Captivate With Smokey Gray Painted Cabinets Using This Simple Method

If your kitchen is looking tired and dated, painting the cabinets a trendy smokey gray shade can give the space a spectacular facelift without a full renovation. Gray kitchen cabinets offer a sophisticated, yet relaxed vibe and pair beautifully with almost any color scheme. We'll walk you through a simple technique to paint your existing cabinets smokey gray, completely transforming the heart of your home. With some basic DIY skills and quality cabinet paint, you can easily achieve magazine-worthy style on a budget.

Why Paint Your Cabinets Gray?

Gray kitchen cabinets are having a major moment right now. This versatile neutral flatters both contemporary and traditional spaces, adding a mood-lifting yet grounded element. Bold or subtle, cool or warm - the gray color palette offers endless shades to match your personal taste and existing decor. Let's look at why a gray cabinet makeover can be an impactful upgrade:

The Popularity of Gray Kitchen Cabinets

Walk through any model home or flip through a home magazine - you'll likely spot gray kitchen cabinets everywhere. Today's top designers and color experts constantly crown gray as one of the hottest trends for kitchens and bathrooms. Unlike stark white or creamy off-whites, various hues of gray infuse kitchens with more visual depth and allow other materials like stone countertops or exposed brick to shine as focal points. With soaring popularity, gray kitchen cabinets are here to stay and deliver a head-turning yet timeless look.

How Gray Cabinets Can Modernize Your Kitchen

Tired oak or dated cabinets can instantly date a kitchen, making the space feel dark and confined. Just by painting the existing cabinetry a light, cool or warm gray, you can modernize your kitchen in one weekend for a fraction of a remodel cost. The transformative effect of gray cabinetry brightens the whole room, creating a fresh, contemporary style. Gray also serves as a blank slate for mixing and matching countertops, backsplashes, appliances and accent colors. Whether you favor sleek industrial designs or comfy farmhouse elements, gray adapts beautifully.

Choosing a Smokey Gray Paint Shade

When selecting a gray paint color for your cabinets, the choices span from nearly white, dove grays to deep, intense charcoal grays and everything between. A popular, versatile direction is lighter warm grays with subtle brown, beige or taupe undertones. We recommend capturing the on-trend smokey gray look by choosing a paint like

• Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
• Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn
• Behr quietly gray
• Valspar kettle gray

Assessing Your Existing Cabinets

While gray cabinet paint can work magic, your results will only be as good as your surface preparation. Before painting, it's important to fully examine your existing cabinet condition and address any repairs needed to ensure the paint adheres properly. Evaluate both exposed areas and interior surfaces.

Checking for Damage and Wear

Carefully inspect cabinets for cracks, splits, peeling laminate or other damage. Also check for grease buildup, water stains, or sticky areas on inner surfaces which can impede proper paint bonding. Use a utility knife to remove any loose pieces or flaking material. Fill larger cracks and gouges with wood filler formulated for kitchen cabinets according to package directions. Sand smooth when dry.

Determine Cabinet Materials

Your cabinets may be wood, laminate, thermofoil or other materials. Paint is effective for most surfaces, but higher-quality paints designed specifically for kitchen cabinetry provide superior adhesion and durability. Consult with your local home improvement retailer to select the right cabinet paint for your kitchen's surface material.

Address Any Repairs Needed

In addition to damage, ensure all doors and drawers still operate smoothly and make any hinge repairs prior to painting. Tighten loose hinges or replace broken ones for proper door alignment. Lubricate squeaky areas with silicone spray. Fill divots or worn edges with wood filler as needed so the freshly painted surface looks flawless.

Preparing Your Kitchen for a Cabinet Paint Job

Painting cabinets gray in your existing kitchen requires a little strategic prep work. Clearing and protecting your counters, removing doors, thoroughly cleaning, filling imperfections and sanding are all key steps before starting to paint for a smooth, lasting finish.

Clearing Countertops and Protecting Surfaces

Clear everything off your countertops and place items in boxes to protect them from paint splatters, drips or dust. Cover remaining exposed countertops, backsplashes, floors and other areas with plastic drop cloths. Use painters tape to completely seal edges and perimeter. Remove lighting fixtures and ventilation covers if spray painting cabinets. Everything must be fully protected or removed from the workspace.

Removing Doors, Drawers and Hardware

Detaching cabinet doors, drawers and all hardware allows for easiest painting access to all surfaces and corners. Number doors and drawers with removable tape to ensure accurate reinstallation in the original locations. Soak painted-over screws in vinegar to loosen paint seal then carefully remove hinges and hardware. Set all components aside in a safe area.

