Is It A Good Idea To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

"Should I paint my kitchen cabinets?" That called-for question So MANY of yous take asked me is answered in this post!

At least once a week I become asked, "Should I paint my kitchen cabinets?" I'chiliad not surprised by this question because I'thousand the gal who actually painted my kitchen cabinets without priming or sanding and LIVED TO TELL Near Information technology. In fact, we even did a check-in after two years to testify how well our DIY painted cabinets held upward. And those cabinets held upward perfectly for over five-years until nosotros fully renovated our kitchen last yr. It was seriously unbelievable, folks.

More recently, I painted my friend Thea'south kitchen cabinets with totally different products and a different method and it was even quicker and easier! The project was only completed 6 months agone (you can see her $997 complete kitchen transformation in this post–information technology's pretty epic) and then far her cabinets are belongings up PERFECTLY.

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Now I'd love to take all the credit for how well our painted cabinets worked out for us, just there were several factors on my side. The biggest factor is that I used a fantastic paint, General Finishes Milk Paint. I swear, this stuff is magic! I'g not a professional person painter nor am I on their payroll, I'm just a very enthusiastic supporter. This paint required no sanding or priming and it went on like a dream. It dried faster than any paint I've ever used and turned out a beautiful set of kitchen cabinets.

As function of our $700 kitchen makeover dorsum in 2014, we redid our outdated rust-orangish cabinets in a beautiful Dove Grey. We spray painted most of the hardware, save buying drawer and cabinet pulls (purchased from IKEA).

So this is why I go asked the question, "Should I paint my kitchen cabinets?" once a week. My respond? Go for it! BUT do your homework beginning so you'll be as happy with your results as I am with mine!

"Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets?" ix Questions to Inquire First!

Before y'all begin painting kitchen cabinets, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.

Question i: What are your kitchen cabinets made out of?

Almost cabinets are fabricated of solid wood. Some cabinets, however, are fabricated of stainless steel (plain or pulverization-coated) or engineered wood. Engineered wood cabinets might be fabricated from MDF, plywood, particleboard and covered with veneer, thermofoil or laminate.

Solid forest kitchen cabinets are a dream to paint (yous can read all about how I painted our solid oak cabinets without priming or sanding in this mail). Unfortunately, engineered cupboards that aren't solid wood aren't as easy to paint. Paint doesn't adhere to the finished surface equally easily and will frequently pare off or chip. To prevent chipping of virtually paints, the engineered forest cabinets will nearly likely need light sanding and priming before painting. Test in an inconspicuous spot beforehand. In one case dry, test the paint to ensure the dried product won't flake or chip with frequent apply, particularly in the kitchen.

That said, theFull general Finishes Milk Paint I used to paint my kitchen cabinets without priming or sanding, adheres remarkably well to lots of dissimilar surfaces, to even if you lot have cabinets that aren't solid woods, don't surrender all hope of painting them! This is what General Finishes says virtually its Milk Paint, "General Finishes milk paints will adhere to a variety of surfaces including wood, fiberglass, PVC, vinyl, and most composite materials. Additionally, these paints tin can be applied over existing finishes, stains and other paints then long as the existing end is fully dry. Still, when painting over other finishes, it'southward important to always test a modest area first to make certain the paint adheres well to the original surface." Then if you lot don't have solid woods cabinets, don't give up promise! Only order a pint-size tin of the General Finishes Milk Paint to test it out first!

I tested 3 colors when nosotros tackled our project. It helped me choose the color AND gave me the confidence that the paint had excellent adhesion.

The Fusion Mineral Paint products we used in Thea's kitchen likewise take excellent adhesion and durability, and they come in a broad range of beautiful colors.

Question two: What is the end on your cabinets?

Assuming your cupboards are solid forest, also double-check the terminate. Most stains and polyurethane finishes tin can be covered over but you may run into issues if y'all're going from a painted terminate to a stain, for example. To remove latex paint, you will need to sand the cupboards first. Latex painted cupboards may be a case where refacing the cabinets with new doors is a better selection.

Equally I mentioned above, we used General Finishes Milk Pigment on our quondam cabinets, but their Java Gel Stain is also fantastic (assuming you want to have your cupboards into a darker finish). The Java Stain is a thick gel stain, which covers nigh annihilation. You tin can come across how we darkened a light pine cabinet with the Java Gel Stain in this mail service. 1 thought to keep in mind though: it's far easier to darken a light finish than to lighten upwards a dark paint or stain without primer.

