We are excited to share with you this corner cabinet makeover! This project was all about turning a dated and worn corner piece into one of these beautiful blue painted furniture ideas. Its blue teal hue definitely adds a pop of color and personality to any room it is placed in.

We’ll go through each step of the process and provide helpful tips along the way. Instead of getting rid of a perfectly functional piece, why not give it some freshening up and a whole new look?

These cabinets are a great addition to any space, as they make use of otherwise empty or often neglected corners. Of course, they are also functional storage spaces to keep your everyday essentials or display cherished mementos.

However, like any piece, they can get a bit dull and outdated over time. Or maybe you’re just looking to update it to match your evolving style. Whatever the reason may be, this project is an awesome way to breathe new life into an old piece.

So, how did we create this transformation? Keep reading for the step by step guide, along with helpful tips and tricks to make the process even easier.

Table of Contents

Supplies Used for Corner Cabinet Makeover

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Electric Screwdriver
Krud Kutter
Damp Rag
Plastic Wood Filler
KwikWood
150 Grit Sandpaper
Medium Foam Pad (attached to a sander) (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order)
Festool RTS 400 REQ Sander
Heirloom Traditions Paint in Mediterranean
Wagner FLEXiO 595 Paint Sprayer
Paint Fil ter
New Hardware

Removing Cabinet Hardware

The first step in this project was to remove the door pulls from all four doors. We used an electric screwdriver for a quick and easy removal process. Then we pried off the back plate that was held on with tiny nails.

removing hardware using an electric screwdriver

Next up, we took off the glass and metal decorative trim from each glass panel. It was a breeze to remove the rubber gasket that sat around the glass from inside the hutch, just a quick pull.

photo of removing rubber gasket and glass panel

After that, we carefully and gently put aside the glass and got rid of the not so pretty metal trim that just sat in the opening. Yes, we were actually glad to toss away the trim for good!

Cleaning Corner Cabinet

After removing all hardware and glass, we cleaned the entire piece with Krud Kutter and a damp rag. This helped to remove any dirt and grime that had accumulated over the years. We then rinsed everything with a clean, damp rag to make sure it was completely clean, and then we just let it dry.

This should not be skipped as it helps the paint to adhere better and creates a smoother finish. Learn how to clean furniture before painting and how to prepare furniture for painting to get the best results!

Electric Screwdriver

Tack Cloth

Pre Taped Plastic

(2862)

Filling Knicks, Holes, and Dings

With any old piece of furniture, you’re bound to find some knicks, holes, and dings. No worries, though; you just have to fill them. If you’re not sure which one to go for and when to use them, we got you covered with our post on the best wood fillers!

So, what we did was use plastic wood filler to fill in these imperfections. And for those drawer pull holes, we filled them with Kwikwood. You can learn from our tutorial on how to use KwikWood if you’re not familiar with this product.

filling in surface imperfections and drawer pull holes

We could easily switch out the hardware for something new by using Kwikwood, but there are also other ways of filling holes when replacing cabinet or furniture hardware if you’re interested. Luckily, the cabinet pulls were just one hole each and perfect for new knobs.

After using the fillers, we sanded them down with 150 grit sandpaper and a medium foam pad attached to our Festool RTS 400 REQ sander. You can learn the best sandpaper for furniture painting options in this post.

We’ve also actually done a detailed Festool RTS 400 REQ sander review over here, so you can check it out if you’re also in the market for one. Here are more best sanders for furniture.

We also gave the rest of the piece a light sanding with the medium foam pad to lightly scuff the surface and make it easier for the new coating to stick. And then we removed the dust.

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Painting Corner Cabinet Blue

We chose to use Heirloom Traditions in Mediterranean. If you haven’t tried it, this could be the perfect opportunity to do so! Here’s more on painting furniture with Heirloom Traditions Paint.

pouring all in one paint into sprayer container through a paint filter

You can also read our Heirloom Traditions All in One Paint review and look into Heirloom Traditions Paint before and afters here for inspiration.

To help the coating spray on smoothly and evenly, we thinned it with 20% water. Doing so helps it flow better through our Wagner FLEXiO 595. Here’s how to thin paint for a Wagner FLEXiO sprayer so you don’t end up with clogging and uneven finish. If you do get into issues, our Wagner paint sprayer troubleshooting guide will come in handy.

We sprayed two blue coats inside and outside the piece. These two were enough to get full coverage and a smooth finish. We love this teal blue color too much!

spraying teal coating with Wagner HVLP gun

But, of course, you can choose any color that suits your style and space. You can check out our post on the best painted furniture colors to get some ideas. We have a list of the best Heirloom Traditions Paint colors here.

Since Heirloom Traditions Paint is an all in one product, it already has a built in topcoat, which means there’s no need for a separate one. Here are more best all-in-one paints for furniture you can try!

So we went ahead and added new hardware to give the cabinet a more modern look that also complements its blue color. The new knobs were an instant upgrade from the old ones, and they really make a difference in the overall appearance of the piece. We have a whole post on how to change hardware on furniture if you need a detailed guide.

You can watch the whole process in our YouTube video below, or scroll down to see the after photos! Get more similar projects from these painted hutch ideas and painted corner cabinet ideas.

close up view of cupboard with decor items

More Before and After Makeovers

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Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.

closeup of teal cupboard with gold knobs

With just a few simple steps, we were able to transform this outdated piece into a stylish and functional painted corner cabinet. Isn’t it just what every home needs? So next time you come across a neglected piece, don’t be afraid to give it an update and add your own personal colorful touch.

Don’t forget to check out these other awesome before and after furniture makeovers from my Furniture Flipping friends!! (Click the links below the photos!)

collage of old wood furniture before paint

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