Should You Use a Paint Finish for Kitchen Cabinets?
Find out how paint finish is an affordable way to upgrade the look of your existing kitchen cabinets
Pooja Khanna Tyagi
29 May 2019
Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016 an for architectural poetry in the year 2018. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi and Noida.
Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392
Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner,... More
The market offers numerous choices when you want to select the base material and top finish for kitchen cabinets. Although finishes such as laminate, acrylic or PU coating have emerged as popular surface finishes, a fresh coat of paint is a great way to give a makeover to your old kitchen cabinets, especially if you have budget constraints.
What are the advantages of painted kitchen cabinets?
- A paint finish allows you to have cabinet shutters with decorative moulding and panels or a variety of other creative designs, like in the images here.
- Painted cabinets provide a sleek and seamless look to the kitchen because of the absence of any joint lines.
- One can achieve a colourful-looking kitchen with paint. Additionally, you have the option to change the colour of the cabinets during the next renovation with a new coat of paint.
- Paint imparts a silky smooth finish on wood, plywood, MDF (medium density fiberboard) and HDF (high density fiberboard). This is because paint is thick and does not get absorbed by these materials.
- Also, if the cabinets get chipped or scratched one can touch up the damaged surface with paint.
What are the disadvantages of painted kitchen cabinets?
- Painted cabinets are not as durable as the modern surface finishes. Since wood expands and contracts, a paint finish may develop cracks over time.
- The cabinets need to be finished with at least two or three coats of paint. It is a time-consuming process because the cabinets require adequate drying time between each coat of paint.
- In case you need to touch up the damaged parts of the cabinet with a new coat of paint, it might not be possible to match the exact shade. As a result, the surface that is touched up looks patchy.
How durable are painted kitchen cabinets?
In case you are installing new kitchen cabinets then matte finish laminates are the best and most affordable surface finish that is easy to maintain.
Browse through these photos for more kitchen design ideas
- The right products, such as good-quality putty, primer and paint, along with a proper mode of application can result in a highly durable paint finish.
- Another factor that is responsible for the durability of the paint finish is good adhesion of paint with the base surface of the cabinets. Ensure the preparation of a smooth surface for a good paint finish.
In case you are installing new kitchen cabinets then matte finish laminates are the best and most affordable surface finish that is easy to maintain.
Browse through these photos for more kitchen design ideas
Is it advisable to use latex or oil paints for painting the cabinets?
- Latex paints are quick drying and environmentally friendly, with a low level of VOC (volatile organic compounds) compared to oil paints.
- Latex paints are flexible, hence more durable than oil paints.
- Another plus is that latex paints do not develop a yellowish tinge as they age.
How to paint the kitchen cabinets?
Get the perfect hardware to match your newly painted cabinets
- The first step is to dismantle all the drawers and shutters, and remove all the handles and hardware. Mask the countertop, hardware fittings (which have not been removed), such as telescopic channels, to prevent paint from getting sprayed on it.
- Sand the existing paint finish of the cabinets or remove the old laminate so as to bare the wooden base. Now clean and wipe it with a damp cloth.
- All the gaps and imperfections on the base wooden surface should be filled with wood putty. Once the putty dries, it should be sanded again.
- Use a wood primer to fill all the finer imperfections and to provide a good base for the paints to adhere to.
- Now use a spray machine to spray-paint the cabinets, and let it dry. This process should be repeated at least two or three times, with adequate drying time between each coat, till you achieve the desired finish.
Get the perfect hardware to match your newly painted cabinets
How to maintain paint finish cabinets?
Make a cleaning solution with warm water and liquid dish soap. Dip a microfibre cloth into this solution and scrub the cabinets. Now wipe it with a clean damp cloth (soaked in fresh water and wringed out), followed by a dry wipe.
Read more:
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
7 Reasons Why Handleless Kitchen Cabinets Are a Must-Have
Tell us:
Do you have painted kitchen cabinets in your home? Share your experience about using and maintaining these in Comments below.
Make a cleaning solution with warm water and liquid dish soap. Dip a microfibre cloth into this solution and scrub the cabinets. Now wipe it with a clean damp cloth (soaked in fresh water and wringed out), followed by a dry wipe.
Read more:
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
7 Reasons Why Handleless Kitchen Cabinets Are a Must-Have
Tell us:
Do you have painted kitchen cabinets in your home? Share your experience about using and maintaining these in Comments below.
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A very thought provoking and reasoned article.Thanks for sharing such an amazing article; I really love to read your content regularly.