Tips for Painting Kitchen Cupboards

Tips for Painting Kitchen Cupboards

If your kitchen is looking a bit tired and in need of a new lease of life, before you reach for the new kitchen brochures and take a sharp intake of breath at the price, why not think about simply changing the colour and look of the kitchen by painting the cupboards? This kind of refresh or makeover of the kitchen units can also help if you are thinking about selling your home. In this article, we share some expert tips for painting kitchen cupboards from across the internet.

Choosing your new colour

Choosing your new colour will probably be one of the hardest parts of this project! Take some time to browse websites such as Pinterest for ideas or seek online advice from paint manufacturers such as this informative piece from Farrow and Ball to gain inspiration and to see what could work in your kitchen. Don’t forget, when choosing your new colour to consider factors such as how much light enters the room and the size of the space as well as the colour of ancillary items that you might not want to change, like the flooring.

Preparation

As with most DIY type jobs, preparation is key when painting your kitchen cupboards. After removing all of the contents from the cupboards and the cupboard doors themselves, the knowledgeable people at Dulux recommend removing all knobs or handles before beginning painting, to prevent the paint from being transferred. If you don’t want to remove the doors, use masking tape to protect the surrounds.

TOP TIP: When removing doors, hinges, knobs and handles, label them all with where they came from so that putting everything back together is less time-consuming.

By the very nature of activities in the kitchen, grease can build up on the doors and carcasses so B&Q advise wiping down with sugar soap to remove the build-up and help ensure a smooth finish to the paintwork.

Sanding with fine sandpaper (you are let off this job if the doors are made from melamine or have a high gloss surface) will ensure that the paint takes correctly and gives a smooth finish. Dulux advise filling dings and dents with a quality filler and re-sand – we know, but it will be worth it! Farrow and Ball advise using a primer, depending on whether the surface has been previously painted or not.

Painting

Using a small roller will give a smoother finish than a wide one. If using a paint brush, Dulux advise using a synthetic bristle brush to prevent brush marks. Two coats of paint are highly advisable to ensure an even finish. Always follow the manufacturer instructions on drying time between coats. Dulux recommend that after the first coat has dried completely, give the newly painted surfaces a light sand over with a fine paper to get a smooth and professional looking finish. It’s important to remember to wipe off any dust created by the sanding with a damp cloth so that it doesn’t spoil the finish of the next coat.

TOP TIP: Use painters pyramids to elevate the removed cupboard doors from the surface, ensuring that corners aren’t missed, and fingers don’t get messy from trying to hold the doors as you paint.

Finish

Tempting as it is, don’t rush to put the cupboard doors, hinges and knobs or handles back on. Ensure that the paint is absolutely dry before doing so or you run the risk of scuffing your careful handiwork.

TOP TIP: This is the perfect time to change the handles or knobs for a more modern, updated look.