You may not be ready for a full kitchen makeover, but you may improve the look of your kitchen with a fresh coat of paint on your cabinets.
The method is less difficult and less expensive than installing new cabinets, and it is within most homeowners' skills.
The correct paint for kitchen cabinets may change the appearance of your room while concealing old, dirty areas.
Paint your kitchen cabinets in a bright new color to open up new options, or go for a traditional appearance with a clean shade of white.
Whatever color you pick, keep in mind what sort of paint is ideal for kitchen cabinets and which finish will be the longest-lasting and simplest to clean.
Think about your cabinets
When selecting whether to paint your kitchen cabinets, the first thing you should do is evaluate the material they are constructed of.
Do you have solid wood cabinets or are they veneered over particle board?
Are your cabinets constructed of MDF or laminate? Each of these factors will influence the sort of paint you use on your cabinets.
Wood Cabinets: Because paint sticks best to a scuffed surface, real wood cabinets are an excellent option for painting.
Sanding the surface before painting results in a better bond and a smoother finish.
This is especially crucial if your wood cabinets are already stained or have a glossy finish; you will need to remove this finishing layer first, using sandpaper or a liquid deglosser.
If your wood cabinets are bare, natural wood, you may not need to sand them at all.
However, be in mind that they will absorb a lot of paint, particularly if you use water-based latex paint.
A primer will aid in ensuring uniform and complete covering.
Wood Veneer Cabinets: If your cabinets have a wood veneer, which is essentially a very thin coating of actual hardwood over a pressed substance, you will need to sand them before painting them.
But, before you start sanding or painting, thoroughly check the veneer for any loose edges, chips, or cracks. Before sanding the veneered surface, repair them using wood glue.
Don't sand too much because the veneer is simply a thin coating that hides what's underneath.
You just want to make the surface rough enough for the primer and paint to adhere to.
MDF: MDF kitchen cabinets are excellent candidates for painting, as long as you know how to properly prepare them.
When preparing MDF cabinets for painting, you should focus on two things: sealing the edges and using an oil-based primer.
MDF's edge is more porous, so if it doesn't already have a polished surface, add some drywall compound to seal it and avoid moisture from inflating the material during the painting process.
Another thing to keep in mind is to use an oil-based primer. Water-based primers can expand the surface of MDF due to its porous nature.
After using an oil-based primer, you may paint kitchen cabinets with water-based latex paint without worrying about moisture absorption.
Laminate Kitchen: Painting laminate kitchen cabinets is feasible, but it is more difficult than painting wood or MDF cabinets.
Laminate is a printed plastic that is bonded to a base layer, which is often a composite material. Because the finish is smooth, you'll need to invest in the prep work to ensure a perfect finish.
You may use a laminate-specific primer or paint to assist you out.
These materials are specifically intended to adhere to the gleaming surface of laminate.
But you don't have to spend money on laminate-specific materials; a good primer will help paint adhere to the surface.
You'll still need to sand the surface before and after priming; just use fine sandpaper and proceed slowly to prevent sanding through the laminate.
Oil Paint vs. Latex Paint
Are you debating whether to use traditional oil paint or the more commonly available latex paint on your kitchen cabinets?
In a nutshell, latex paint is excellent for cabinets.
Oil paint has a reputation for being simple to apply and having a long-lasting finish that can be washed and cleaned on a regular basis, but latex paint is the best choice for most cabinets because it has lower amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and dries faster.
Oil-based paints are well-known for their long-lasting finish, so they may be your first choice as the finest paint for kitchen cabinets.
When you open the cabinet with sticky or greasy hands, you may scrape away any residue without fear of wearing away the paint or dulling the surface.
However, oil paints have several drawbacks that are especially difficult to overlook when painting cabinets.
For one thing, while oil-based paint glides on easily, it takes a long time to cure between coats—up to 16 hours. Waiting for the paint to dry can be difficult if there is no adequate circulation (like in the inside of a cabinet).
Keeping your cabinets empty for days to allow the paint to cure between coats can be a bother that many people are unwilling to cope with. Latex paint, on the other hand, is ready for a second coat in as little as two to four hours.
This means you can paint in a single day and reassemble your kitchen in no time.
However, the two most important reasons to use latex paint for kitchen cabinets are VOCs and fading. Water-based latex paints are commonly available in low- or no-VOC formulations.
VOCs are released at significantly greater amounts in oil paints. Using a paint known to generate VOCs to enclose your food, spices, and dining utensils may cause eye, nose, and throat discomfort, dizziness, tiredness, and other severe problems.
Furthermore, because surfaces covered with oil paint can take on a yellow tinge over time, your kitchen cabinets may begin to seem off-color and dirty.
Oil-based paint yellows more fast in low light settings, so if you intend to paint inside your cabinets (surfaces such as shelves and the inside of doors), you may expect to see this affect more soon.
Latex paint for kitchen cabinets is now considerably easier to apply thanks to advancements in water-based paint formulations.
Many latex paints are now produced with improved cleaning durability and can withstand vigorous scrubbing.
This is essential in a kitchen, so search for a paint that is labeled as ‘washable' or ‘scrubbable' for your cabinets.
Just make sure to thoroughly prep the surface before using latex paint if you're painting wood cabinets.
While oil-based paint applies smoothly, even over wood, latex paint is more likely to reveal variations in the grain or texture.
If you want a smooth, even finish, you'll need to do some prep work before beginning your painting project.
And if your kitchen cabinets are already painted (rather than raw wood), you have another incentive to choose latex paint.
If you don't know what kind of paint is already on your cabinets, water-based latex formulations are your best bet—oil-based paint won't attach well over latex paint, but latex paint may bind to a surface treated with either type of paint.
Oil-Based Paint
Pros
Cons
Latex-Based Paint
Pros
Cons
The Best Kitchen Cabinet Finish
Choosing the correct paint finish for kitchen cabinets is critical since it influences how long your cabinets will last.
Cabinet doors and drawers are frequently touched, pulled, slammed, and more, and things are moved in and out of shelves.
These variables can make painted cabinets prone to scratching and chipping, but you can mitigate this by selecting the appropriate paint finish for kitchen cabinets.
When painting kitchen cabinets, a semi-gloss or gloss finish is the best option.
Paint with a shine will assist reflect light and be more durable in the long term, both of which are crucial in the kitchen.
Many semi-gloss and glossy paint formulations are touted as ‘washable,' and have enhanced resilience when washed or scrubbed clean.
This is because additional resin and binders are utilized in the formulation of semi-gloss and glossy paint, giving the paint more endurance.
Avoid using eggshell or flat finish paint on kitchen cabinets.
These paints aren't as washable as semi-gloss or gloss finishes, and you risk rubbing through your paint work the next time you clean your cabinet doors.
Furthermore, semi-gloss or gloss paints are a preferable choice for a finish when painting in a space with high humidity or moisture, such as a kitchen.
This paint finish's additional shine will aid to repel water spots and stains.
Application Suggestions
Do your cabinet doors have flat panels or inset panels with raised edges?
If your kitchen cabinets have flat doors, you may speed up the painting process by using a paint roller with a 14 nap (for the evenest application and smooth finish).
Paneled kitchen cabinets need a little more effort—use a paintbrush to cover angled surfaces and inset sections evenly.
If you're using latex paint, make sure you use a synthetic bristle brush because the water-based recipe will swell the bristles of a natural paintbrush.
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