Updated by Stephen Cochrane 1 July 2024
Have you ever seen a renovation blog or video that has passed up the opportunity to spruik the advantages of painting kitchen cabinets as a cheap and easy DIY project for improving the value of your property? Me neither. If you are preparing to paint kitchen cabinets, stop right there! Hurrying a DIY upgrade to your tired-looking kitchen cabinetry could leave you with streaky cupboard doors and bubbly drawers. Before you pick up the paintbrush, you need to understand the cabinet painting pitfalls and learn how to avoid mistakes.
So, what could go wrong? Here are 7 of the most common kitchen cabinet painting mistakes Perth painters see and how you can avoid them!
1. Setting Unrealistic Expectations
When painting your kitchen cabinets, realistic expectations are a must. What you can achieve may vary depending on the kind of cabinets you have. For example, open-grain cabinet doors are difficult to paint. Even the best-quality paints could look streaky or uneven on wood grain.
If you have a specific look in mind, painting may not be the right choice. Maybe it’s time to replace your cupboard doors.
2. Using the Wrong Kind of Paint
Choosing the right kitchen cabinet paint is crucial. It could be the difference between a high-quality finish that you’ll love and kitchen cabinets with streaky paint that flakes within months.
High-quality renovation-rated paints like those offered by Dulux are the best option. Specially designed paints can be tailored for kitchen cabinet painting, giving better coverage and a smoother final look. You’ll want to match the paint to the surface of your cabinets – so whether you’re painting laminate doors or wooden ones, ask a trusted paint specialist for advice.
3. Skipping Cabinet Sanding
Sanding your kitchen cabinets (or stripping existing paint) before painting is essential, no matter what condition your cupboard doors are in. Sanding reduces imperfections and provides a smooth and even surface that’s easier to paint. Skipping this step can cause the paint to flake over time.
Learn more about how to strip paint off wood.
In most cases, it’s best to use medium-grip sandpaper to get your cabinets in order. This might differ, though, if your cabinets are especially unique in their design or materials.
4. Not Cleaning Surfaces Before Painting
The kitchen is a high-traffic room that can accumulate dust and dirt. In addition, decades of cooking can leave cabinets greasy. For a streak-free and professional-looking paint finish, you’ll need to give your kitchen cabinets a thorough clean before you crack open the paint tin.
- First, use a vacuum cleaner and a soft brush to remove dust.
- Next, clean cabinets with a heavy-duty degreaser.
- Finish up with a damp cloth or microfiber duster to make sure you’ve gotten rid of every last speck of dust and debris.
5. Painting Kitchen Cabinets Without a Primer
You want to get straight into painting, and you’re feeling tempted to skip the primer. Should you? Absolutely not! A quality primer is a staple for professional residential painters in Perth for good reason. It can be the difference between a sleek finish and one that looks unmistakably DIY.
Applying primer to your kitchen cabinets before painting can improve longevity and enhance the finish. A thin coating after you sand is enough to make an impact and can vastly improve the overall finish. If you are painting over a gloss surface, a primer is required to help the new coat adhere properly.
Note: sanding again after applying primer is an optional step but one that will provide the most professional finish.
6. Choosing the Wrong Colour
For most home renovators undertaking internal house painting, colour choices are a critical concern. The colours you choose to paint kitchen cabinets can set the tone for your whole space, even beyond the boundaries of the kitchen itself.
Before you commit to a single paint colour for your kitchen cabinets, explore your options. Colour swatches and sample pots are your greatest assets, so use them! Consider which tones complement your benchtops and backsplash.
7. Overlooking the Importance of Door Handles
When you paint kitchen cabinets, consider updating the door handles, too. Handles can seriously date a space – and seriously modernise it, too. New door handles are a relatively inexpensive way to complete the transformation of your freshly painted kitchen cabinets.
Not replacing the door handles on your kitchen cabinets? Spend the extra time and remove all the cabinet and drawer handles, knobs and hinges prior to painting your kitchen cabinet fronts. Yes this is time consuming. However, you will avoid the telltale signs of an amateur – swirling marks around the door knobs, paint splatters on handles and gummed up hinges – and the time invested will be well worth it.
Your Kitchen Cabinet Paint Job
Painting household cabinetry well is a skill, but by keeping the above in mind, you’ll give yourself the best chance at a finish you’re happy with. You can apply your newfound knowledge to laundry and bathroom painting too.
However, if you’re still feeling daunted by the prospect of painting your kitchen cabinets, you’re not alone! DIY painting isn’t for everyone. Save yourself time and stress – professional interior house painting is cost-effective and ensures you get the finish you’re dreaming of.
