Use a cabinet-grade product
Wall paint on cabinet doors stays soft and prints under fingertips. ADVANCE is a waterborne alkyd: it flows out like an oil, levels brush marks away, and cures to a hard furniture-grade film. Command is the faster-curing option when a kitchen has to be back in service quickly.
Degrease before you sand
Kitchen cabinets carry cooking grease you can't see. Sanding first just drives it into the wood. Clean with a degreaser, rinse, dry, then scuff-sand to 220 grit and vacuum the dust.
Prime for the substrate you have
Raw or previously stained wood needs a stain-blocking primer or tannin bleeds through white topcoats. Thermofoil and laminate need a bonding primer. If you're unsure what your doors are, take a photo and a drawer front to the counter.
Timing and expectations
Plan on a long weekend for doors and a second for boxes. ADVANCE needs a full 16 hours between coats, and it keeps hardening for two to three weeks after the last coat — hang doors gently and skip heavy cleaning during that window.
- Label every door and its hinge location before removal.
- Spray or use a fine short-nap roller and a quality brush for edges.
- Two topcoats minimum; three on doors that get daily contact.
- Satin or semi-gloss — most kitchens we sell into land on satin.
Frequently asked
- What is the best paint for kitchen cabinets?
- Benjamin Moore ADVANCE for the hardest, smoothest furniture-grade finish, or Command when you need a faster return to service. Both are stocked at our Delray Beach store.
- Do I have to sand cabinets before painting?
- Degrease first, then scuff-sand to 220 grit. You are dulling the old finish for adhesion, not stripping it back to bare wood.
- How long before I can use the kitchen again?
- Doors can be rehung after about a day, but the finish keeps curing for two to three weeks. Be gentle with it during that period.