I want to paint my kitchen laminate cupboard doors. Any tips on the best products to use?

My cupboards are just cheap IKEA crap, but I want to find out if painting them will work out better than having to choose from the limited replacement colours at the store. They are currently a dark grey, with wear on them I can’t wash off. They also darken my already dark little Hobbit Hole I live in, so I want them a lighter shade of grey. Has anyone had experience painting laminate cabinets? Sand them? A good primer coat or two?