Should I Paint That? Painting Shelves

Is the ugly book shelf in the corner ruining the rest of the room. Did you move into a home that has the old fashioned wallpapered shelves in the kitchen? Did you get the perfect shelves, but the color is just a bit off? There are a huge number of shelves throughout the home, with a million different functions. Should you paint these shelves to make them go with the rest of the aesthetic? 

The answer is YES! You can absolutely paint your shelves, but there are so many different types made out of tons of different materials, meaning there are specific types of paint that should be used. Read on to learn some tips about painting the different types of shelves in your home!

Bookshelves

Supply list for painting Bookshelves:

• Fine-grit sandpaper

• Vacuum or rag

• Paintbrushes

• Primer

• Paint

• Nail

Tip: For wooden bookshelves water or oil based paint is acceptable, as long as you use a primer. ALWAYS use a stain blocking primer. 

The Process:

1. Remove all shelves and hardware, tape any areas where screws go. 

2. Sand the entire bookcase, including the shelves, lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper. 

3. Remove any sawdust residue from the bookcase. Vacuum the dust from the crevices or use a barely dampened rag to remove the dust.

4. Paint a thin coat of primer on the bookcase and shelves if you are painting the bookcase a solid color. Use a bristle paint brush to apply the primer and paint in the direction of the wood grain. Select an oil-based primer for oil-based paints, and a latex primer for latex paints. Allow the primer to dry for three hours.

5. Apply a thin coat of paint on top of the primer, painting in the direction of the wood grain.

Allow the paint and primer to completely dry between coats, reassemble the bookshelf, and enjoy!

Cabinet Shelves

Supplies for Cabinet Shelves:

• Foam roller

• 1” angled brush

• Stain blocking Primer

• Paint

• Sanding Block 

• Cloth

Tip: You will want to use an Alkyd oil based paint and a stain blocking primer for these shelves.

The Process: 

1. Clean all shelves removing any dirt and debris and let dry. 

2. “Cut in” with the angled brush, making sure to get the top and sides.

3. Use the roller to roll paint on the top, then the sides. Do the bottom of each section last to catch any paint drips. Let it dry.

4. Repeat the steps to add one more coat. Let dry.

5. Apply paint to the outer edge of the cabinet shelves with the foam roller.

Allow the paint to dry completely between coats, and when finished and enjoy your new and fresh look. 

Shortcut: If it seems too time consuming to paint the inside of every cabinet and all of the cabinet shelves in your kitchen, here’s a trick: just paint the inner 1-inch strip right along the inside edge of each cabinet box. It will look nice and neat and still professionally done.

Keeping these tips in mind you can refresh any room you need by simply adding paint to shelving. This can be a DIY project, but it does take time and skill to ensure you are painting shelves in a way that will last. Shelves are made to hold things, there is constant taking off and putting on items. This makes it important to have a fantastic paint job in order to make sure the paint isn't wearing away, the shelves don’t become sticky, no black skid marks appear, and anything else that can commonly occur. You can turn to a professional and never have to worry. Paint Positive is a company that cares, they will take the time to give you the best paint job you can imagine! Call them today to schedule an appointment for a free quote!