Design trends are constantly changing and evolving and in most spaces it's relatively easy to make updates to keep your home looking fresh. However, some rooms take a bit more work to update and can end up looking dated as a result. Case in point: the kitchen. A full kitchen renovation can be expensive and take a long time to complete.
If you're looking for a way to update the look of your kitchen but want to spend a bit less, there is an easy and relatively quick way to do it. Instead of replacing your cabinets, try painting them! You'll be surprised by how much different a coat of paint can make. Even the most dated cabinets can look brand new in no time.
What is the Best Paint to Use On Kitchen Cabinets?
When painting cabinets, you want to go with a more durable finish since your cabinets are opened and closed frequently. Melamine finish paint or paint with a melamine component is the best option for cabinets, as it tends to be the most durable. However, a semigloss or gloss finish will also hold up quite well.
Transform Your Kitchen Cabinets
Painting your cabinets is something you can do on your own, but it can also be a delicate process. It has many steps, so it can take a while to do on your own. If you decide to tackle the job yourself, be aware that you might not have a fully functioning kitchen for a few days while you sand and paint. Let's take a look at the steps involved in painting kitchen cabinets.
Step 1: Prep the room
Before you do anything, you'll want to clear out your cupboards. Remember that you're not just painting the doors-you're painting the front of the cabinets as well. You'll also be sanding the area as well, so it's best to get everything out of the way to minimize cleanup. After clearing out the cupboards, put down drop cloths on the floor and on the countertops to avoid paint splatters on these surfaces. It's a good idea to tape them down so they don't slide around while you work.
Step 2: Prep the cabinets
In order to paint the doors, you'll need to remove them. When you remove the doors, make sure you also remove any hardware at the same time. As you remove the doors, mark and number each door and the corresponding opening so you can easily match them up when you're ready to reinstall them. If you're reusing the same hardware (handles, drawer pulls, etc) tape the screws to the hardware so they don't get lost. If your cabinet doors have glass in them, you'll want to carefully tape off the glass areas so they don't end up with paint on them.
After the doors are off, sanding is up next. Lightly sand them with 100-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface for painting. This is also a good time to fill in any holes as you work. After sanding is complete, clean them using a TSP cleaner and then let it dry before moving onto the next step.
Step 3: Paint the doors and cabinet boxes
Now it's time to get painting! First, you'll need to decide on which method you're going to use to paint: brush by hand or sprayer. Painting by hand requires less investment since all you need is a few brushes or rollers, whereas spraying requires you to buy or rent a sprayer. Keep in mind that brushing doesn't provide as smooth of a finish-you might end up with visible brush marks. Spraying offers a smooth, seamless finish and is the preferred method of application. Keep in mind that you can also send your cabinets somewhere to be sprayed by professionals as well.
Whichever method you choose, it is recommended that you use a primer coat before painting your final color. After the primer coat is dry, look closely for drips or brush marks. If you see any, can do another light sanding to create a totally smooth surface before applying the top coat.
Once you're happy with the coverage, the next step is to wait! It's important to make sure you allow your top coat of paint to fully dry before you apply a second coat, or put the cabinet doors back on. At this stage, the paint will easily scratch or develop marks if it's not fully dry before you move them around.
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a highly cost-effective way to give your kitchen a new look, however, it can be a lot of work to handle on your own. At WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, we offer kitchen cabinet painting without all the hassle. Our experts will take care of everything, from removing the doors, professionally spray painting them (in many cases, this can be done in an offsite facility) and reinstalling the cabinets. Contact us today for a free no-obligation estimate!