It’s most likely you might be wondering if kitchen area cabinets can be painted if the finish of your cabinets is on the lookout worn out and overdue for a makeover. And you may possibly be asking yourself, way too, if it is a venture you can undertake on your own, or one particular which is improved to get in touch with in a professional for.
The reply is that kitchen area cupboards can be painted to give the area a transform with no key disruption, however of course, it is really vital to know how to paint kitchen cupboards thoroughly to get a ideal finish. What is significant is that the kitchen area cupboards on their own nonetheless function in conditions of their format and design and style. If that is the case, it can be very simple to swap to a various colour, or an alternative paint complete, or revamp doors and drawers that are scuffed.
We requested the professionals to share their knowhow on whether or not kitchen cabinets can be painted, which includes each the benefits of carrying out so, and the snags it’s crucial to be knowledgeable of.
Can kitchen area cupboards be painted?
Of course, kitchen cupboards can be painted. ‘Everything can be painted, it just is dependent on what the do the job involved will be to get the paint to adhere to the substrate,’ claims David Steckel, Thumbtack (opens in new tab)’s property specialist.
Cupboards are designed from a wide variety of components, and altering kitchen cupboard shades entails a various approach depending on the product: in other text, it is necessary to be knowledgeable of the style of floor onto which you are portray.
Here’s what the authorities advised us in respond to to the dilemma of whether kitchen area cupboards can be painted, alongside with the pitfalls you should really bear in intellect if you are considering painted kitchen cabinet ideas.
The pros of portray kitchen cabinets
(Image credit rating: Harvey Jones)
We have plenty of ideas for painting kitchen area cupboards, but these are the most crucial gains:
Avoids squander
One of the most essential advantages of portray kitchen cabinets is that it avoids waste. ‘I loathe throwing perfectly great cupboards into the dumpster,’ says Kathy Corbet of Kathy Corbet Interiors (opens in new tab) in Richmond, Va. ‘Painting kitchen cupboards is not only sustainable, but it is also a quick and amazing way to update a space.’
Excellent profits technique
David Steckel agrees, and provides that it can be a good approach if you program to offer your household quickly. ‘This improve can reboot your kitchen area in a big way, and a kitchen area update like this can improve your home’s resale price and produce a staggering 72 for every cent return on your investment,’ he claims.
Less complicated to transform pulls
Portray kitchen cupboards would make an extra model up grade you may perhaps want to do more simple, states Heather Mastrangeli, principal designer of Innovatus Design and style (opens in new tab). ‘Another reward of portray cabinets is that you can adjust the pull forms extra conveniently since you do not have to retain the exact same drill holes as right before,’ she clarifies. ‘They can be crammed and redrilled for the new hardware very easily, supplying overall flexibility for hardware models.’
Saves dollars
Look at, far too, the expense to paint kitchen area cupboards vs . procuring for new ones. ‘Painting your kitchen cupboards can cost a large amount much less than purchasing new types and having them set up,’ suggests Kerry Sherin, consumer advocate at Ownerly (opens in new tab). ‘Because portray is normally less costly than shopping for and putting in new, you must have more funds to invest elsewhere if you go this route,’ she continues. ‘New cabinets as well as set up can price tag nearly 50 percent of your kitchen area renovation spending plan. By cutting costs there, you can up grade your flooring, countertops, or even get the high-finish appliances you genuinely want in your transforming venture.’
Shields cabinets
A painted kitchen area finish can also improve the sturdiness of the cupboards. ‘Painting kitchen cupboards safeguards them from the day-to-day use and tear connected with common use in the kitchen area,’ claims Matt Teifke, founder and CEO of Teifke True Estate (opens in new tab). ‘The paint acts as an added layer of safety, maintaining the cupboards searching excellent and long lasting extended.’
Personalizes the kitchen area
‘Painting kitchen cabinets makes it possible for you to personalize your room in a one of a kind way,’ suggests Alex Capozzolo, co-founder of SD Home Men (opens in new tab). ‘You can pick hues and finishes that healthy your fashion, earning the kitchen area a lot more of an extension of your self alternatively than just yet another room in your residence.’
Seems to be like new
And painting cabinets genuinely can be transformative. ‘You may believe it would consider a wonder to fix your previous cabinets,’ claims Kerry Sherin. ‘You could come across the miracle you’re looking for in paint. Painted cupboards can look brand new when carried out proper.’
Achievable pitfalls when painting kitchen cabinets
(Impression credit history: Dan Duchars)
To reap the rewards shown previously mentioned, it is, of class, essential to know how to paint kitchen area cupboards. These are the traps for the unwary, say the authorities.
Not applying the right paint and primer
The appropriate paint is very important to success when portray kitchen area cabinets. ‘Make positive to use strong paints that can face up to the severe ecosystem of a kitchen area,’ says carpenter Matt Hagens, founder and CEO of Obsessed Woodworking (opens in new tab). ‘If you’re utilizing an oil-dependent paint, use it in a properly-ventilated space and permit time to dry comprehensively before transferring any objects all over,’ he adds.
