Generally speaking, any cabinet can be painted—but if yours are in bad shape, with dangling doors and warped cases, it may not be worth all the work. If you opt to paint, it’s easier to take the doors and hinges off the cases than it is to paint around the hardware. For wood cabinets that are in good shape, start by removing the doors and hardware, including the hinges. Sand the cabinet frames and both sides of the doors with 100- or 150-grit sandpaper, then again with 180- or 220-grit sandpaper—the finer the paper on the final sanding, the smoother the finish. Use a damp rag to wipe away any sawdust and let the cabinets dry. Apply a single coat of primer and two coats of paint, allowing each layer to dry. Once the final coat has dried, reinstall the hardware, and mount the doors back to the frames.
Composite or laminate cabinets can be painted as well, following the same procedure as with wood—but make sure to use a primer specifically formulated to help paint adhere to the slick surface of laminate, referring to the instructions as to whether or not you should sand. Metal cabinets usually have permanently installed hinges, so you’ll need to leave the doors in place when you paint these. Make sure to use a paint that’s formulated for metal.