Painting Oak Kitchen Cabinets: What to Know Before You Start

Informative banner about painting oak kitchen cabinets, highlighting benefits like style, budget-friendliness, and contact details.

You designed your kitchen just 3-5 years ago with beautiful Oak wood, which now looks worn out and scratchy? Wait before going down for new cabinets. Oak is a great wood with impressive durability and aesthetic value; instead of getting rid of such a good quality wooden furniture piece, it is ideal to get those strong yet dull-looking cabinets painted. Kitchen cabinet painting can turn out much more beneficial than entirely replacing them.

Can you paint oak cabinets?

Most people stick to staining their wooden furniture instead of repainting, considering that wood won’t require paint. Not painting the wooden cabinets was a trend a couple of decades ago. By now, especially with the help of professionals, you can have elegantly painted cabinets without the fuss. It is to be noted that painting oak cabinets requires much more effort than staining them.

Restaining cabinets is easy, and compared to that, painting cabinets will be a lengthy process. Here’s the crux of the painting process for cabinets.

Painting your oak cabinets is one of the most effective ways to give your kitchen a fresh, modern look without the cost of a full remodel. However, oak’s grainy texture and finish can pose challenges if not prepped properly. Here’s what you need to know before diving in.

Infographic explaining how to paint oak kitchen cabinets with steps for prep, paint, color selection, and choosing the right painting service.

How to paint over oak cabinets?

Painting over oak furniture includes a step-by-step process. Here’s how you can proceed to paint the cabinets made of Oak wood:

Empty the Cabinets; Disassemble the Doors

First of all, you want to safeguard all your snacks, gourmet food, and glass jars from all the chaos and chemicals. It’s advisable to empty all the shelves and the top of the cabinets so you can disassemble doors and shelves if they are movable. This way, it will be more convenient for you to sand and cleanse all the parts without missing out.

Professional painters can help you with the disassembling of the cabinets before the sanding and cleaning start. Moreover, when disassembling, be sure to label every part so that you can reassemble the cabinets correctly.

Cleaning and Sanding

Painting experts thoroughly work on the surface of the oak as wooden cabinetry, especially in the kitchen, gets too much exposure to dust, debris, and food particles. Oftentimes, a degreasing solution is applied to completely get rid of oiliness. Once it’s dry, sanding takes place to remove the glossy finish the cabinet might have. It is crucial to remove the gloss impact so that the primer can effectively enable adherence.

It is vital and advisable to tape and mask the kitchen floor and other open surfaces while working on the cabinets to prevent spillage.

Primer

Primer is one of the key steps of painting kitchen furniture. It helps the paint adhere efficiently and contributes to the durability of the paint.

Also, A high-quality stain-blocking primer will prevent wood tannins from bleeding through and help seal the grain. At Apolo, we make sure to only use high-quality materials, including primers.
Close-up of freshly painted white kitchen cabinet doors with modern brushed metal handles and clean panel design.

Paint

Once the primer has fully dried and is ready for paint coats, one can move on to the exciting part. To achieve the most professional finish with smoothness, opt for a sprayer, as it delivers an even coat with minimal effort for kitchen cabinet painting.

However, for more intricate or detailed work, you can choose a foam roller and a high-quality brush to ensure accuracy in every stroke. When applying the paint, take time to work in thin, even coats, as this helps avoid unsightly drips or bubbling.

It is recommended to give ample drying time between each layer to ensure the best results for painting oak cabinets. Depending on the surface and the paint’s coverage, we typically apply two to three coats to achieve a rich, uniform finish that truly brings the cabinets to life.

Finishing

Finishing layers provide protection to the paints as well as the wall. We provide matte, semi-gloss, and glossy finishes to give the desired look to your cabinets. With that, the finish is meant to provide protection against moisture.

Final Finishing Kitchen Cabinet Oak Painting

Best paints for oak cabinets

Your key role in getting your Oak Kitchen Cabinets painted will be to make the right choices when it comes to paints and finishes. These days, striking or too eye-catching shades like oranges and reds are not considered as the trend has long gone.

For a natural and sophisticated look, you can explore colors like Soft Warm White, Forest Green, or  Pistachio green (if you want a lighter shade of green). As far as it goes well with your walls, Aqua Green is also a good option. These shades are fun and give a modern hue that adds energy without overwhelming. Moreover, it is advisable to choose satin or semi-gloss finishes for durability and easy cleaning.

Painting kitchen cabinets can effectively bring freshness to your space. With an ample amount of preparation and quality materials, you can achieve a beautiful, durable finish that modernizes your living space.

Painting oak cabinets is a great idea if you are looking forward to gaining resale value, too. Whether you’re embracing soft neutrals or opting for bold with forest green, a well-executed cabinet refresh is always preferable if you have the right team by your side.

If you opt for Apolo painting and decorating, getting your Oak Kitchen Cabinets painted will be done within no time and exactly according to your vision. Being a leading kitchen cabinet painting company, our painting services offer lasting paints with high-quality finishes. With us, you can get your kitchen cabinets painted over a weekend. Our comprehensive Oak-built kitchen cabinet painting service is designed for the complete satisfaction of our clients while keeping their convenience in mind.

Ready to upgrade your kitchen cabinets? Call 416-803-8897 or email apolo7071@sympatico.ca for a free quote today!