White is the most common color I use for my cabinet painting projects, but every once in a while, I get the opportunity to do something different. For a recent cabinet project in Algonquin, Illinois, I spray-painted a set of oak cabinets in a basement using black in a gloss finish.
The result was a bold, dramatic look that gave the wet-bar a completely different feel. I also later painted the surrounding walls Repose Gray (SW-7015), which pairs nicely with black cabinetry.
In this article, I’ll show you how I prepared and painted these oak cabinets, explain why I chose a gloss finish, and share some things I think homeowners should consider before deciding to paint their kitchen cabinets black.
Before and after of basement cabinets in Algonquin, IL that I painted black for a bold look.
Should You Paint Your Oak Cabinets Black?
Black-painted cabinets can look excellent, especially when paired with complementary wall colors, countertops, backsplashes, and hardware. However, black isn’t the right choice for every kitchen, and I think it’s important to understand a few drawbacks before making the decision.
Consider the Lighting
One of the biggest things to consider is how much light your kitchen receives. Black is obviously a very dark color, and it absorbs more light than lighter colors, so painting all your cabinets black can make a kitchen feel darker if the room is small or doesn’t get much natural light.
If you have a bright kitchen with plenty of natural light, black cabinets can create a striking contrast without making the room feel too dark.
Another option is to use black on only part of the cabinetry. For example, you could paint the lower cabinets black and leave the upper cabinets white, or use black just on the kitchen island. This gives you the contrast and depth of a dark color without covering every cabinet in it.
Black Cabinets Show Dust, Fingerprints, and Smudges
Many people assume white cabinets show more dirt than black cabinets, but that isn’t true. In my experience, dark surfaces can be surprisingly unforgiving when it comes to everyday marks. Have you ever owned black appliances? I have black appliances in my own kitchen, and I’ve noticed how easily fingerprints and smudges show up after touching or wiping them.
The same thing happens with black-painted cabinets. Dust, greasy fingerprints, water spots, and food splatters can stand out against a dark finish. I even noticed dust accumulating on the cabinet doors during cleanup at the end of this project.
Dust is present on lighter-colored cabinets, too, but the contrast can make it much easier to see on black.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t choose black. It simply means you should be prepared to wipe the cabinets down regularly, especially around handles, cooking areas, and other places that get touched frequently.
Using a gloss finish makes the black paint more light reflective.
I Recommend a Gloss Finish for Black Cabinets
For this project, I chose a shinier gloss finish rather than semi-gloss. My reason was simple: black absorbs a lot of light, and a glossier surface reflects more light. That extra reflection helps small spaces, like this basement, appear brighter.
A gloss finish also creates a distinctive look that works well with black cabinetry. However, there’s a trade-off. Gloss can make surface imperfections, smudges, scratches, and wood grain more noticeable because light reflects off the surface.
Unfortunately, that is one of the drawbacks of painting cabinets black, but choosing a less glossy paint finish, like satin, helps hide these imperfections.
Using black paint on oak makes the grain pattern more noticeable than using white paint.
Oak Grain Is More Noticeable Under Black Paint
Another important consideration when painting oak cabinets black is the wood grain. Oak has a pronounced, open grain, and painting it black doesn’t automatically make that texture disappear. In fact, the contrast between the dark color and light reflecting across the surface can make the grain pattern stand out.
If you like the character of oak and don’t mind seeing some texture, this may not be a problem. But if you’re hoping for a completely smooth, modern cabinet finish, the natural grain pattern of oak showing in the paint might turn you off.
For this cabinet painting project in Algonquin, I filled the oak grain, but as you can see in the image above, the natural grain pattern of the wood is very noticeable. If you want a perfectly smooth finish with less oak grain showing, I strongly recommend using white paint instead of black.
Black Cabinets Need to Work With the Rest of the Kitchen
Before choosing black, take a look at the other colors and finishes in your kitchen. Countertops, backsplash tile, flooring, wall paint, hardware, and lighting all influence how the finished cabinets will look.
Black pairs well with white and gray, as well as natural wood tones and certain warmer colors. For these wet-bar cabinets, I painted the surrounding walls with Repose Gray (SW 7015), which complements the black cabinetry without competing with it.
It’s also worth considering whether you want an entirely black kitchen or a two-tone look. Black lower cabinets with white upper cabinets can create a balanced appearance, while a black island can provide contrast without making the whole kitchen feel darker.
If you’re unsure about painting every cabinet black, using it as an accent color may be a good place to start.
I begin all of my cabinet painting projects by removing the hardware.
