Painting cabinets is a budget-friendly way to update your kitchen without tearing out walls or floors. But choosing the right color is important as ensuring your cabinet paint matches the rest of your space. You can choose from a variety of finishes, from flat to glossy. You must also consider the type of wood your cabinetry is made from.
Choose the Right Color
When you choose a color for cabinet painting, you want it to complement the other colors in your kitchen. This includes the walls, countertops, backsplash, and floor.
The best way to pick the right paint color for your cabinets is to choose a neutral that will complement all the other colors in your kitchen. White is a classic choice for any room, but you can also go with cream or gray for a more modern design.
Another option is to paint your cabinets in a bold color. This gives a fun accent without overpowering the rest of your kitchen design.
A dark color can contrast with light cabinets and make the space look larger. However, you should consider the orientation of your kitchen when choosing a dark color.
If you’re unsure what color would work best for your kitchen, consider getting test samples before deciding on your paint color. This will allow you to see how it looks in different lighting and times of day.
Prep the Surface
When you’re preparing to paint your kitchen cabinets, it’s important to prepare the surface properly. Grease, food splatters and other contaminants can interfere with paint adhesion, making it difficult to get a smooth, even finish.
Before starting your cabinet painting project, cover kitchen countertops and flooring with sheet plastic to prevent drips or splatters from staining these surfaces. Use a drop-cloth or tarp to mask off walls and other parts of the room where you’ll be working, as well.
Next, clean the cabinet doors and drawer fronts with a grease remover. You’ll also need to fill in any holes, dents or dings with wood filler or spackling. Then sand lightly with 120-grit sandpaper to prep the surface for primer and paint.
Primer and Tint
When you are painting cabinets, it is important to use a primer and tint. This helps to protect the existing color from showing through, prevents bleed through, and ensures a better paint job.
In addition, it helps to hide any blemishes that you may have, such as old scratches or stains. It also helps to give you a smooth base for the paint that you are about to apply.
For the best results, you should consider using a high-quality primer. These products are designed to adhere to a variety of surfaces, including wood, laminate, and masonry, as well as to block odors and stains.
They are easy to work with, dry quickly, and only emit a mild odor. They also clean up with soap and water. You can find water-based acrylic and latex primers, oil-based, shellac-based, and hybrid. Each one has different pros and cons, so you will need to choose the best option for your needs.
Paint the Cabinets
Painting cabinets is a great way to freshen up your kitchen, but it’s important to do it right. You’ll want the paint to look like glass and have a smooth, even surface.
To do that, start with a stain-blocking, oil-base primer. Use a brush or a roller to apply the primer, and make sure you get into every nook and cranny.
After the primer dries, lightly sand your cabinets (both front and back) to prepare them for the top coat. This sanding step will help the paint stick to the wood and give you a smooth, glass-like finish.
Cabinet painting can be a daunting task, but it’s well worth the effort. A good paint job will last for years and you’ll be glad you took the time to do it correctly.