The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms that homeowners choose to renovate. Unfortunately, costs can quickly skyrocket during the remodeling process. The cost of new kitchen cabinets can possibly take up 25% of the total budget for the project.
If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen, you might be searching for ways to lower your cost. Painting kitchen cabinets instead of buying new ones is an easy way to change the look of your kitchen without the steep price tag. A fresh coat of paint can make dingy and outdated cabinets look brand-new again.
This guide will discuss our top eight tips for painting your kitchen cabinets. Set yourself up for success while refreshing your space.
1. Prep the Cabinets
Many DIY painters skip over the prepping process, thinking that it’s not necessary. It would help if you prepped your cabinets before you paint them. Failing to do so could result in an uneven or splotchy paint job.
Some things you should do to prep the kitchen cabinets include:
- Clean and degrease the inside of your cabinets.
- Remove handles and knobs.
- Repair damages, such as filling cracks and holes.
- Cover your countertops.
- Sand the cabinets with a medium-grit sandpaper.
If your cabinets were stained or painted, you’ll have to de-gloss them. De-glossing the cabinets helps the new paint stick to the surface of the cabinet. You might need to use a chemical stripper for a thicker finish, but lightly sanding should be enough.
2. Label Your Doors and Drawers
It’s frustrating to get to the end of your paint project only to find out that you don’t know which drawer and door goes where. Not every door and drawer is created equally. You could damage your cabinets or chip the paint trying to put it somewhere it doesn’t fit.
You should also know what hardware goes with each drawer and door, especially if you’re not replacing it. Place the hardware in a plastic bag, tagging it with a strip of painter’s tape.
Put a piece of painter’s tape on each drawer, door, and inside of the cabinet. Use your system to write down corresponding codes on each piece of tape.
For example, for a drawer that’s the third one down, you can write “D3” on the tape. Make sure you write the same code on the bag of hardware as well.
3. Don’t Forget to Prime
Paint that includes primer isn’t always enough to adequately prime your kitchen cabinets. It’s recommended to use an enamel underbody primer. This primer easily sands to have the best base coat for your topcoat of paint.
If changing your cabinet colors from dark to light, you might want to tint your primer to a color close to the final one. You’ll want to lightly sand your cabinets after the primer dries. You don’t want to sand too aggressively or the primer will come off.
4. Purchase High-Quality Paint
Your kitchen cabinets get a lot of wear and tear each day. You should look for high-quality paint that’s durable while giving you a smooth finish.
Don’t forget to do a second coat of paint. You’re building a surface that can stand up to dings and knicks.
Make sure you keep the area ventilated while you paint. You’ll also want to wear a mask that you can find in your local paint store.
5. Get the Right Tools
Your paint job will look like a professional did it with the help of a few tools. One of the things you’ll need is a mini roller. Mini rollers make painting cabinets quicker and easier than if you did it with a standard paintbrush.
There are various mini rollers available. You should look for a roller in one of the following materials:
- Foam
- Microfiber
- Mohair
Foam rollers will give you a smooth finish. However, they won’t hold a lot of paint, so you’ll need to reload often. You can experiment on the inside of your cabinet door to see which type looks best.
6. Consider Using a Sprayer
Not everyone has the space or the experience to use a paint sprayer. You may be able rent a paint sprayer from your local hardware store or tool rental place. Spraying your cabinets helps you achieve a high-quality and even finish on your cabinet doors.
Some tips to help you with the paint spraying process include:
- Move the spray gun continuously while spraying.
- Don’t use excessively high pressure.
- Hold the spray gun around eight to 12 inches away from the surface.
- Thin the paint beforehand.
- Apply multiple thin coats.
7. Select the Right Finish
As we talked about earlier, your kitchen cabinets take a beating throughout the day. They get exposed to:
- Grease
- Humidity
- Water
A matte or eggshell finish on kitchen cabinets isn’t a good choice. The finish you choose should be wipeable and durable.
The best finishes to use are high or semi-gloss. Both glosses are extremely durable. However, a high-gloss finish shows dirt and fingerprints more easily than other finishes.
Semi-gloss paint reflects the light in your kitchen, making the space feel bigger. It’s the top choice for the kitchen cabinet paint.
8. Choose the Right Color
The color you pick for your cabinets should complement your appliances, floor, and countertops. White is a popular choice since it brightens up a room. Dark green or blue cabinets could look great in larger kitchens.
Another popular choice is mid-range colors that aren’t too dark or light. They’re ideal for not showing sun-fading and splatters as other colors are.
Partner With an Experienced Painter When Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Painting kitchen cabinets yourself, especially if you’ve never done it before, can be a challenging project. There are a lot of different steps to consider to ensure your cabinets look flawless. Interior house painters have the tools and expertise to efficiently complete the project.
Accurate Painting of NW Florida is here to help with your kitchen remodel project. Contact us to learn more and to schedule a consultation.