New kitchen cupboards can make an old kitchen feel new and exciting again, but kitchen cabinets can be expensive. One cost effective way to give kitchen cabinets a facelift is by painting them. Painting cabinets and cupboards is a time consuming task and requires some elbow grease but the results are well worth it and the price is actually pretty minimal.
Painting kitchen cupboards is a great solution for your kitchen if your original cupboards are in good shape. If the cupboards are falling apart it’s probably not worth the time and effort involved in painting them.
Remove the Faces
The first step in painting cabinets is removing the doors and drawer faces. If they are left on the framework it’s almost impossible to get a smooth finish in every area. If the drawer faces don’t come off of the drawer frame then pull out the drawers at the very least. While removing the cupboard doors and drawer faces make sure to take off the hardware as well. A little extra tip here, replace the hardware as well. New hardware alone can give a kitchen a fresh new look but old hardware with newly painted cupboards can really bring the look down. If new hardware isn’t in the budget, make sure the old hardware is thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed so it looks new again.
Prepare the Surfaces
Before painting the cupboard surfaces need to be properly prepared. Cupboards collect a lot of grease over the years, especially the ones over cooking surfaces or the places that are touched frequently. Clean the surfaces thoroughly with a commercial spray cleaner and soft cloth to remove as much grease as possible. Do not use soap and water to clean cupboard surfaces as water can cause wood cupboards to swell and warp. The next step after the cabinets are cleaned is to lightly sand the surfaces. Give them a final dusting to remove all of the residue from the sanding.
Prime the Surfaces
Next, prime all surfaces that will be painted. A good primer is essential, one that will really adhere. Look for one that says sanding isn’t necessary, this means the primer is designed to really hold up and sanding will only make it more durable. Also if the cabinets are part laminate then sanding won’t make a big difference but the quality primer will.
Paint the Surfaces
Select a quality paint, a paint professional can point out the better brands and the finishes that are best for cupboards and other high traffic areas. Stay away from flat paint as it collects body oils and it doesn’t have the protection layer that other “glossier” paints do. The more gloss in a paint the easier it is to clean. Using a foam sponge brush or roller will provide a more even finish without brush marks. Several coats of paint are probably necessary so a thorough drying is required between each application.
Before hanging cupboards again give them several days to a week to cure so the finish stays perfect and doesn’t get marred when hardware is reattached and the doors are hung.
 |
 |
 |
