How I Fixed My Friend's Bathroom Vanity: A Beginners Guide to Painting Cabinets
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So, I messed up. I gave my friend some bad advice on how to paint her bathroom vanity, and I'm going to be a good friend and go fix it for her. This is a testament that sometimes things go wrong, but almost everything can be fixed! If you're looking to paint your bathroom vanity or maybe even your kitchen cabinets, I think this will be a realistic look into what it’s really going to be like for you and hopefully give you some encouragement. If you are a beginner- this tutorial is for you! Now, let's fix these cabinets.
Supplies
Behr Urethane Alkyd Enamel (Cracked Pepper)
Amerock Golden Champagne Knobs
Step 1: Assessing the Damage
My friend wanted to neutralize the look of her half bath because she’s getting ready to list her home. I recommended a primer for her to use, but she texted me with an SOS saying, "Hey, this isn’t working. Will you come take a look?" When I arrived, my suspicions were confirmed. The blue paint under the primer was sealed with wax, which causes the paint to repel and not adhere properly, leading to scratching.
Here is how the cabinet started before my friend started priming. This was a more rustic finish from years ago that she was looking to modernize. Unfortunately, upon applying primer, we discovered that it had been sealed with a wax topcoat that repelled the primer that she applied.
This is what the cabinet looked like after my friend applied the primer that I recommended. As you can see- it looks rough and goopy and the primer is failing. Our only choice was to strip this cabinet down to bare wood and start from scratch.
Here is an up close look at that failing finish. As you can see it’s textured and goopy and the primer is literally falling off in chunks. This is no good. So let’s start the removal process!
Step 2: Removing the Old Paint
I grabbed my carbide scraper to see how easily I could get through the layers of paint and primer. The paint came off easily, so I decided to try and remove as much of the paint and primer as I could with this tool. I removed the doors and drawers from the frame and took them back to my workshop to get to work on them.
The carbide scraper worked well for the larger cabinet doors, so I used it to get the majority of the paint off. However- this tool is too big to get into the corners of the smaller cabinet fronts so I had to pull out my chemical stripper.
Step 3: Prepping for New Paint
After using the carbide scraper to remove as much of the paint and primer as I could not he larger cabinet fronts, I then switched to a chemical stripper for the smaller detailed areas. Chemical strippers can be messy and require patience, but they are effective.
This Blue Bear Soy Gel Paint Stripper is my favorite to use on furniture. It doesn’t have a string odor and removes paint more efficiently than other products I have tried.
First, I applied the product all over the cabinet fronts in a thick layer. As soon as it starts bubbling, I go in with my paint scraper and remove it. Be prepared with a good supply of rubber gloves and a cardboard box for the paint removal- this is a very messy process!
After I remove everything I can with the paint scraper I use fine steel wool and nylon brushes to remove the paint in the corners and details to ensure that everything is gone. I then follow up by cleaning the cabinet with my Simple Green to get rid of the gooey residue.
Step 4: Sanding and Priming
Once everything was stripped, I did a quick, light sanding with 180-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface for priming. I used Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 primer, which sticks to many surfaces without sanding and dries quickly. It also comes in gray, providing a good base for dark colors like the one I chose.
Zinsser Bullseye 123 is my favorite primer. I love that it comes in both white and grey. It does a great job sealing to prevent bleed through and staining and it also seals against unwanted odors on your piece.
Because I am hand painting the primer and paint on these cabinets, I am using a super fine sandpaper between coats to soften and smooth any brush strokes. I then use a tack cloth to remove any of the dust that accumulated.
Step 5: Choosing and Applying Paint
My friend was wanting a more modern finish and color for this half bathroom so I chose Behr’s color of the year, Cracked Pepper, in a urethane alkyd enamel for this cabinet. This water-based paint acts like oil-based paint but is easier to clean up. It’s specifically designed for doors, trim, and cabinetry, making it a perfect choice. I used a high-quality synthetic brush to apply the paint, I chose a brush over a roller due to the shape of the cabinets.
This Behr Urethane Alkyd Enamel Paint is new to me, but is recommended for cabinets, doors and trim. I like that it was nice and thin and does not require that you use a topcoat. It also cures to a nice hard and durable finish. I was pleased with how it performed and would definitely use it again!
Because of the size of this cabinet, I chose to use a synthetic angled mini brush to apply the paint. Since it is in a small bathroom with no natural light, any brush strokes there might be will be almost undetectable. I got great coverage with the first coat and allowed it all to cure overnight before I applied the second coat.
Step 6: Second Coat and Finishing Touches
After letting the first coat dry overnight, I sanded lightly with a super fine sanding pad to smooth out any brush strokes before I applied the second coat. After sanding I used a tack cloth to get rid of any dust for proper paint adhesion. One feature that I love about this paint is that it doesn’t require a top coat, which is a huge time saver!
I used my small artist brushes to get into the details of these smaller cabinets to ensure that I get nice even coverage.
Step 7: Reassembly and Final Details
Once everything was painted and dry, I reassembled the vanity at my friend’s house and measured and drilled for the new hardware. One pro tip I have for you is to always number your drawers when you remove them so that they all fit right back into the frame when you start to reassemble.
I selected these gorgeous brushed brass knobs for this cabinet. They contrast beautifully with the cracked pepper shade of paint and give this cabinet the modern vibe I was going for.
Here is the final result! I also changed out the mirror and light fixture in this small bathroom, so if you would like to see that process you can watch the full video here.
Painting a bathroom vanity can be a challenging but rewarding project. By following these steps and learning from my mistakes, you can achieve a professional-looking finish. Remember, patience and the right tools are key. Happy painting!