The quickest way to transform a room and make it feel fresh is to give your cabinets a new coat of paint. The results are immediate and impactful, but the right techniques are needed to achieve a smooth and flawless finish that will stand the test of time. While some contractors will tell you that you can’t paint your kitchen cabinets, most pros agree that a fresh coat of paint is always the best choice to lift your home’s decor.
Many of the same techniques that apply to wall painting apply to cabinet repainting. The first step is to thoroughly clean the surface. Wipe away all oil and grease residue using a mild degreaser, or a stronger cleaner like trisodium phosphate (TSP), which can be purchased at hardware stores and is available with safety precautions and directions on the label.
After the cabinets are clean and dry, lightly sand the surfaces with a medium grit sander or by hand to create a rough surface that will accept the primer and paint. Be sure to use a tack cloth and thoroughly wipe down the surfaces again after sanding. This will prevent dust and dirt from settling into the freshly painted surface and causing flaws in the final finish.
Next, apply a quality, slow drying oil-based primer to the entire surface of the cabinet. Then follow with a good quality latex paint that is specifically designed for cabinetry. Some of the most popular options include Benjamin Moore Advance and Sherwin Williams Urethane Enamel.
If you’re painting the cabinets white, it’s important to use a good quality, bright white latex paint. Avoid a flat or matte finish, and instead opt for a satin or semi-gloss paint to reflect more light and add a sleeker appearance to the cabinetry.
When painting your kitchen cabinets, be sure to take the time to mask and protect adjacent areas of the room with tape and drop cloths. You should also consider establishing a separate workspace for the project to help prevent drips and smudges from affecting other areas of your home.
Once the cabinets are prepped and ready to be painted, work from top to bottom. This will help you to spot and correct any mistakes as you go along. The doors and drawer fronts should be the last items to get a coat of paint on, followed by the outer cabinet sides and face frame fronts.
Another way to elevate your home’s decor is by replacing the hardware on your cabinetry. Old knobs and pulls can make a room look dated, so replace them with modern hardware to give your cabinets a fresh new look. This is an inexpensive and easy DIY project that can be done quickly.
While repainting is a great option for transforming your kitchen, there are other ways to breathe new life into the space, including staining and refacing. To learn more about the pros and cons of each technique, consult with your local Tampa cabinet painting professional. A designer at Elite Cabinet Coatings, for example, can explain the benefits of each option in relation to your specific needs.