The "trick" is hours and hours of PREP. PREP, PREP. and the best paint you can buy. Time, time, and more time.

I painted the uppers of my original 70's kitchen and they are in the laundry room - they look fine. However, I did not paint my late 90's oak cabinets - I prefer the warmth of wood in my climate. From reading various blogs and friends' experience, touch ups are needed in two to three years. That is not a big deal for many. One friend bought a condo for her daughter 4 years ago, and the cabinets were painted by the seller to sell the condo. Her daughter is a careful person - no kids in the home, and my friends says the cabinets are looking kind of sad and chipped.

Many bloggers say their cabinets need touch ups, but they would do it again:

https://www.housebyhoff.com/2018/02/how-our-painted-kitchen-cabinets-are-holding-up-two-years-later

https://www.dukemanorfarm.com/2016/02/pros-and-cons-of-painting-kitchen-cabinets-white.html

https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/painted-kitchen-cabinets-three-years-later/

I opted for new counters, apron front sink, backsplash and under cabinet lighting:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

I have rather nice cabinets with solid wood doors and some stained cabinets are not so great - so that can make a difference too. Painting can give a few more year of life to worn cabinets.

Should you want to consider other changes rather than painting, this is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older, refreshed kitchens.

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

It has only been a year, but I painted both bathroom’s cabinetry using Benjamin Moore Advance, which is specifically designed for cabinets. Sanded, primed with high quality primer, sanded, two coats of Advance with light sanding again in between those coats. Takes time and patience but so far they look great. Follow the instructions completely.

I would do it again, but I would set aside more time for it. We have more than 40 cabinets and drawers. It took oodles and oodles of time to prep. And then the sanding in between wasn't so much. My husband did the painting and did an awesome job. We have needed touch ups because I have a lot of kids, and they care way less about the cabinets than I do.

I painted our kitchen cabinets last year and they are holding up really well. No touch up needed (yet). But it's just me and my husband now, kids are away in college. It took me forever to them. Spray painting is the easiest part. Prepping the cabinets is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. I had to remove the old paint, sand, degrease, clean/wash, degloss, apply grain filler (different from wood filler. We have oak, and I don't want the grain to show, hence the grain filler, which took me 40 minutes per big cabinet door- I'm a slowpoke;) sand, prime, sand, paint, sand and paint. Just thinking about it makes me tired! I'm thinking of painting the bathroom cabinets next month.

Another blog to check out is Evolutionofstyle.com. Jenny gives detailed descriptions of her process and the paint that she prefers.

The prep is essential and a space that is completely dust free for spraying the doors and drawer fronts is a must. Most of the DIY ones I have seen are pretty sad looking in not much time . Spraying is a better finish so that to be is something you should do for sure.

Thanks for all the replies. So my takeaway is prep, prep, prep!

jalarse - Really I had to pause at the first three words of your post. Your dh built the cabinets. OMG. Is he a professional carpenter? His work is amazing. He built and painted them 18 years ago? I hope he has a thriving company because he has amazing talent! My dh does not even know a Phillips head from a flat head screwdriver.

jhmarie - I would think that touchups every few years would be expected. Given the state of my current cabinets, I really wouldn't mind the trouble of a few touchups.

nursewan - I have seen a few mentions of BM Advance for cabinets. People seem to really like it. But it still seems to be a lot of work.

suseyb - can you post photos of your kitchen? I would love to see it.

rich69b - Work, work, work... But it sounds like it was worth the effort!

ratherbesewing - thanks for the link!

Patricia Colwell - Nothing about my space is dust free but I am going to give it a whirl anyway. I can't imagine that a bad paint job looks worse than my 25yo honey oak cabinets. They are vile. Anything would be an improvement in my case.

My friend did hers. She took them down and did all the work out in her barn. Rented a spray painter. Oil based paint if possible, she used a "cabinet coat" type of paint.

I would never use an oil based paint. So stinky! The alkyds have come a long way. I used Fine Paints of Europe eco

Here is a pic of one of the bottom cabinets. I took this to show my dh how my le creuset pan fit. We took out the elfa and put in another rev a shelf

Suseyb - I love your cabinets and my dh (the cook in my house) loves your le creuset.

Ilikefriday,,,yes I have. for some friends. after 10yrs one is still fine. the others have moved, so I can't update.

this is the best tutorial I have come across. she addresses everything. and yes, prep is most of the work.

https://www.evolutionofstyleblog.com/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets-like