Kerry Sherin states it’s really worth the further expense for high quality paint. ‘You will have greater coverage, the paint will previous extended, and it will appear far better,’ she suggests.
Make positive, too, you have the ideal products and solutions for the materials from which the cabinets are designed. ‘Typically cupboards are possibly sound wooden “good one side” plywood wooden veneer on plywood or MDF or HDF thermofoil or melamine,’ points out David Steckel.
‘For wood, you have to only sand down to get to a clean and even floor, utilize primer and then a top rated coat. For thermofoil, laminate or melamine, you really should either peel it off or sand down, primary it and apply your top rated coats. For veneer, you sand down, switch any ruined parts, primary and utilize your major coats.’
Not planning the doors
If you are going to paint kitchen area cabinets yourself (and we’ll get to the professionals and cons of this underneath), as with all Do it yourself duties, excellent preparing is crucial. ‘Most folks skip cleaning and sanding and just paint the cupboard doors,’ says Kerry Sherin. ‘For a significant-good quality end, clean, sand, and then wash the doors yet again ahead of painting. Clean the doors with warm h2o and cleaning soap to take out grease, rust, and meals particles. Be guaranteed to dry with a lint-free rag and make absolutely sure the doors are fully dry ahead of sanding if they are really greasy.’
Not getting the doors off
DIYers acquire take note. Doorways ought to not be remaining in place for very good success. ‘To have a smooth paint position, you really should take away all cupboard doors from their hinges,’ clarifies Alexandra Arcand, a property improvement skilled with Pro Insurance Critiques (opens in new tab). ‘By leaving them on, you threat an incomplete paint task or ruining your paint by bumping into them even though moist.’
Not keeping observe of what goes where by
It is also critical to be able to place the doors back in the ideal location. ‘A common miscalculation that many make is eradicating doors and handles to paint exterior, then forgetting which piece goes where by,’ claims Ben Kuhl, skilled kitchen area remodeler and CEO at Shelf Expression (opens in new tab). ‘Be sure to manage and number each and every door, drawer and cope with so you don’t neglect where by they go after painting them.’
Not factoring in drying time
All over again, if painting kitchen cupboards you, bear in brain that they can only be painted effectively if you let adequate drying time. ‘I would wait around at the very least 48 several hours for the cupboards to dry, so function two further times into your timeline,’ says David Steckel.
Be aware that drying occasions can vary, while. ‘Depending on the kind of paint you utilized and the conditions in your house, this could take wherever from 24 hours to a week,’ says Phi Dang, director of property services enterprise Sidepost (opens in new tab).
Not calling in a pro when you want a person
Kitchen cupboards can be painted as a Do-it-yourself career, but in some cases it may perhaps be much better to phone in a specialist. ‘If you really don’t really feel snug, generally achieve out to a expert to have your challenge done securely and appropriately,’ says interior designer Kathy Corbet.
Perfectionists need to simply call in a professional, agrees proprietor of Hometown Portray (opens in new tab) Matt Stone. ‘If you want the absolute very best end on your cabinets (mirror-like or butter easy) use a qualified,’ he suggests. ‘They will have the tools and know-how to get it performed to the maximum quality.’
A further purpose you might want to simply call in a pro is when you don’t know what the cabinets are created from. If you ‘aren’t absolutely sure what materials you might be performing with, it’s usually very best to require a professional’, suggests Andre Kazimierski, CEO, Improovy Painters St Louis (opens in new tab)
Is painting kitchen area cupboards a superior concept?
Painting kitchen cabinets is a great strategy. ‘Painting kitchen area cupboards is a wonderful way to extend the existence of a excellent cupboard situation exactly where the complete has become dated and the home owner would like a refresh, but without having replacing the whole device,’ claims Heather Mastrangeli, principal designer of Innovatus Design and style (opens in new tab).
‘Painting cabinets is typically done in the area by a skilled, but with the appropriate tools and understanding could be finished as a Do-it-yourself task,’ she adds. ‘You need to hope to contact up the paint complete each and every handful of several years to retain the physical appearance.’
What form of paint do you use to paint above kitchen cupboards?
It really is crucial to get your paint finishes proper. Either oil or drinking water-based mostly paints can be employed to paint in excess of kitchen area cupboards. ‘Some argue that oil-primarily based paint can have a smoother complete and sturdiness,’ states chartered architectural technologist June Grinstead (opens in new tab). Drinking water-based acrylic paint, on the other hand, has no odor so could possibly be preferable to operate with.
Feel paint complete, far too. Gloss or semi-gloss finishes are effortless to cleanse, so can be superior in buy to make maintaining your kitchen hunting its very best a less demanding endeavor.
Generally pick out a primer and paint suited for the cupboard product.
