Spice Up Your Kitchen Cabinets

And because replacing cabinetry can be expensive, a fresh paint color could be the perfect option for your budget. While Pinterest can make this look easy, there are some things to keep in mind before diving right in. Here’s what you need to know about prepping your cabinets and selecting the right paint for the job.

Prepare

The most important work in a DIY painting project happens before you even open a can of paint. First, you’ll want to empty all your cabinets and remove the hardware, such as hinges and pulls. Make sure you clean all your cabinets thoroughly with a degreasing agent, so the paint is getting adhered to a clean surface.

Next, make sure you’re protecting anything that you don’t want to be painted, including countertops, adjoining walls, and any hardware that couldn’t be removed. Take this time to also fix any dents or grooves in the cabinets that you want to cover up with some wood filler!

Lastly, you’ll need to sand everything. Paint won’t adhere to a smooth surface; it needs a little grit to grip onto. A palm sander is best for getting the majority of the large, flat areas sanded quickly. Then smaller, hard-to-get-to spots should be hand-sanded with either 220-grit sandpaper for stained surfaces or 120-grit for paint. Once everything is sanded, wipe it down with a clean towel to get rid of any dust particles.

Prime

Even the best paint won’t look good with a low-quality foundation. A good primer is essential in a high-traffic area like the kitchen. Get a high-adhesion primer such as the Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer. Ideally, paint two coats of primer to create the best base, lightly sanding the surfaces after each coat and removing the dust.

Paint

Since the kitchen is a high-traffic area, you’ll want to pick a paint that is durable and easy to clean. Glossy finishes are the best for this, but if you don’t like a shiny look, a satin finish will work as well. Picking the color is the fun part, but don’t get too crazy if you plan on eventually selling your house or if you might change your taste! Whites and off-whites are the most common in kitchens, but shades of black and gray are also popular, especially in modern or farmhouse-style kitchens.

Now you’re actually to the painting part! Use a high-quality, professional brush to avoid a streaky look. Remember to paint an entire surface in one sitting so that you’re not painting over dry or semi-dry edges, which can cause lifting, bumps, or brush marks. Again, make sure you’re letting each coat fully dry and lightly sanding in between each coat. Take your time and don’t forget the edges!

Professionals

Painting cabinetry may seem like a quick and easy kitchen project, but it’s a big job! You’ll be looking at these cabinets every day, so you want to make sure you have the ability to make it look good. If this process sounds like more than you want to tackle yourself, let us help! The painting pros at Arizona Painting Company have the skills and experience to make your kitchen cabinets look like new again.