How I Prepped these Oak Cabinets for Black Paint
Although the cabinets in this project were oak, the basic preparation and painting process is similar for many other types of wood cabinetry. The main difference is that oak has a pronounced grain that may require grain filler if a smoother finish is desired.
Proper surface preparation is one of the biggest factors in how cabinet paint looks and holds up over time. Here’s how I handled this project.
1. Removing and Labeling the Doors and Drawer Fronts
I started by removing the cabinet doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and knobs. I labeled the pieces using a numbering system so I could identify exactly where everything goes when it was time to reinstall them.
Labeling makes reinstallation much easier and helps prevent confusion when several doors and drawer fronts look similar.
I cleaned the cabinets with Krud Kutter, my go-to cleaner for my painting projects.
2. Cleaning the Cabinets
Cleaning is one of the most important steps when painting kitchen cabinets. Over time, cabinets accumulate grease, cooking residue, and grime, particularly around the stove and microwave. If paint is applied over greasy cabinets, the paint won’t stick, which leads to chipping and peeling.
These cabinets were quite clean because they were located in a basement instead of a busy kitchen, but I still scrubbed them with Krud Kutter cleaner to remove contaminants, then rinsed the wood to remove residue.
3. Sanding the Existing Finish and Filling the Oak Grain
After cleaning, I sanded the cabinets with 220-grit sandpaper to dull the existing finish and prepare the surface for primer. Paint doesn’t adhere as reliably to a slick, glossy surface, so scuff-sanding is an important part of the preparation process.
Before primer, I applied two coats of grain filler. I applied the first coat before priming and the second between coats of primer to smooth out the surface. Filling helps reduce the grain’s appearance and creates a smoother foundation for the black paint.
I covered the cabinet openings and surrounding area with plastic.
4. Masking the Kitchen to Protect Against Overspray
Because I spray-painted the cabinets in close proximity to basement walls and ceiling tiles, I carefully masked the surrounding area before spraying primer and paint. I used tape and plastic to cover the areas that weren’t being painted, including the walls, counters, fridge, and ceiling tiles. Thorough masking is essential when spraying paint inside an occupied home.
I sprayed the cabinets with two coats of BIN shellac primer, tinted to a dark gray.
Priming and Painting the Cabinets Black
For this project, I used an HVLP sprayer to apply the primer and paint. There were only eight doors, along with the cabinet frames, so a smaller HVLP sprayer was perfect for the job.
For large cabinet painting projects, I use a fine-finish airless sprayer. Spraying achieves a smooth, consistent finish across the doors and frames.
5. I Sprayed Two Coats of Primer
One mistake I see people make when painting previously stained, unpainted cabinets is using the wrong primer or skipping primer altogether.
Primer helps the paint bond to the prepared surface, and the right product also helps prevent wood tannins and other stains from bleeding through the finish. This is particularly important when painting over stained wood like oak.
For this project, I used BIN shellac primer and sprayed two coats, sanding between coats to help smooth out the surface. This solvent-based primer blocks stains and dries quickly, allowing the next coat to be applied in about 1 hour.
Black cabinet doors from a painting project in Algonquin, IL.
6. I Sprayed Two Coats of Black Enamel
Once the primer was dry, I sprayed two coats of Sherwin-Williams Pro Industrial water-based alkyd urethane enamel in Tricorn Black (SW 6258), using a gloss finish.
The gloss finish was a deliberate choice for this project. Along with giving the black cabinets a polished appearance, it reflects more light than a flatter finish like satin or semi-gloss.
One thing to keep in mind when working with deep colors like black is that drying and curing times are usually extended depending on the product, room temperature, and humidity. Deep-base paints also require extra care during the early stages of drying and curing, so I avoid rushing the process.
Even when the surface feels dry, the paint may not have reached its full hardness, and reinstalling doors too soon can leave smudges in the finish. If you hire a painter to paint your cabinets black, the longer cure time can increase labor costs.
Is Painting Oak Cabinets Black Worth It?
I think black-painted cabinets can look excellent when the color, finish, and preparation are right for the kitchen. My cabinet painting project in Algonquin is a good example of how oak cabinets can be transformed with a deep black finish.
However, black isn’t automatically the best choice for every home. Before committing, consider how much natural light your kitchen receives, whether you like the appearance of the oak grain, how much maintenance you’re comfortable with, and whether you prefer a glossy or less reflective finish.
If you’re thinking about giving your oak cabinets a completely different look, black is worth considering, and I’d be happy to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your kitchen.
I provide cabinet painting estimates in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Huntley, and the surrounding areas. Contact me today for a free estimate, and let’s talk about what a fresh finish could look like in your kitchen.