the smaller tip and paint reservoir for projects such as furniture or cabinets.

Check out our recommendations on the Best Paint Sprayers for Your Project!

How To Set Up the Sprayer and Work Area

On this particular sprayer, and most Wagner sprayers, the larger tip has three knobs to adjust: the air flow, the paint flow, and the paint width. The detail nozzle only has the airflow regulator. Both sizes have the option to spray vertically or horizontally. Use the fine finish tip/cannister (sometimes called the furniture gun) if your sprayer has multiple sizes.

Two Wagner paint sprayers with text labels identifying the parts of the sprayers.

Although this sprayer can handle most paints un-thinned, if you find that you just aren’t getting a super smooth finish or the sprayer is spitting, try thinning the paint with up to 10% water. I usually add ¼ a cup at a time and mix thoroughly to test.

*Note – Before adding water, ask the paint rep. A few paints, such as Benjamin Moore Advance, can be negatively impacted by adding too much water.

As I mentioned earlier this particular kitchen had 47 doors and drawers to paint. We were lucky at the time to have an unfinished basement area to set up in, but I have a few tips for any area you choose.

Painted cabinet doors raised off the floor to dry.

The doors and drawer fronts should ideally sit a bit raised off the floor to keep the wet sides from touching anything while drying. We used scrap pieces of 4×4, but a pack of plastic solo cups is cheap and works great!

Start with the backside of the doors. When painting both the inside and outside of the doors, paint one side, let them sit for a week+ to partially cure, and then do the other side.

A paint sprayer being used to paint a cabinet door white.

Spray your doors and drawer fronts off the ground. We used an old table and covered it with plastic to raise what we sprayed off the ground. I carefully moved the “done” pieces to their drying place. Each coat took about 2 hours, so our backs thanked us for not having to bend over the whole time.

Expert Tips For Painting with a Sprayer

Man using a paint sprayer to paint kitchen cabinet door on raised plastic covered table.

Beyond the setup, using the sprayer is as easy as it gets. Just point and shoot! However, there are a few quick tips to make the process go smoothly:

Wipe the tip with a rag occasionally as you go. Dried paint can build up on it, causing your paint to splatter.
Always test a scrap board (preferred) or large piece of cardboard. Anytime you take a break from using the sprayer, always hit the test board first. This includes after refills or long breaks.
If after the first few cleanings, your paint sprayer won’t spray, check to make sure the small pinhole at the top of the suction tube is not clogged.
Start by spraying off the board, meaning engage the sprayer before you are over top of the work product (or cabinet door in this case). Spray all the way across and let go of the trigger after you have gone off the door. If a sprayer is going to spatter, it will most likely happen when you engage/disengage the trigger.
If you do happen to get spatter/orange peel, wipe off immediately until smooth and spray again. (A lesson I learned the hard way when I started out.) Sanding it all smooth again is much more time-consuming both to fixing the mistake and to project completion.
Just like those dishes in the sink, cleaning the sprayer immediately after use makes it easier and ensures continued quality use, and is really all the maintenance you need.

Check out our other post for more information on painting cabinets:

I know that it sounds in-depth, but I promise after you get the hang of it, you may find yourself using a paint sprayer for all kinds of projects around the house. It really is addicting!

Painting Kitchen Cabinet FAQs

What kind of paint do you use on cabinets?

Only use a paint durable enough for cabinets and furniture. My never-fail paints include Benjamin Moore Advance and Fusion Mineral. Other paints I have used successfully include Sherwin Williams Emerald Line, Behr Cabinet and Trim Paint, and Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations. For long lasting results, add a protective topcoat.

Can I paint my kitchen cabinets without sanding?

There are some situations where you can technically skip sanding, although it is discouraged because kitchen cabinets are a very high traffic surface. Sanding ALWAYS gives the best paint bond to reduce cracking, peeling, and removing the paint through scratches or dings.

What is the best sprayer for cabinets?

I have written a great guide to the best paint sprayers for your project that will lead you to the right one for you. The answer isn’t the same for everyone.

Should I add a clear topcoat to cabinets?

I highly recommend a topcoat for kitchen cabinets, even if the paint says it doesn’t need one. Polycrylic (sometimes called Water-based polyurethane) will make them much more durable and easier to clean things like dried food without harming the paint finish. You can read more about my favorite polycrylics here.

How do I make oak cabinets smooth?

The third question is about filling in the grain. If you are interested in that, you can find a wealth of information about hiding wood grain here. However, removing wood grain wasn’t a request in this cabinet project.

How do I prevent the orange peel texture on my cabinets?

A number of things can cause the orange peel effect or bubbling on the surface of your cabinets. Any excess moisture or working in overly hot or humid conditions can cause bubbling. Spraying too closely to the cabinet surface or not moving quickly enough can cause paint to accumulate and create unwanted texture.

Our Project Results

Before and after photo of painted cabinets in kitchen remodel.

And my friend is absolutely thrilled with her updated cabinets. In fact, it even spurred her to epoxy her countertops, replace the light fixtures and add knobs. She wishes she had done this years ago!

Close up of white painted kitchen cabinets.

Even though we did not fill in the wood grain, the cabinets look so smooth and professionally done.

White painted kitchen cabinets with silver hardware.

Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

More Home Improvement Projects

Before and after painting oak wood cabinet with filled wood grain and painted white. — Hiding Wood Grain

Cabinet with Trim added and title overlay, — Hiding Wood Grain

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