How to Paint RV Cabinets the Right Way: Easy DIY Guide

It’s become quite popular recently for people to renovate their RVs. One of the most common things people want to learn to do is how to paint RV cabinets and walls.

This is a great way to refresh any space instantly and fairly easy. Today I want to share with you a step-by-step guide on how to paint your RV cabinets!

The most recent project in our 5th wheel was painting our kitchen island, which I will likely be referring to most often in this post. However, the things I’m sharing with you apply to any cabinet painting projects in your RV.

Update: In 2023, we repainted the lower RV kitchen cabinets and the island a light green and painted the kitchen cabinets a light grey. We also replaced the slide trim in our RV.

You can find all the details of our RV kitchen renovation in our detailed blog post next.

Ok, let’s get right into how to paint RV cabinets!

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How to do the Proper Prep Work for Painting RV Cabinets

Prepping is perhaps one of the most important parts of any RV painting project. If you don’t prep things correctly, you might end up with problems like paint peeling or even a bigger mess.

We like to do a few things to prep for our projects before we ever crack open a can of paint. These steps are all necessary whether you have real wood or fake wood cabinets in your RV.

Remove any hardware, drawers, and doors

The first thing you need to do is grab a drill and remove everything from the cabinet base. This includes hardware like handles, drawer stops, and cabinet doors or drawers. You’ll also need to remove any outlets or other accessories where you’ll be painting.

You can either keep the hardware original, paint it, or replace it. We chose to use spray paint and paint ours black.

All of the following steps will need to be done on any drawer fronts and cabinet doors as well. I like to take them outdoors and paint them there to help with fumes as well as spread out my workspace.

Repair and sand all surfaces thoroughly

If there are any chips or unwanted holes in the real wood of your cabinets, you can use a wood filler to repair them. Make sure to let them properly dry according to the directions on the filler you’re using.

Sanding is a super important step! Trust me, it’s not a fun one and makes a huge mess, but it’s definitely worth it!

We tested out skipping sanding on some of the cabinets during our bathroom renovation and found that the paint doesn’t stick as well.

Sanding allows the paint to grab hold better and lets the paint stick. This means it is less likely to peel off.

We (and by we, I mean Tucker haha) sanded the island really well and have had zero issues with paint peeling even though it’s been over a year since then.

I know you wish I weren’t telling you this, haha! But trust me, don’t skip sanding.

Clean up from the sanding

After you’re done sanding, make sure to clean everything up really well. Personally, I used a microfiber cloth with just water and it got everything up.

You don’t want any dirt or sawdust being left behind as it can get into your paint job and mess up the texture/finish.

Another thing I’ve started doing is having two cleaning buckets. One with water and a dash of vinegar, and one with just plain water.

I start by wiping everything down with a rag dipped in the vinegar water, and then I follow up one more time with a rag and the plain water.

I’ve noticed that doing this system can make a huge difference!

Tape everything off

Next up, grab your painter’s tape! I like to use this 1/2-inch painter’s tape, but you can use whatever you’d like.

Very carefully place the tape around any surfaces that need to be protected.

I usually put it on the floors, any walls I’m not painting, around light fixtures, and electrical outlets.

Some people choose not to tape anything but I am far too messy of a painter and need the extra protection!

If you’re excellent at cutting and not making messes, go for it! I am not, haha!

You can also lay down drip clothes or newspapers to protect the floor and any furniture that may be nearby.

Pro tip: Puppy pads actually make a great mobile drip cloth. When I painted our RV island I used a puppy pad to set my paint can on and scooted it around the island as I painted.

It caught several drips and was super easy to clean up and throw away when I was done!

Prime the cabinets before you paint

Now that your prep work is complete, you’re ready to prime your RV cabinets.

The best primer for RV cabinets

One of the most common questions I am asked is what primer I like to use. I use Kilz oil-based primer for all of my RV painting projects.

It works really well, and it also dries quickly. I recommend using an oil-based primer instead of a water-based one.

You can get it at most hardware stores and I believe even most Walmarts carry it in-store.

I like to keep a gallon on hand when working on projects, although it stretches pretty far. I also use the same primer for our camper walls.

Make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area when using it. If there are windows nearby, open them to let the fumes escape.

This primer is very strong and has a strong odor. It usually makes my eyes water/burn, so use protective glasses if needed.

I only apply one coat of primer. As I mentioned earlier, it dries very quickly. It’s usually dry to the touch in about 30 mins and I’m able to paint shortly after that. Use your own discretion according to what the can of primer says.

Painting your RV cabinets

Finally! You’ve prepped and primed, and you’re ready to paint! I like using a paintbrush for primer and paint, but you can also use foam rollers if you’re more comfortable with that.

Some people even choose to use a paint sprayer which saves time and eliminates brush strokes.

I always do 2-3 coats of paint depending on the color. Darker paint colors tend to need a third coat.

You can always go over it and touch up a few spots without applying an entire third coat of paint as well if needed. I recommend you paint over all surfaces at least two times.

The best paint for RV cabinets

What type of paint you use is really a personal preference. I know many RVers have used chalk paint on their camper cabinets, but I don’t have any personal experience with that. There are a lot of possible paint types you can use and a lot to learn about paint types.

I like to use EasyCare Ultra Premium Satin Interior paint from the local hardware store. It is an acrylic latex paint that is easy to clean.

Do your research and decide what paint is going to be best for you and your needs.

Don’t forget to also do these same steps for your cabinet doors and pull-out drawer fronts.

Finishing up

Yay! Now you know how to paint RV cabinets and all that’s left is a few finishing steps.

Cleaning up is the easy part. Pull any tape off and throw it away, clean up any accidental splatters of paint on unwanted surfaces, and reinstall the hardware and drawers/doors after everything is properly dried.

If you choose to follow up with a clear coat of sealer, you can, but we don’t find that it is necessary to add a top coat with the type of paint that we use.

How to paint RV walls

The steps for how to paint RV cabinets and walls are very similar. The only main difference when painting RV walls is that you do not want to sand them.

You will still need to clean them very thoroughly, but skip the sanding and go straight to the primer. If you sand your RV walls, they will lose their texture and the paint will have a harder time adhering to the walls.

FAQ

In Closing: How to Paint RV Cabinets

I hope that this post about how to paint camper cabinets has been helpful and that painting the cabinets in your RV is not a daunting thought anymore.

RV renovations can take a long time, but the end result is totally worth it!

I really love how our cabinets have turned out so far, and I’m excited to finish up our projects!