Giving your kitchen a refresh by painting the cabinets is an easy way to update it without investing in a full-blown kitchen makeover.
Households don’t need to go super bold with their colour choices either. Even a muted and earthy tone or a cool grey can help give a kitchen a whole new look.
Be aware that painting kitchen cupboards isn’t a job to be rushed, with a fairly long drying time involved.
However, painting specialists at Dulux have shared the easiest way to paint kitchen cabinets, with one “crucial” step that will ensure a “smooth and professional finish”.
Equipment needed:
Paint
Dust sheets
Sugar soap or some type of strong detergent
Fine sandpaper
Primer
Damp cloth
Step one: Prepare the area
Start by removing all the knobs and handles as well as the contents of your cupboards and drawers.
Use masking tape to protect hinges and glass and put down dust sheets to protect other parts of the room as necessary.
Step two: Wash the cupboards
Next, wash the cabinets down thoroughly with sugar soap or a strong detergent solution.
This is important as this will “remove grease” and create a “smooth canvas”. Wipe off any soap residue with a damp cloth.
Step three: Sand the cabinets
When the cabinets are dry, sand them with fine paper. If you have melamine or high gloss surfaces, you can skip this step.
After sanding them down, fill any imperfections with a good quality ready mixed filler and sand again.
Step four: Apply primer
Apply a wood or melamine primer depending on the surface. A small roller may be best to use on doors for a smooth finish.
Step five: Paint the cabinets
Two coats of your chosen colour should always be applied. The experts recommend that after the first coat is completely dry, in order “to ensure a smooth, professional finish”, it is “crucial to sand them down with a fine paper”. Remember to wipe off any dust with a damp cloth.
Step six: Finishing touches
When the second coat is completely dry, carefully remove the masking tape, put the knobs and handles back on, and admire your sparkling new cabinets.
If you want even more of a change, mix up your hardware and replace your old handles and knobs with new cheerful and quirky designs to pep up your cupboards and drawers.
