3 Tips for Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Is your kitchen in need of a facelift? Few things in a kitchen have a more dramatic visual effect than kitchen cabinets, but new cabinets can be expensive. Another less costly option might involve painting the existing cabinets for a fresh look, but can it be done? Today we will touch on a few tips our interior painting pros use to get the most from a kitchen cabinet painting project.

Can My Cabinets Be Painted?

This question is really at the heart of the project. Entry level kitchen cabinets tend to be made from cost sensitive materials like pressboard and stick on veneers. These cabinets are sturdy and work well, but because the surface is not real wood painting them can be challenging. Sometimes the doors will be real wood, but the actual cabinet is not. Primer will be required to paint these surfaces, because paint applied directly to the veneer will have trouble sticking. In these instances, the pros will often clean the surface and spray a latex primer onto the surface first and then spray the paint. Spraying is recommended, because these surfaces are usually very smooth and will show brush strokes very easily.

Should I Remove the Hardware From My Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting?

Not necessarily, but it will make the job easier. Kitchen cabinet hardware is typically installed with wood screws, which are easily removed with a screwdriver. This prevents the inevitable overpaint that would need to be removed later, while giving the owner the option to replace the hardware. New hinges and handles are common to kitchen cabinet painting and can result in an entirely different look for very little money.

Can I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets Without Uninstalling Them?

In most cases, yes. The trick is to always use latex (water based) paint when painting indoors. The use of enamel paint is discouraged not only because the chemicals in the paint can damage the veneer of the cabinets, but also because enamel paints typically require adequate ventilation to remove the fumes as well. Using latex paints is much safer and the water clean up is much easier than using mineral spirits or other solvents.