Refresh the Look of Your Kitchen: 6 Tips for Painting Cabinets

Cabinets take up the majority of the wall space in the kitchen. Painting them could significantly change how the room feels. Repainting them is another cost-effective option to refresh your kitchen if you are content with your kitchen architecture and its cabinets are in pristine condition. Refresh the look of your kitchen with these 6 tips for DIY cabinet painting from the experts at our paint shop.

Getting the Most From Painting Cabinets in Your Kitchen

Prevent paint from getting on floors, furnishings, and electronics by covering them using drop cloths, papers, or boxes. Then, follow these six tips to paint your cabinets professionally and obtain a high-quality aesthetic.

Pick the Appropriate Type of Paint

Pick quality paint for a polished appearance. Although you will spend more, quality paints are more convenient to use, give a smooth finish, and endure longer.

Experts recommend oil-based paints for kitchen cabinets because of their moisture- and stain-resistance properties. However, some water-based treatments are robust and can withstand a deep clean. You can also consider latex-based paints, seeing as the material is easy to work with and cures very fast.

Pick a Paint Color that Aligns With Your Kitchen Feel

The paint color you go for should blend well with the kitchen flooring, equipment, and counters. Although many designers recommend bolder and brighter color selections, white is still a fantastic choice for kitchen cabinets as it illuminates any space.

With spacious kitchens, go for dark cabinet tones like rich blues or greens. As compared to over-used neutrals and whites, darker hues are more dynamic, adding a peculiar character to your kitchen.

Nonetheless, mid-range tones – not too bright nor too dark – can also be a wise pick since they do not display spillages, sun streaks, or wear and tear as easily as brighter or darker hues.

Select the Proper Finish When Painting Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly opened, closed, and touched. A robust and washable finish is essential because of the regular contact with water, dampness, and cooking oil.

High-gloss or semi-gloss finishes often work well. If custom printed, high-gloss treatments are long-lasting and offer a streamlined, elegant appearance. However, unlike other finishes, they expose dirt and prints more clearly, making them a poor choice if you have kids. 

Semi-gloss finishes, which reflect light and enhance a room without becoming excessively glossy, are better when you have little ones roaming around the house.

Disassemble the Drawers and Cabinets

Remove all the fittings – the knobs, handles, pulls, hinges, and locks. On the linings of every door and drawer, mark them according to how they fit.

Prime and Sand Before Painting Cabinets

Sand all the to-be-painted areas using fine-grained paper and wipe the surfaces clean. However, avoid sanding it to the bare wood because you are preparing for the paint applications.

Apply a coat of priming paint, wait for an hour, and then gently sand the primer using 280-grit paper. After vacuuming every surface, use a tack cloth to clean it.

A primer with an oil or shellac base can prevent the old finish from seeping through. It can also enhance your paint durability, extending the aesthetic life of your cabinetry.

Keep Paint Layers Light

Excessive painting applied simultaneously can result in runs and drips. Always paint in thin, uniform layers, even when using sprayers, brushes, or rollers. Remember to also give the painting ample time to cure before adding another layer of coating.

The bare minimum advised for painting kitchen cabinets is two thin coats. However, two coats of paint and one coat of priming are often adequate.

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