How To Use SatinHaus Paint: A Step By Step Guide

How To Paint Kitchen Cupboards & How To Paint Furniture

7 simple steps to help you achieve the best results, including tips and tricks from the founders.

This general guide is designed to show you the exact process on how to use SatinHaus paint on kitchen cupboards, cabinet doors, drawers, and furniture. Following each step carefully will help you achieve a smooth, durable, professional-looking finish, whether you are refreshing a full kitchen or updating a single piece of furniture. Each step is very important to the success of the longevity of your finish. Completing the process correctly is a non-negotiable for the visual and the tactile aesthetics of your project. For more in-depth tutorials, please check our social channels.

Step 1: Degrease Item

Preparation is essential, particularly in kitchens where grease and residue build up. There may be certain areas that require a stronger degreaser (sugar soap).

We recommend:

• Two buckets of warm water: one with your chosen degreaser and one with clean water
• Three microfibre cloths: one for degreasing, one for rinsing, and one for drying
• Wring cloths out well to avoid over-wetting surfaces.
• When cleaning your item down, pay close attention to cupboard edges, door profiles, drawer fronts, and areas around handles. These are the places grease and oils tend to linger.
• Dry thoroughly before moving on.

Step 2: Sand & Hoover

Light sanding creates the ideal surface for SatinHaus paint to adhere to.

We recommend:

• Using a combination of hand sanding and an electric sander (attached to a hoover) if available. A mix of sandpaper grades is also helpful, especially for cupboard edges, corners, door grooves, and detailed furniture profiles.
• The aim is to remove the existing sheen, not to aggressively scratch the surface.

Once sanding is complete:

• Hoover the cupboards or furniture thoroughly
• Hoover the surrounding area to reduce dust
• Wipe down with a tack cloth to remove any remaining fine particles

Step 3: Prepare Your First Coat

Stir your SatinHaus paint thoroughly. For the initial coat, thin the paint by adding approximately 10% clean water to the amount you plan to use, mixing well.

If you are painting MDF kitchen doors or MDF furniture, you will need to use an MDF primer at this stage instead. This will help prepare the MDF appropriately. When painting MDF, you will need to sand after applying your primer, to get your surface smooth before applying SatinHaus.

Before applying SatinHaus paint, give the surface one final wipe with a tack cloth or clean microfibre cloth to ensure it is completely dust free.

If your project has been painted previously then we would recommend at this stage you do any filling/caulking and then apply your watered down coat. If bare wood, fill after you have applied your watered down coat, then retouch in these areas before your first full coat.

Step 4: Apply The First Coat

Now everything is prepped, it’s time for paint. For kitchen cupboard doors:

• Start from inside panel and work outwards. Keep an eye on edges, rolling them over last.
• Roll the rails first.
• Finish with a smooth, even pass down the stiles.
• Use a brush where needed to work paint into edges and details, then roll over with a foam roller to remove excess paint and soften brush marks.
• Apply even pressure and avoid allowing paint to build up on edges.

The same technique applies to furniture pieces, adjusting roller and brush size to suit the scale of the item. 

All doors and pieces of furniture are different in the order you would paint them, however a general rule is start your centre panel, and work outwards. Checking your edges for build up lastly.

Step 5: Between Coats Preparation

If you are completing your kitchen or furniture project in one day, either wash up, or place brushes and rollers into a sealed plastic bag between coats to prevent them drying out (if washing up make sure they are completely dry before next coat). Keep your paint container covered to protect it from dust.

Before applying the next coat, lightly de-nib the surface using a fine grade sandpaper. This step is especially important on kitchen cupboards, where a flat, refined finish makes a visible difference. Wipe clean to remove all dust.

One day project? Keeping a bag handy to preserve your brush and roller between coats is a must.

Keep an eye out for any fine filling, at this stage that is a must.

Step 6: Apply Final Two Coats

SatinHaus is finished with two final coats: your first full coat (not watered down) and your top coat.

• Apply these in the same way as before:
  • Start on edges and detailed areas
  • Brush in where needed
  • Roll over with a foam roller to level the surface
  • Maintain even pressure throughout

We recommend allowing 2-4 hours between coats, however this is dependent on environment.

Work in small areas, keeping your painted edges wet.

Be prepared before starting your painting as things dry quickly, environment dependant.

Always check your edges for build up.

Step 7: Allow To Dry & Enjoy The Finish

Drying times will vary depending on temperature, airflow, and humidity, but SatinHaus is quick drying and well suited to both kitchen and furniture projects.

With careful preparation and application, you will achieve a durable, smooth satin finish that looks professionally hand painted.

Allow for your project to fully dry before allowing intense usage or water to touch the surfaces.

We hope that you enjoy using your SatinHaus paint to transform your projects!