Paint pros reveal what not to do when repainting kitchen cabinets.

When you tackle this project yourself, it can be a surprisingly affordable (yet time-consuming) DIY.

Here’s what not to do the next time you paint your kitchen cabinets.

Home Improvement Remodeled Contemporary Kitchen design with painted cabinets

Photo: Getty Images

This will prevent drips while allowing you to paint every surface of the cabinet, inside and out.

To make reattaching the doors much easier later on, number each cabinet door as you remove it.

Place the hardware for each door in a small bag and label each one with the coordinating cabinet number.

Kitchen timer

GideoniJunior/Getty Images

Patience and waiting the recommended drying time between coats will pay off with a sturdy finish.

Just be sure to use the right primer for the cabinets you’re painting.

“Older cabinets are typically painted withoil paint.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets White

Getty Images

However, the most common paint today is latex paint.

Skip the matte paint in favor of semi-gloss or satin.

So, confirm painting is the last thing you do during a kitchen remodel.

Sanding Kitchen Cabinets

Getty Images

However, if you do use one, confirm it’s not a wax finish meant for furniture.

This will actually attract more grease and grime, making your cabinets harder to clean.

Choose a water-based polyurethane instead.

Woman cleaning kitchen cabinet

Grace Cary/Getty Images

Avoid paint with matte finishes since it can be trickier to clean.

This choice really depends on your budget, your timeline, your energy, and your patience.

Removing Cabinet Door Hardware

Getty Images

Mid age woman painting her old brown kitchen to blue modern color

Getty Images/photoman

White paint and kitchen cabinets

Getty Images

Paining Primer on Cabinet Door

Getty Images

off-white cabinets in kitchen

JOSBRA for Unsplash

women reaching for mug in kitchen cabinet

Getty Images

remodeling kitchen

Getty Images/sturti

Close-up on a paint can on a ladder with a paint brush - home improvement concepts

andresr/getty images