And nosotros used Fusion Mineral Pigment products to totally transform Thea's cabinets. Thea's cabinets were a painted woods already, so all nosotros had to do was given them a lite, scuff-sanding which took almost 30 minutes. Y'all can read all about how we prepped and painted Thea'south cabinets in this post. Or if you adopt video tutorials, you can watch how we did it in the video below.

Question 3: How do you experience about the wood grain (if any) of your cabinets?

I get asked all the fourth dimension whether nosotros could still see the grain of our oak cabinets after they were painted. The reply is YES, and we were fine with that. I am not aware of any paint that will make full in woods grain, unfortunately. That said, the General Finishes Milk Paint is a very flat terminateand the top coat we used is besides the flat finish, though it did add together a tiny scrap of sheen. The flat finish really minimized how noticeable the grain is because of the minimal light reflection. But the grain was still visible.

If you absolutely can't stand seeing the grain, then yous volition either demand to follow a procedure similar this 1 to eliminate the grain, or you should consider refacing or replacing your cabinets.

Question 4: How much time tin can you dedicate?

Painting kitchen cabinets is a realistic DIY projection Simply the procedure will definitely derail your normal kitchen routine for at least a few days. When nosotros did our kitchen, we were able to go on the dishes in the cupboards because nosotros opted non to paint the insides. The paint dried very quickly and we were able to terminate in a matter of days, but it was a MESS while we were working on information technology.

Painting Thea's kitchen cabinets moved even more speedily because we didn't pack a thing and didn't even remove the chiffonier doors to pigment them. But it still meant her kitchen was out of committee while we worked on her cabinets.

Lesser line… Consider your "Plan B" in case your plan goes awry. If you run out of pigment, decide y'all don't like the look or realize the projection is tougher than you hoped to have on, what will yous exercise without your kitchen during that time? Kitchen renovations are tough considering the kitchen is such a central office of our homes. Continue in mind that with the correct paint and program, the project Tin can go very quickly. Only block out enough time and then y'all finish upwardly before a scheduling conflict. This isn't a project to accept on the twenty-four hours before Thanksgiving, for example.

Question five: How fussy are you about details?

I'grand a niggling particular about certain details, of course, just I tin handle slight imperfections. For example, it doesn't bother me in the least the insides of my cupboards aren't painted. We DID paint the inside of the doors, simply non the interior of the chiffonier boxes themselves. I like quality, but I don't listen a little normal article of clothing and tear (information technology comes with the Mom-of-Twins territory).

If you lot are item nearly details and desire everything absolutely perfect, weigh your time against the cost. If yous're going to stay upwards at dark making sure paint is cut perfectly or worrying near tiny details, information technology might not be a worthwhile DIY project for you to take on. However, if you're hoping to salvage money or you're sick of your electric current cupboards but tin can't afford a full redo right now, then painting your kitchen cabinets is your best pick. I promise information technology tin can absolutely be easier than yous retrieve if y'all choice the right products and method!

Question 6: What kind of shape are your cabinets in?

Earlier taking on a kitchen cabinet painting project, really inquire yourself if what kind of shape your cabinets are in. Is keeping your electric current cabinets worth it? Fifty-fifty if the blueprint isn't exactly your gustatory modality, with a coat of stain or paint, cabinets take on a whole new look. Our once orange oak cabinets looked fresh and modern in Dove Grey (and would wait good in Coffee as well). Oftentimes the stop makes all the difference. The other (less expensive than a total replacement) pick is to reface your cabinets by swapping out but the doors. If your cabinet structure is good but you don't like design elements of the doors, this is a keen fashion to go.

Recall: you lot tin always pigment or purchase new hardware to requite the cabinets an updated wait besides. I picked upward neat handles at IKEA that were really inexpensive, fresh and sleek. They fit the style of our kitchen much better. I was able to simply hit the hinges with spraypaint and keep them. Look at the land of your hardware, too every bit your cabinets, to see if a refinish is plenty to extend the life of your cupboards.

In Thea's kitchen, nosotros were able to go on the hidden hinges (we simply painted around them) and we replaced the hardware with these modern, cute and seriously inexpensive knobs.

