How to Paint Bathroom Vanity Cabinets

Take your bathroom from "blah" to "bling" with Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel with a vanity painting project. Reinvigorate your decor and design with a bright accent color and updated hardware. Get started with these easy-to-follow instructions!

1. Prep

Remove the cabinet doors, drawers, false drawer fronts, and any attached hardware.

If the cabinet has working drawers, remove them from the cabinet.

Unscrew the drawer fronts, where possible, and finish them separately.

2. Clean

Using water and the degreaser dish soap, wash off all grease and oils that normally buildup on cabinetry over time.

Rinse twice with fresh water and sponge and allow time to thoroughly dry.

3. Tape

Use painter's tape to mask off the underside of the vanity top, adjoining walls, and floor.

4. Sand

Scuff sand cabinets, doors, etc., and apply a test sample of primer in an inconspicuous area.

Allow to dry properly and test for adhesion. Because of the exceptional adhesion of this product, full sanding may not be necessary for most clean, paintable surfaces.

5. Prime

Once you have established good bonding/adhesion, you can prime the entire surface. Keep in mind that any surface prep short of clean, dry and dull will lead to poor adhesion, and may affect the adhesion of the painted top coat.

Before priming, a quality wood filler/putty should be used to patch holes or imperfections in the surface.

Using a brush, edge a coat of primer to all exposed areas of the bathroom vanity. Then use a roller to finish.

Let dry for about 2-3 hours.

6. Paint

Brush or roll on the first coat of paint and let dry.

Add two additional coats to protect the surfaces from daily use.

Remove the tape by pulling it away from the wall at a 45° angle.

7. Let Dry and Reassemble

Let dry overnight to ensure the paint has fully dried.

Reassemble doors and hardware, or switch out old hardware for a new stylish look.

WARNING! Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead. Exposure to lead dust or fumes may cause brain damage or other adverse health effects, especially in children or pregnant women. Controlling exposure to lead or other hazardous substances requires the use of proper protective equipment, such as a properly fitted respirator (NIOSH approved) and proper containment and cleanup. For more information, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (in US) or contact your local health authority.

Colors We Used

Check out our most popular colors for your most important projects to develop your color palette and create like a pro. See the colors we used for this design below.

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