DIY refinishing cabinets: My experience!

[Jessica Hood]

I recently refinished kitchen cabinets for the first time.  I did a lot of research initially and finally decided to use Valspar cabinet enamel.  We removed the cabinet trim and hardware, sanded everything down with an electric hand sander and handheld sandpaper/blocks.  We opted not to use a chemical stripper because we try to avoid chemicals as much as possible.  It is important that you wear a mask while sanding!  We wiped the cabinets down with a damp rag after sanding and allowed to dry.  We then applied the cabinet enamel, which is especially made to be durable, with a small cabinet roller and brush.  It took only two coats.  After drying fully, we reinstalled them with new handles.

That was several months ago and the cabinet enamel is holding up very well.  It looks professional.  I went with a light cream/white color to match the trim in the house.  We did not have any troubles with staining or yellowing.  It does look like there could be a little bit of pigment that comes off if you use a harsh cleanser, so be careful about that.

If you are on a budget and cannot afford new cabinets, or just don't want to do it... I do recommend this.