How to Paint a Bathroom Vanity (Step-by-Step DIY Makeover)

If you’ve ever walked into your bathroom and thought, “This vanity has got to go,” you’re not alone. I’ve painted a lot of cabinets over the years, including bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets, and random furniture pieces, so when I say this process works, I mean it. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to paint a bathroom vanity step by step so you get a smooth, durable, professional-looking finish.

If you want every tiny detail of my full cabinet-painting method, I walk through the entire process in “The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Cabinets and Furniture.” This post is more of the quick version-everything you need specifically for painting a bathroom vanity without getting overwhelmed.

Time: Weekend project (with real-life drying time built in)
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly

Let me show you where this vanity started so you can see just how much difference a weekend of paint can make-especially if you’re planning a bathroom vanity makeover on a budget.

Before: Our Builder-Grade Bathroom Vanity

Our bathroom vanity was a classic builder-grade piece: sturdy, but dated and a little sad. The cabinet box was still solid, but the doors, hardware, and random tile details made the whole space feel older than it really was.

Instead of ripping it out, I decided to do a budget-friendly DIY bathroom vanity makeover and work with what we already had.

Tools and Materials for Painting a Bathroom Vanity

Before you start, gather everything you’ll need. Having the right tools and products makes it much easier to repaint a bathroom vanity and get a professional-looking result, especially if this is your first time learning how to paint a bathroom vanity.

Tools

• Drill
• Paint sprayer (or a foam roller and paint brush)
• Handheld sander
• Tape measure

Materials

• Degreasing cleaner
• Sandpaper
• Painter’s tape
• Bonding primer
  • especially important for previously finished/laminate surfaces
• Cabinet paint in your preferred color
  • My favorite (and the best paint for a bathroom vanity I’ve used) is Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel because it cures to a super-hard, scrubbable finish.
• Cabinet hardware
  • I used these pulls for the cabinets and these knobs for the drawers

Best Paint for a Bathroom Vanity

The best paint for a bathroom vanity is a high-quality cabinet or trim enamel that can handle humidity, splashes, and frequent cleaning. I love Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel because it self-levels beautifully and dries to a hard, durable finish, so your freshly painted bathroom vanity looks almost factory-made.

Can I Paint my Existing Bathroom Vanity

In most cases, yes-you can paint a bathroom vanity instead of replacing it, as long as the cabinet box is still structurally sound. Painting is usually worth it if the vanity feels dated but the frame is sturdy, the doors still open and close well, and there’s no major water damage.

Many builder-grade vanities are laminate or thermofoil over MDF or particleboard. You can still paint these, but you’ll want to scuff-sand the surface and use a good bonding primer so the paint has something to grip. If the laminate is peeling, bubbling, or missing in large sections, it’s usually a sign that the material underneath has been damaged by moisture.

It may be better to replace the vanity if the cabinet box is swollen, crumbling, or soft from water damage, or if the sides and bottom are peeling apart. Paint can do a lot for a tired finish, but it can’t fix a vanity that’s structurally failing.

Step 1 – Remove the Doors and Drawer Fronts

If you’ve ever wondered if you can paint a bathroom vanity instead of replacing it, the answer is yes-if you prep it the right way.

I always start by removing every door and drawer front. It makes painting so much easier and gives you access to every corner of the vanity box. Whether I’m working on a bathroom or a full kitchen, this step never changes-it just leads to a cleaner, smoother result.

Technically, you can paint a bathroom vanity with the doors still attached, but taking them off makes it much easier to reach every surface and gives a cleaner finish.

Step 2 – Clean and Degrease

Use a good degreasing cleaner to wipe down every surface you plan to paint. Pay extra attention to areas around the sink, handles, and edges where hands and products tend to leave residue.

Let everything dry completely before you move on. A clean surface is the foundation of any successful attempt to repaint a bathroom vanity.

Step 3 – Sand the Surfaces

Lightly sand the cabinet box, doors, and drawer fronts to remove the glossy sheen. You’re not trying to strip the finish, just give the primer something to grab onto.

Vacuum or wipe away sanding dust so it doesn’t get trapped under your primer or paint.

Step 4 – Prime the Bathroom Vanity

Apply a bonding primer to all the surfaces you’re going to paint. Follow the directions on the can for dry time and recommended number of coats.