Question 7: What is the toll of a replacement vs. refinish?

This question is normally the clincher for nigh people. When I painted my kitchen cabinets, we were able to update the unabridged kitchen for $700, including flooring, fixtures, everything–the whole shebang. And Thea's entire kitchen makeover (including updated lighting, rug, chiffonier hardware and all decor and accessories) price only $997. Y'all, those prices tin can't be beaten! Trust me, I know how expensive completely gutting and renovating a kitchen is because we finished our total kitchen remodel nearly a year ago.

Of course, you should weigh in other costs equally well–your time, sanity and stress levels. Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the most cost-effective kitchen transformations you can take on. It's well worth the cost in almost cases.

Question viii: How happy are you with the existing layout?

If you lot're happy with the layout of your kitchen and but need a modern update and alter, painting your cabinets is admittedly the manner to go. Painting your kitchen cabinets is an easy solution and tin can get you much closer to the kitchen of your dreams.

If your kitchen is pocket-sized, your cupboards are lacking and yous need to add cupboards, then painting might not exist the best solution. Obviously, painting won't modify the cupboard layout or the amount of storage in your kitchen. One option to consider is an open-shelving wait on the superlative cupboards and painting the lowers. Alternatively, you could add an island or resurface the doors which would allow you to skip a total overhaul but increase the storage.

We painted our kitchen cabinets equally a temporary update until we could fully renovate the kitchen. Those painted cabinets allowed united states to savour our kitchen for over half-dozen years while we saved for our full kitchen renovation. We knew we would practice a full renovation somewhen because we wanted to change the layout of our kitchen (including taking a wall down betwixt our kitchen and dining room). Information technology took such a long time to salvage, that information technology was worth every penny and every infinitesimal we spent on our kitchen chiffonier painting!

Question 9: How drastic of a change are y'all hoping for?

Again, if you're happy with the overall layout and storage size of your cabinets, and so painting your cupboards for an update is a corking solution. If your cabinets are pocket-size, in poor condition or aren't working for yous, so a cosmetic modify might not be the answer.

When we painted our cabinets, our plan was to stave off total kitchen gut and makeover for at least 5 years. We were so thrilled with the professional-level results we were able to get with our inexpensive, apprentice remodel, nosotros happily lived with our kitchen while we saved for our total kitchen renovation. If this is your case, so painting your kitchen cabinets is a dandy solution. Yous can get the face up-lift you want for your kitchen and agree off on desperate changes until your budget expands.

Painting kitchen cabinets is a great solution for anyone who's interested in an update. So if yous keep request yourself, "Should I paint my kitchen cabinets?"…then, answer these questions first to really start your kitchen painting project off the right way! I promise you tin practice it and nonetheless keep your sanity intact!

Now, I know there are LOTS of y'all out at that place that are going to read this and recall the process I used sounds too good to be truthful and/or take a zillion other questions that I can't possibly answer in blog posts.So frequently nosotros get questions like…

• Tin can I use this to pigment my laminate kitchen cabinets?
• How do y'all think the white paint color would piece of work on my very night cabinets?
• Can I employ this pigment this over existing painted kitchen cabinets?
• Did you REALLY non sand in between coats?
• How much pressure do I demand to apply when I apply the deglosser?

After seeing the need to address all these questions and afterwards countless requests, I finally decided to create a video training series for those of you lot that have questions and concerns that just tin can't be answered in a unmarried web log post.

My video series, Total Cabinet Transformation , is at present available and it covers the procedure for how we painted our own kitchens cabinets with General Finishes Milk Paint. If you want to update your kitchen, but can't beget to replace your cabinets or hire a painter to pigment them for you, this is the grooming for you. It'southward short, simply thorough. In well-nigh an hour, you volition know everything you need to transform your kitchen cabinets the "lazy" way. Minimal effort. Maximum results.

Exist sure to save this postal service to Pinterest or share it on Facebook so you tin can find it again later (particularly if you accept to convince your husband that information technology's a adept idea, like I did, lol!)

And before you caput out, considering condign a 5.I.P. member of the Kaleidoscope Living community FOR Costless! When you subscribe, yous become access to our entire subscriber hub full of gratuitous pattern guides, organization printables AND gorgeous printable art!

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