Are your kitchen cabinets getting old and worn? Is the paint peeling and needs a touch-up? Or maybe you just want to change things up by painting them a new color? Whatever your reason for wanting to paint your kitchen cabinets, you probably want to make sure you know how to do it right before getting started.

Out of all of the concerns people may have about painting their kitchen cabinets on their own, one of the most common fears is whether they’ll be able to achieve that clean, smooth finish you see in magazines when they’re done. After all, nobody wants to have to live with sloppy-looking kitchen cabinets. But is there a way to guarantee a smooth finish? Here are four tips on how to get a smooth finish when painting your kitchen cabinets.

1. Sand Where You Intend to Paint

There are a few reasons that it’s a good idea to sand your cabinets down before painting them. The most obvious one is that you can’t have a smooth finish if you’re not painting on a smooth surface. However, that’s not the most important reason for doing this.

Sanding your cabinets removes the protective lacquer coating, exposing the bare wood underneath. Painting directly on the woof that the cabinets are made of, rather than the lacquer, ensures a stronger bond between the surface and the paint. This will cause the paint to last longer and hold better. Start by cleaning your cabinets and removing any grease.

When sanding your cabinets, use an electric sander to avoid leaving scratches. The scratches that can be left behind when sanding by hand will only be accentuated by each new coat of paint. The best grit of sandpaper to use depends on what kind of wood your cabinets are made out of. A large number of cabinets are made from oak, for which 100 grit is usually the best. Softer woods usually turn out better with higher grits. Woods like maple could become damaged if you use 100-grit sandpaper.

2. Minimize Dust and Debris

While sanding is a vital step to achieving a smooth finish on your painted cabinets, it also creates a lot of wood dust and other debris. Even if you don’t sand your cabinets first (which you  really should), there will still be a bit of dust and debris particles that risk messing up your paint job.

One thing you can do (if possible) is take any part of your cabinets that can come off outside to sand them. That way the wood dust won’t be lingering in your house for hours. Using a shop vac to suck up the sanding debris is also a huge help. Wipe the sanded cabinets down with tack cloth before painting to pull all of the dust off the wood and ensure the paint bonds correctly.

3. Prepare your Paint

One mistake many people make when painting (especially if it’s their first time) is applying the paint straight from the can to the cabinet. You have to mix your paint well before applying it – especially if it’s been sitting around for a while. The kind of paint used on cabinetry settles pretty quickly. To alleviate the results of this separation, use a stir stick every once in a while throughout the process to thoroughly mix the paint in the can. You can also mix in some Floetrol if it seems too thick.

4. Use the Right Tools and be Patient

Just like any other project, painting is easy to mess up if you’re using the wrong tools and trying to rush things. Using a foam paint roller to apply paint is the easiest way to apply a smooth, even coat. If your cabinets have raised trim, it can be hard to get the paint in there. All you have to do is go in with a small paintbrush afterward and fill in the gaps.

As for not rushing things, it’s important to make sure that the majority of the coat of paint is completely dry before trying to go for the next one. If you’re using a light color and painting over dark wood, use a primer. Even if you’re using a darker color, a primer can still be beneficial for giving you great coverage and a great paint job that will last for years to come.