How to Paint Cabinets: What brush and roller should I use?

Have you ever considered painting cabinets in your home? I considered it for months….okay, for YEARS…until I finally decided to go for it. Why did I wait so long?

Because I wasn’t confident that I would be able to get a perfectly smooth finish on them. Fortunately, since then I’ve found the perfect brush and roller for painting cabinets. The finish is SO smooth. It looks professional! Ever since then, I’ve been painting cabinets like crazy.

I recently painted a bathroom vanity at our cabin and in this tutorial I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it. You can easily do the same thing in your home! Keep reading for more on how to paint cabinets.

Thanks to Purdy for sponsoring this post. I received compensation and free product but all opinions stated here are my own. I’ve loved and owned Purdy products for a very long time!

Tools & Materials

Purdy 2″ Angled Nylox Glide Paint Brush
Purdy Revolution Jumbo Mini Roller Frame
Purdy White Dove 1/4″ Nap Mini Roller Cover
Purdy Paint Pail
Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
Krylon Fusion All-in-One Paint + Primer in Metallic Gold
Drill
220 grit sandpaper
Tack cloths
TSP cleaner & rag

Looking to purchase Purdy paint brushes, rollers and other products for an upcoming project? Head HERE to see which retailers near you carry Purdy products.

Time to Complete

It took me 3 days to complete this, given dry times in between coats.

How to Paint Cabinets Tutorial

This is the cabinet that I started with. It wasn’t horrible, but it also wasn’t great. It has a lot of nicks and scratches in it. It is not solid wood and you could tell that by looking at it. It was in fairly good condition though so I knew that painting it would make it look nearly new!

Before Picture of Cabinet Before Painting It

Step 1: Remove Hardware

First remove hardware, such as knobs and pulls. Also remove the doors from the base of the cabinets.

Removing Hardware from Cabinet Before Painting It

Step 2: Lightly Sand & Remove Dust with a Tack Cloth

Lightly sand your cabinets with 220 grit sandpaper. Remove any dust with a tack cloth.

Sanding Cabinets with 220 grit sandpaper before painting

Wash your cabinets with TSP cleaner. Allow to fully dry before painting.

Step 3: Apply Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer

Here are two secrets to a perfectly smooth finish on painted cabinets:

The Purdy 2″ Angled Nylox Glide Paint Brush: This brush is my very favorite! I use it whenever I paint furniture. It’s a Purdy brush, meaning that it’s handcrafted and extremely high quality. Also, this specific brush has soft bristles that help you get an ultra smooth finish. Try it – you won’t be disappointed!
The Purdy White Dove 1/4″ Nap Mini Roller Cover on the Purdy Revolution Jumbo Mini Roller Frame: The mini roller frame is the perfect size for painting cabinets. The 1/4″ nap White Dove roller cover helps you get a super smooth finish on your cabinets. Lower naps give you smoother finishes. Therefore, 1/4″ nap is perfect for painting cabinets

Priming Cabinets Using a Purdy Mini Roller with White Dove Roller Cover

Once you have the proper application tools, make sure you have an awesome primer like Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer. I’ve used this primer for multiple projects before this and it works great. It doesn’t require much prep and it helps create a surface that your paint will stick to well, even if the surface was really glossy beforehand.

Apply the primer by first painting the crevices and edges of the cabinet. Then use the roller to fill in the larger sections. Keep alternating back and forth, making sure to use the roller before the paint dries in the crevices.

Priming Cabinets with a Purdy Nylox Brush for a Perfectly Smooth Finish

Want another secret to a perfect finish on painted cabinets? Put on a THIN layer of paint! Do not overapply it or it will run, giving your drips in your finish.

Remember that primer is not meant to cover perfectly. It will still do its job even if the coverage doesn’t look perfect. Only one coat of primer is needed.

Step 4: Lightly Sand the Primer and Remove Dust with a Tack Cloth

Once the primer is dry, lightly sand it using 220 grit sandpaper to make it super smooth. Remove any dust with a tack cloth. Now you’re ready to paint on the color of your choice!

Step 5: Apply Two Coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel

Using the same Purdy paint brush and roller you used for the primer, paint on two coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, allowing for ample dry time in between coats.

Painting Cabinets with the Perfect Brush - the Purdy Nylox Glide Paint Brush

This specific paint is made for projects like this: It is self-leveling, helping to create that super smooth finish you are going for. Also, it doesn’t need a protective top coat. It’s very durable without a top coat!

I chose a light sage green that was a custom tint but of course feel free to choose whatever color you like best. If you would like the details of this custom tint, please message me.

The Purdy Paint Pail will be your best friend during this process. It’s a super handy pail that holds your paint, paint brush and mini roller all at once!

Step 6: Spray Paint Knobs with Krylon Fusion All-in-One Paint + Primer in Metallic Gold

I wanted this bathroom update to be really budget-friendly so I decided to spray paint the knobs rather than buy new ones. It’s amazing what a little spray paint can do!

I used Krylon Fusion All-in-One Paint + Primer in Metallic Gold. It’s a great spray paint that has a no peel guarantee! Also, it has 5X stronger adhesion to difficult surfaces. It’s a great premium spray paint product.

I chose the metallic gold color because I wanted a soft, beautiful color against the light sage green cabinet.

I spray painted the knobs, giving them one light coat followed by an additional light coat a few minutes later.

Spray Painting Bathroom Cabinet Knobs with Krylon Spray Paint

Step 7: Reattach the Doors & Knobs

Once the doors and knobs are reattached, you are set to go!

The Finished Painted Bathroom Cabinets

And….DONE! You can now take a step back and admire your work. I love how painting this cabinet took this bathroom from a worn, dark look to a light, bright, clean and airy look. I love it!