Priming is what helps your paint stick and keeps stains or wood tannins from bleeding through, which is especially important in a space with moisture like a bathroom.

Step 5 – Sand Again for a Smooth Finish

Once the primer is dry, lightly sand again with a fine-grit sandpaper. This step smooths out any rough spots and helps you get that factory-style finish.

Wipe away the dust so you’re ready for paint. It’s a small step, but it’s part of the best way to paint a bathroom vanity so it feels as good as it looks.

Step 6 – Paint the Bathroom Vanity

Now it’s time to paint. You can use a sprayer for the smoothest finish, or a foam roller and angled brush if you don’t have one.

Apply thin, even coats to the cabinet box, doors, and drawer fronts. Let each coat dry fully before adding another. Rushing the dry time is one of the main reasons paint jobs chip, so build in extra time here. When you’re painting a bathroom vanity, patience with drying and curing makes a huge difference in how long the finish lasts.

This is the heart of how to paint a bathroom vanity: careful prep, bonding primer, and several thin coats of high-quality cabinet paint.

Step 7 – Build or Replace Doors (Optional)

In our bathroom, the cabinet box was worth saving, but the old doors and drawer fronts were too worn and dated. You might be able to keep and paint your existing doors, but if they’re not in great shape, building or ordering new ones is a great upgrade.

I built simple shaker-style doors using basic tools and shared that process in “Building Shaker Cabinet Doors DIY.” That tutorial walks through measuring, cutting, assembling, and prepping new doors.

If building doors isn’t your style, you can also order custom doors online. When we remodeled our Omaha kitchen, I ordered doors instead of building them and shared all the details in “Affordable Kitchen Remodel,” including how to measure and place your order.

Step 8 – Install Hinges and Rehang Doors

Once your doors and drawer fronts are painted and fully cured, add soft-close hinges if you’re upgrading, or reuse your existing ones.

Carefully rehang the doors and reinstall the drawer fronts on the freshly painted cabinet box. Check that everything opens and closes smoothly before you move on.

Step 9 – Add New Hardware

Gold cabinet pulls and drawer knobs are like jewelry for your vanity and make a big difference.

To keep everything lined up, I like to use painter’s tape as a drilling template. Stick a strip of tape across the back of your pull, poke holes where the screws go, then move that tape to the door or drawer front. Drill through the marked spots and attach your hardware.

It’s a quick and simple way to get consistent hardware placement without doing a lot of measuring on every single door.

Optional Upgrades for Your Bathroom Vanity

If you want to take your DIY bathroom vanity makeover a little further, here are a few upgrades that work beautifully with a freshly painted cabinet:

• Swap the faucet for a modern black one like mine
• Swap the shower fixture for a modern black one like mine
• Replace a basic mirror with a gold framed mirror; I share more about that in “Gold Bathroom Mirror.”
• Update your lighting and towel ring so all of the metal finishes feel intentional.

How to Make Painted Bathroom Vanity Cabinets Last Longer

Once you’ve done all the work of painting a bathroom vanity, these simple habits will help your finish stay beautiful for years:

• Give your paint extra cure time before heavy use or cleaning.
• Avoid harsh cleaners on the painted surfaces; use a mild soap and soft cloth.
• Keep humidity under control with a fan or open window while the paint cures.
• Touch up small chips early so they don’t spread.

Painted Bathroom Vanity: Before and After

Once everything was painted, reassembled, and styled, the vanity felt completely new. Seeing how to paint a bathroom vanity transforms the whole room makes me want to redo every builder-grade vanity in the house. The deep paint color, simple shaker doors, soft-close hinges, and modern hardware all work together to make the bathroom feel intentional instead of builder-basic.

Similar Posts and Project Ideas

If you’re working on a bathroom makeover, these posts pair really well with a painted vanity:

• DIY Small Bathroom Remodel on a Budget
• DIY Gold Bathroom Mirror (Easy Rub ’n Buff Makeover)
• How to Tile a Shower Wall
• How to Build a Shower Niche
• Painting Bathroom Floor Tiles on a Budget
• Board and Batten Bathroom Ideas for Small Spaces

Use these to plan your next project or tie your vanity update into a full room refresh.

📌 Save This Project for Later

Pin now and come back anytime you’re ready to tackle your own bathroom vanity makeover!

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If you try this project, tag me on Instagram. I’d love to see what you create and how you make this vanity makeover your own.