Clean and sand

• Several steps need to be taken before the paint goes on. Remove all of the hardware from the cabinets, including hinges and knobs, and clean the cabinets thoroughly. Remove the doors and scrub them and the cabinets with a cleaner formulated to remove grease. Let dry completely, then prepare to sand them. You do not have to sand them a lot; just enough to rough up the surface so that the primer will stick. Use a fine-grain sandpaper on any edges or decorative moldings. Only sand the surfaces that will be painted.
  
  

Prime

• Oak has a strong natural pattern in the grain of the wood. If you do not want the pattern to show through, you will need to apply at least two coats of primer. The best way to do this is to spray the primer on. This will ensure that you do not get paint stroke marks and that it goes on evenly. The doors can be laid on newspaper and sprayed outside. For the cupboards inside, protect nearby surfaces before you spay. Let dry, then lightly sand them and spray another coat.
  
  

Paint

• Now the cabinets are ready for painting. If you want a smooth surface, the best way to do it is to spray the paint on. If you want a more antique or country cottage look, use a paintbrush that will leave stroke marks. If you use oil-based paint, you will need to let each coat of paint dry, which can take up to two days, depending on the humidity in the air. Experts differ as to whether oil or latex paint is best for cabinets. Medium to high-gloss paint is most commonly used on cabinets. High-gloss paint, while easy to clean, also show marks more than matte paint. Sand lightly between each coat of paint.