How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in Tallahassee (The Right Way)

Painting kitchen cabinets sounds simple, but anyone in Tallahassee who has tried it knows: it can go south fast. The humidity here makes edges swell and paint peel if the prep work isn’t done properly. At Isadore Johnson’s Miscellaneous Services LLC, we’ve helped homeowners turn grimy and dated cabinets into showroom-level finishes and we have seen every common mistake in between.

If you’re thinking about tackling this yourself, or planning to tap in a professional, here’s what a real “painted-cabinets” job takes.

Give Yourself Time and Never Rush It

This isn’t a “two-hour weekend project.” Between sanding, priming, painting, and drying, you’re looking at at least two to three days of work (if you're doing it properly). Doing it in a rush means sloppy drips, visible brush strokes, or stuck doors later on. The trick is patience.

Remove the Doors, Hardware, and Label Everything

This little step saves big headaches. Take off the doors and drawers, and carefully remove knobs and hinges. Label each piece , for example, “upper left door,” “bottom right drawer front.” If you or your helper mixes these up, things get out of sync fast. Lay them out organized on a garage table or drop cloth so you don’t lose track.

Sand - But Not Too Much

You only want to scuff the old finish just enough for new paint to grip. Too rough, and the wood absorbs way too much paint; too light, and the paint slides off later. We like starting with 120-grit paper and finishing with 220-grit for a smooth touch. Wipe away dust with a damp rag because it really helps your first coat stay clean.

Priming and Sealants Are Your Friends

Never skip the primer, especially here in Tallahassee, where humidity fights finishes. Use a stain-blocking primer to prevent knots or old discoloration from bleeding through. A coat of shellac-based primer or an adhesion-promoting wood primer works wonders. It also speeds up drying later.

Choose the Right Paint and Application Style

Latex paint is common, but for kitchen cabinets, acrylic-enamel or water-based enamel stands up better to frequent opening, closing, and scrubbing.

You can roll, spray, or brush it on:

• ● Spraying gives a smooth, shop-like finish (we use HVLP sprayers).
• ● Rolling works too so use a high-density foam roller for minimal texture.
• ● Brushing is fine if you feather the edges quickly to avoid brush marks. Tip: between coats, lightly sand again with 320-grit, then wipe clean.

Don’t Rescue It Too Soon

Cabinet surfaces need time to cure, especially in our warm and humid climate. Wait at least 24 hours between coats, and if you can, let the final coat dry for 48–72 hours before reattaching hardware or using the cabinets. That little patience now saves chips and sticky doors later.

Bring It All Back Together with Care

When everything’s dry, reattach hinges and knobs carefully to avoid flaking the new finish. Use a hand drill on low torque or screwdrivers to be gentle because strained screws or fast re-attaches can crack fresh paint.

Painting kitchen cabinets in Tallahassee isn’t just a splash of color. It is a bit of process, finesse, and pace. Whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a pro which is us at Isadore Johnson’s Miscellaneous Services LLC, the keys are preparation, quality materials, and patience. Done right, it turns tired cabinets into a clean, updated focal point and holds up against the Florida heat and humidity.

Want help planning or budgeting for the project? Drop us a text. We have been a Tallahassee staple since 2013, and have seen what works here, again and again.