We recommend first taking down all of your cabinet doors. This step is necessary to expose the entire surface area to be worked on: the doors, the door frames, and the cabinets themselves. As you remove the cabinet doors, make sure you mark or number them so you know which ones go where when you put them back up. We call this mapping your cabinets and it will make the process of putting them back together much easier.

Remove all of the hardware, such as handles and hinges. Be sure to put the screws, hinges and handles you intend to reuse in a safe place.

Jane Tip: It's easy to misplace handles and screws, so we suggest using a strong plastic Ziploc bag to hold them. If by chance the handles for each door are vastly different from one another, consider marking the bags with the coordinating number you assigned to the cabinet doors and you'll know which knob belongs where.

Safety Tip: For the next few steps, make sure you use the proper mask and protective eyewear.

Lightly sand the surface with 120-grit sandpaper. This will help the paint stick to the surface (paint retention) After all, you don't want your paint peeling six weeks after you complete the project! If you're working with a Formica laminate, consider using an electric palm sander with 120-grit sandpaper. This will not only drastically speed the process but make the job more fun, too! Remember, though, you don't have to sand down to the wood grain. The idea is to create a surface just rough enough for the paint to stick to. If you don't need to remove a lot of existing material from the face of your cabinets, then use a sandpaper with a higher grit number. This will prevent you from creating heavy scratches in the wood that will be hard to cover with paint.

Jane Tip: If you absolutely hate sanding and your cabinets are covered with a smooth laminate, you may not have to sand at all if you can find a primer made for use over laminates. This type of product is a favorite of many do-it-yourselfers because of its ability to go right over smooth surfaces such as clean Formica laminate and even glass. However, as much as we like this type of product, the best way to ensure solid paint retention is always to lightly sand prior to painting.

After sanding, clean the surface with a clean tack cloth (a cloth that removes dust, dirt, lint and sanding residue before and between coats when painting staining or varnishing; it usually costs less than a dollar. Now the area is ready.

Tape or mask off all of the areas you don't want to get paint on with blue painter's tape. Try not to use anything other than the blue tape, as the adhesive of most masking tapes is too strong and will pull up the paint or leave a residue that could ruin the job. Protect your floor with drop cloths, attaching them with blue painter's tape.

Using a roller or paintbrush, add a single coat of primer. If you have Formica laminate as mentioned above, make sure the primer you use is meant for high-gloss surfaces even if you sanded. Primer goes on just like paint, so whether you use a paintbrush or a roller is up to you. Keep in mind, however that a roller may not leave the brushstrokes most paintbrushes do. Additionally, using a roller on flat surfaces allows for a more even coat than a paintbrush does. You will still need the paintbrush for detail areas, corners and edges. Watch out for drips, as they can dry into the paint and be visible when you are finished.

Jane Tip: If you're going to paint your cabinets in a dark color, save a step by having your primer tinted. When purchasing your primer, simply ask someone in the paint department to add enough of the paint color you've chosen, sometimes referred to as the dark-value base coat (paint is described in values of colors) to the primer to turn the normally white primer into what's known as medium-dark value.

Safety Tip: When painting, always be sure to have proper ventilation.

Let the surface areas you just primed dry the amount specified on the primer can-usually two to four hours, depending on the humidity of the room you are working in. A small fan can sometimes speed the process. Consider lightly sanding with a 220-grit sandpaper to provide a nice surface for your final coat.

With respect to the paint sheen, we suggest staying away from flat paints, as most are a paint to keep clean. And aesthetically, they're just not as appealing. Try to stick with a satin or semi-gloss. In the short term, they're easy to apply and in the long term, easy to keep clean.

Some people prefer the look of high-gloss paint. Keep in mind, though, that such paints show every mistake you make with the brush or roller as well as every dent or ding in the door. If you go this route, consider applying the paint with a power paint sprayer to help guarantee the best finish possible. If you do use a power paint sprayer (you can rent one at most home improvement centers), be sure to practice with it first to get a feel for it. Also, make absolutely certain you use it with excellent ventilation and while wearing appropriate safety gear (a respirator, goggles and gloves).

To provide a truly smooth surface for your final coat of paint, consider lightly sanding the paint surface (once dry) between coats with a minimum 200-grit sandpaper.

Once the primer is dry, apply two coats of the paint color of your choice to the cabinets as well as the inside and outside of each door. Allow enough time for drying between coats-usually an hour or two, depending on the type of paint; ask your paint professional or check the can for the recommended drying time.

After the paint has dried, it's time for the glaze. Follow the instructions on the can for mixing proportions, but ours was 4 parts paint to 1 part glaze. Work in the glaze with a rag, following the grain of the wood. While you want to be thorough, be fast! Glaze dries quickly.

Try to wait at least 24 hours before reattaching the hinges and handles. The paint on the doors should feel hard, not rubbery. If you do this task too early, you may dent or otherwise damage your new paint.

Using your map, replace each cabinet door and drawer in its respective frame. You may also want to consider purchasing interior door magnets to help keep your cabinets closed. Door magnets sets are typically $1.50 per door, and they add a professional feel to the result.

If your cabinets make you feel like you are living on the set of The Brady Bunch, take the plunge and consider repainting them! This project, while time-consuming, costs a lot less than having your cabinets refinished or replaced professionally. Moreover, if you take your time and follow the steps, your job can look better than that of a pro!

Watch more videos from Ahdee's kitchen project

Note: this project is taken from our new book, "Be Jane's Guide to Home Empowerment"

See a list of all the materials and tools we used for Ahdee's complete kitchen makeover here