Is it better to assemble the cabinet first or paint all the individual elements first?

It is most convenient to assemble the cabinet first and then paint it. This has a number of advantages:

• You need less space to lay out all the shelves AND you don't have to turn everything over
• It's less of a problem if you damage the cupboard a little during the assembly process (we like tapping the shelves with a rubber mallet, for example, if they get stiff).
• You can seal any unevenness or cracks before painting for a super smooth result (but that is not compulsory).