Cleaning Cabinets Prior to Painting

Thoroughly clean all cabinet box surfaces and doors using mild dish soap and water solution to remove grease and oils which can prevent proper paint adhesion. For especially dirty cabinets, use a diluted degreasing solution formulated for kitchen surfaces. Rinse all areas then let cabinets fully air dry for at least 24 hours before sanding or priming.

Filling Holes and Sanding Cabinets

Inspect surfaces and use a wood filler compound to patch any nail holes, cracks or imperfections for a smooth finish. Once filler dries, sand all cabinet box surfaces and doors lightly using 120 grit sandpaper to rough up the finish so paint can properly grip. Tack cloth all sanded areas to remove any dust before you begin painting.

Painting Your Cabinets Step-by-Step

With your prep work complete, you're ready to achieve a gorgeous, smokey gray kitchen cabinet makeover. Follow these tips for foolproof application and professional quality results you'll love:

Choosing High Quality Cabinet Paint

Invest in a top-rated

• alkyd paint
• cabinet enamel
• or multi-surface water-based paint

Applying Primer Coats

Always prime existing cabinet surfaces before painting for best coverage and adhesion. Oil-based primers offer outstanding stain blocking and surface sealing properties. However, water-based primers made specifically for painting cabinets also perform extremely well. Apply at least one coat according to manufacturer guidelines, allowing full drying time before painting.

Using Paint Sprayer vs Paint Brush Application

While brush painting cabinets is doable, using

• an HVLP paint spray gun
• or high-volume low-pressure sprayer

Painting Cabinets and Doors

Using a new, high-density foam roller and angled brush, apply the first coat of cabinet paint in thin, even layers following the manufacturer spread rate guidance. Work systematically from the cabinet frames outward to the outer profiles. Then paint doors and drawers. Allow at least 24 hours drying time then lightly sand any dust nibs between coats using extra fine (220 grit) sandpaper so the next coat is perfectly smooth.

Applying Multiple Coats for Full Coverage

Darker cabinet colors typically require three coats of paint to achieve solid, opaque coverage with smooth texture. Apply the second coat in a perpendicular direction from the first coat. Add a third coat as needed, allowing full drying as directed between layers. The final coat should fully hide the original cabinet color and any visible brush strokes for a cohesive, uniform finish.

Avoiding Common Cabinet Painting Mistakes

Painting kitchen cabinets is an involved process with little room for error. Skipping steps or rushing through painting risks unsightly, disappointing outcomes ruining your efforts. Protect your investment by sidestepping these all-too-common mistakes:

Ensuring Proper Prep Work

Failing to properly clean cabinets or address surface damage beforehand can cause paint failure down the road due to adhesion issues. Always thoroughly clean and lightly sand surfaces while making any needed repairs before painting for longest lasting results.

Allowing Adequate Dry Times

One of the biggest mistakes is not allowing adequate drying time between paint coats - especially when using dark colors. Follow the paint manufacturer's guidance for dry times based on humidity level to prevent trapped moisture bubbles in the finish. This means having patience through the process.

Preventing Drips, Runs and Brush Marks

Applying paint too thickly or inconsistently leads to unsightly drips, visible brush strokes or thickness variations in the paint. Mastering proper roller techniques takes practice - apply paint in multi-directional strokes while maintaining a wet edge for uniform thickness until comfortable with the method.

Curing and Reinstalling Cabinets

The final steps after painting transform your kitchen from a workspace back into a functioning area you can enjoy. Letting the painted cabinets fully cure before reassembly preserves your efforts.

Letting Paint Fully Cure Before Reassembly

Though painted cabinets may feel dry to the touch within a day or two, the curing process takes much longer. Allow at least 2 weeks for the paint to fully harden and cure before reinstalling doors, drawers and hardware. Rushing this step risks stuck doors or damage to the freshly painted finish.

Reattaching Doors, Drawers and Hardware

Using your numbered system, carefully realign all doors, drawers and hardware components in their original locations once the paint has completely cured. Avoid nicking the finish or over-tightening screws. Step back and admire your like-new, smokey gray painted kitchen cabinets!

You can easily paint tired oak or dated cabinets a trendy new smokey gray for just a fraction of a full remodel with some strategic prep work and quality paint. Not only does this simple paint project remake your entire kitchen, the neutral gray palette enhances any existing decor from country casual to contemporary. We hope these tips help you fall in love with your kitchen all over again by painting the cabinets a beautiful, smokey gray!