Painting kitchen cabinets

How paint kitchen cabinets

A kitchen can be updated dramatically and economically by painting the cabinets.

Since much time is spent in the kitchen, one soon tires of seeing the same monotonous features day after day. Freshening up the kitchen cabinets with a new coat of paint can give the kitchen a fresh new look and personality.

Kitchen cabinets occupy the majority of the wall space in almost any kitchen. While appliances like stoves, microwaves, and refrigerators take up a fair amount of space, the cupboards, cabinets and countertops typically are the focal points of the room. This is fortunate, for a simple change to your kitchen cabinets such as repainting, can improve the appearance of the entire room.

If it is time for some change in your kitchen, painting the kitchen cabinets will make a large impact on the room’s appearance. If inexperienced with painting, consider hiring a professional painter. However, with plenty of preparation, the proper tools and allowing adequate time for the project, most anyone can achieve professional looking results. Care should be taken, as messes can happen quickly and the finished project can appear less attractive than desired.

If planning to tackle this project yourself, there are many things you can do to insure the desired finished result. Do some research, or ask a painting professional to find the right types of paint that will adhere properly to the cabinets, it would be a good time to also find right type of brush or roller to be used with the paint of choice. Proper preparation of the cabinet surfaces to be painted will help achieve the desired results.

The color and finish is a matter of personal preference, although paint finishes with a higher gloss are easier to keep clean. To insure great looking results, the cabinet doors and all of the hardware should be removed, and the surfaces that are to be painted be properly prepared. It is easier to apply paint to a flat surface than to attempt to paint around knobs, handles and hinges. Removing the doors allows them to be painted elsewhere, like in the garage or the workshop, and having paint fumes in the kitchen can be avoided. The surfaces of the doors and drawers should be inspected for damage and repaired at this time. The surfaces that will receive paint should then be lightly sanded, and the sanding dust removed. They should then receive an application of a wood primer paint, which seals the exposed pores of the wood, and prepares the surface for the new coat of paint. Allow the primer to dry completely, and the cabinets will be ready to paint.

One of the keys to a quality paint finish is to apply the paint with the right brush or roller. The paint supplier may offer suggestions in this matter. Be sure to apply the paint evenly, with long strokes, and be sure to clean off any drips. If a second coat is needed, lightly sand between coats and reapply the paint. Allow the cabinets and doors to completely dry between coats. Now might be the time to update the drawer and door hardware, further enhancing the new look. If you take your time and follow the proper steps, you should have a kitchen with a fresh look, and the satisfaction of knowing you achieved this accomplishment on your own.

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