Did you know that your kitchen cabinets are also prone to wear and tear? And doesn’t it The good news is that you don’t have to order a new set of cupboard doors to make them look brand new! Maybe what you simply need is a fresh coat of paint!
Is painting cupboards and cabinets an easy task? The truth is, there are a lot of things you have to consider. For example, you need to prepare your old cabinets for painting. You also have to think of the type of paint you should use and if you should use a brush instead of a roller!
Prep Work Materials
- Old cleaning rags
- Sandpaper
- Degreaser
- Screwdriver
- Paint can opener or utility knife
Painting Materials
- Primer
- Quality paint
- Soft bristle brushes
- Paint tray
- Foam roller
- Painters tape
- Scrap wood or small paper cups
Aside from these materials, make sure you also have protective equipment such as disposable gloves, a shower cap, and old clothes or an apron.
What do you do to prepare kitchen cabinets before painting?
Here are some of the things you have to do before painting your kitchen cabinets:
- Remove the doors from the frames. You can prop them up with the paper cups or discarded pieces of wood.
- Use your screwdriver to remove all hardware, knobs, hinges from the doors to avoid getting paint on them.
- Check the cupboard for damages, especially chipping wood. Make sure to address these issues first before simply covering them with paint. You can cover them with a wood filler for an easy fix.
- Check for any greasy surfaces that prevent paint from getting any adhesion. You can sand them using sandpaper and degrease them using a specialised degreaser. Then clean up after using old cleaning rags.
- Tape the areas you don’t want painted such as edges.
What type of cupboard paint do you need?
Look for paint with a gloss or semi-gloss finish which is known to be more durable. Since these cupboards are situated in the kitchen — a messy place — a splash here or there is to be expected. This is why you should choose those with a semi-gloss or gloss finish because they are known to be more resilient when being scrubbed clean.
Check out our collection of paint here >
What colours should you use to paint kitchen cabinets?
The colour you use on your kitchen cupboard has to blend in the interior design of the rest of your kitchen.
A common choice are neutrals such as white and dark grey, which has a very modern look. Stark white can also complement wooden panels. Browns and creams will give your kitchen an earthy look.
If you want an accent colour, blue and ochre are popular choices as well. Warm colours are known to lift people’s moods too or make them hungry, according to color psychology.
Still unsure about what colour you should use on your kitchen cabinets? You may seek the advice of our interior designers here!
To book a Zoom Interior Design Consultation, or Paint Consultation, Click the “Book Now” button below.
What brush should I use to paint cabinets?
Many people’s dilemma is whether to use a brush or a roller when painting their kitchen cupboard.
Brush
Use a brush for hard-to reach surfaces. Buy brushes of differing width so you won’t have a difficult time painting those edges. You may also use brushes for decorating or designs.
The downside to brushes is that uneven brush strokes can be very visible
Rollers
Rollers and trays are more ideal for big surfaces and it gives a smoother finish. You can also cover more ground with one stroke so you save more time! Unfortunately, rollers aren’t ideal for edges or hard-to-reach surfaces.
Not sure which to get? Check out our collection of brush, rollers, and trays.
What is the best way to paint a cupboard?
Is there a best way to paint kitchen cupboards? There may not be a perfect way to paint kitchen cabinets but here are the step-by-step instructions to make you paint like a pro!
Step 1: Put on your gear and prep your cupboard.
Put on your protective gear. Remove the cupboard doors from its hinges and remove handles, if possible.
Clean the surfaces you want painted and sand it to make the paint adhere to the surface. Wipe down the surfaces after sanding.
After they’re cleaned and sanded, don’t forget to mask off areas you don’t want painted! You can also put some old rags or newspapers down where you plan to paint your cupboard doors and prop them up with pieces of wood.
Step 2: Paint and let it dry
Open your can of paint and give it a good shake. Apply the paint evenly with a good paintbrush. Start with the hinge edge, top and bottom edge and opening edge. This is where your masking tape comes in really handy to keep neat edges. Once they’re done you can paint the front face in smooth even strokes.
Step 3: Let it dry and apply additional coats.
Leave to dry overnight and you can also do a second coat if you’re painting over a very dark colour with a light topcoat. This is also applicable when applying a light colour to an extremely porous substrate.
Can you paint kitchen cabinets without sanding?
Yes, you can paint kitchen cabinets without sanding if you clean it properly, degrease it and use a deglosser.
Make sure to switch between wet and dry rags to clean the surface for a matte-like finish. Let it dry for an hour before applying a bond coat. You can put a second and third layer as long as you let it dry for two hours in between.
Quick tips when painting kitchen cabinets:
- Make sure to go or paint with the grain especially on wooden surfaces to avoid brush marks.
- If you’re not using paint specifically made for cupboards, make sure you put a layer of primer on.
- When using primers it’s better to paint outside the house because it has a very strong smell.
- Don’t limit yourself to solid colours. You can use designs or patterns when painting your cupboard.
- Make sure to use long lasting, quality paint like the ones we have here at Foy & Company!
Check out our selection of paints >
