Yes, It's Possible To Paint Over Gloss Kitchen Cabinets (And Here's How To Do It)

Renovating a kitchen and installing new kitchen cabinets can be extremely costly and isn't always a viable option. Even just replacing the doors can come with a hefty price tag. If you have gloss kitchen cabinets, you may think that entirely replacing them is your only option, as you've heard through the grapevine that they can't be painted. However, this isn't entirely true. As long as some extra care — like proper sanding and drying time — is factored into the transformation process, then you can definitely paint gloss kitchen cabinets.

Preparation is key, and there are a couple of DIY tools you'll need to complete this painting project. Most importantly, you're going to need a type of electric sander that's best for wood. An electric sander will save you time and effort, but a sanding block will do just fine if you don't have an electric one on hand. A bottle of sugar soap and a cloth will also come in handy to prepare a clean surface. Finally, grab either a paintbrush or a roller (depending on what you'd prefer), your chosen interior wood paint, and you're good to go.

Begin the process of painting your gloss kitchen cabinets by lightly sanding them down, so the paint has something to grip onto rather than just sliding off. You should see the glossy sheen disappear quite quickly and turn into a matte finish, which is an indicator to stop sanding that particular area and move on. The next step is to get rid of any excess dust by cleaning your cabinets with sugar soap and a cloth or sponge. Once your surface is dirt-free, it's time to get painting. 

To guarantee a smoother finish, a foam roller is going to be the best option as opposed to a standard paintbrush. Using a paintbrush runs the risk of leaving streak marks, whereas using a roller doesn't. However, you could also achieve a perfect finish by investing in a paint sprayer tool to spray paint your cabinets. Whatever painting method you decide to use, at least two coats are recommended.

The main mistake you want to avoid making is painting straight onto your gloss cabinets without sanding them down first. You will end up with an uneven finish and the paint won't be able to properly adhere to the surface, meaning it'll take multiple coats and will never look seamless. 

When painting any kind of kitchen cabinets, you'll want to remove the doors first and paint them separately. Whether you're going to paint the interior of your cabinets or not, it's good to make sure you've painted every nook and crevice and aren't left with any spots you may have potentially missed. Another important thing to remember is to leave enough time between coats. After applying the first coat, you'll want to wait a few hours (or even a day) to make sure it's dry to the touch. Painted cabinets can take up to a month to fully cure, but there's a difference between how long it takes for painted cabinets to dry and cure.