Builder Boring to Gorgeous Gray Cabinets

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Builder Boring to Gorgeous Gray Cabinets.  Does your home have boring builder grade cabinets?  I gave our master bathroom cabinets a quick and easy update with paint and hardware.  I’ve got all the step-be-step directions below for painting your bathroom cabinets.

Builder Boring to Gorgeous Gray Cabinets

Here’s the bathroom cabinets that I started with.

Don’t you just LOVE what paint and hardware can do!!!  AMAZING

Painting Bathroom Cabinet Supply List:  (affiliate links provided for your convenience)

• sanding block
• TSP cleaner
• Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1 2 3 Primer
• paint brush
• foam roller
• Floetrol
• Glidden’s Pebble Gray

How to Paint Your Bathroom Cabinets:

1 ~ Sand lightly.

I was using primer, so I wasn’t super concerned with the shine/stick factor, but I wanted to make sure everything was smooth.  I ran my hand over the surfaces and sanded as needed.

2 ~ Clean.

You can use TSP, especially in a kitchen or any surfaces that are sticky/greasy.  I just used a damp cloth and wiped them down well making sure to remove all the sanding dust.

3 ~ Remove doors and drawers.

The easiest part.  And even better if you get your kiddos to help.  Make sure you keep your screws in a baggie and number your doors so you place them back in the same spot.  I just took a piece of painter’s tape and numbered them 1-4 and stuck them to the back of each cabinet door.

4 ~ Prime.

I used Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1 2 3 Primer.  I’ve used this primer on many pieces of furniture and I’ve been very please with the results.  You can check out a storage auction dresser I used it on.

I started my favorite Purdy brush and worked on the cabinet fronts first.  I cut in under the cabinets and along the wall side of the cabinet

Then I used a foam roller and rolled the remainder of the cabinet fronts.

Then I repeated the process on the doors and the drawers.  I started with my brush getting the curves and edges and then went over the whole surface with the foam roller.

I only used 1 coat of primer.  My cabinets were obviously white prior, so if you have a dark cabinet and you’re wanting to go lighter I’d suggest 2 coats of primer.

5 ~ Sand/Wipe

After letting your surfaces dry for a couple hours, use your fine sandpaper to remove any paint drips or rough surfaces.  Once again, I use my hands to feel for them.  Then wipe your surface down with a tact cloth or a damp, lint free cloth.

6 ~ Paint.

I used Glidden’s Pebble Gray. I love this gray.  I used it on my Family Sign too.  I added Floetrol to my paint.  Floetrol is a paint additive which helps to eliminate brush marks and makes it go on smoother.  It helps slow the dry time a bit too, which is good when you’re painting in the heat of summer!

I used the same method as with the primer.  Just start with the brush and finished with the roller.

Then I let the paint dry overnight.

7 ~ One more Sand/Wipe

Repeat step #5

8 ~ One more Coat of Paint.

Repeat the paint process in step #6

I let everything dry a couple days before assembling and adding hardware.

Check out some tips and tricks on adding hardware and share where I found the gorgeous ones I used.

Here’s some other updates this bathroom has had.

Cedar Plank Bathroom Wall

Rustic Industrial Master Bathroom Update