Step 1 - Get Organized

Once you’ve decided on your perfect colour selection. I recommend a semigloss or satin finish paint for the cabinets – flat is too hard to keep clean and high gloss accentuates the imperfections.   Take inventory of what you’ll need to complete your painting project, make one trip to the paint or hardware store. Items you need on hand; paint, primer, brushes (foam and bristle), rollers, paint trays, paint can opener, drop cloth, painting tripods, gloves, sand paper, sanding sponge, plastic brush and roller covers, painters tape/paper, screwdriver, putty, spatula, rags, TSP or similar product, painter removal spray.

Set up your work space for the transformation process – Prepping, Priming & Painting

Step 2 - Paint Walls & Ceiling

I began the laundry room update by emptying the contents out of the closets, cabinets and entire room. Cover the floor, counters and appliances with painters' drop cloths. The walls were getting a couple coats of paint CM #0415 Old Fossilstone Grey, Duration - Satin finish from Sherwin Williams, which was a slightly darker shade then the baseboard trim and doors.  The colour revitalized the room and made it look even larger. I used a 2” angled brush to paint a trim edge around the entire room and then roll in sections the remainder of the walls (roll a W and then blend the paint in the section - feather the edges with the dry roller).

Unfortunately, once the walls were painted, the ceiling looked yellow.  So, a quick trip to the paint store was in order to grab a gallon of Eminence white ceiling paint from Sherwin Williams. With a trusty angled brush in hand, began the cut in process to paint the ceiling edge.  Once the ceiling edge was painted, with a good roller in hand the ceiling got a solid coat of white paint.  The laundry room was taking shape with a bright and fresh look.

Step 3 - Prepare the Cabinets for Painting

Next step, the preparation work on the cabinets.  I removed all the cabinet doors from their hinges.  I know a lot of people say you don’t need to do this step, I disagree.  I don’t like the look or idea of painting over the cabinet hinges or hardware.  Most cabinet doors are very easy to remove with a straight edge screwdriver. Place all hardware and screws in plastic baggies for safe keeping.  Label the doors, drawers and inside the cabinets to ensure they get back on the right cabinet.   Give the doors and trim a wipe down with water and TSP to remove grease and grim.  Repair any nicks/damage to the doors or face of the cabinets with wood filler and a putty knife.  Sand and smooth when dry.  I did not have any damage or holes to fill on my cabinets or doors.

Keep in mind that if you are going to replace the existing hardware, be sure to get new hardware that has the same hole alignment or you’ll need to re-drill a hole(s) and fill the pre-existing holes with wood filler and sand.

Next give the doors, trim and cabinet face a sand with a mouse hand sander (220 grit paper) and sanding sponge, remember to wear safety glasses and a dust mask, to avoid inhaling or getting dusk particles in your eyes. I highly recommend that the sanding be done either in the garage or outside.  My mouse sander was an inexpensive purchase that has been well used and continues to stand up considering it consistent usage.

After the sanding was completed and the sheen has been removed from the front and back of doors, use the shop vacuum to remove a good portion of the dust.  Wiping both sides of doors down with a rag and mixture of TSP/water will further remove dust particles.  Let the doors completely dry before starting the painting process.

Step 4 - The Priming Process

Start with applying primer to the face and trim of the cabinets, next move on to the front side of the cabinet doors (do not prime or paint sides of the drawers).

a.       Place cabinets on paint tripods

b.       Apply primer to corners, creases and edges (details) with an angled bristle brush

a.       Roll primer on the large areas of the cabinets prime with the grain with a 2” foam roller

b.       Let dry according to manufacturer’s instructions before flipping doors over to prime the other side

c.       One coat of primer on each side is adequate

Step 5 - The Painting Process

Now the fun starts!  Follow the same process to paint the cabinet doors as was done when priming the doors. I used Emerald Semi-gloss, #6258 Tricon Black from Sherwin Williams, to coordinate with the counter tops.

Start with applying paint to the trim, cabinet face, sides and doors

a.       Apply paint to corners creases and interior edges (details) with an angled bristle brush

a.       Apply and roll paint with the grain to the larger areas of the cabinet door with a 2” foam roller

b.       After each coat let dry according to manufacturer’s instructions before flipping the door over to paint the other side

c.       Paint two-three coats on each side of the cabinet door

d.       Let dry as per manufacturer’s instructions before hanging doors back on hinges

e.       Attach door handles – I reused the existing handles. Use a manual screwdriver to avoid stripping the screws

Paint is an inexpensive way to change the look and feel of any room.  This room is evident to how much colour can have such a big impact.   

Once the laundry room cabinet doors were back in place, all the linens were sorted, refolded and neatly tucked into baskets and placed on the shelves. The white baskets will keep the sheets and the closet organized.  

Not everyone is delighted to do laundry, however, having an aesthetically pleasing room to perform this arduous task is one way to get inspired and motivated to do laundry!

Now, I’m totally loving my refreshed, renewed and restyled laundry room and completely enthused to jump into to the next home improvement project – the half bathroom update.

Hope these steps help you to get inspired to freshen up your laundry room.

Have fun with your laundry room update!