Should you paint kitchen cabinets?
There comes a time when just about anyone who had their home built off plan starts to hear a little nagging voice in the head. “Should I paint those kitchen cabinets?” I mean - let's be honest - you spent so much money on building the house that there was very little left over for that designer kitchen you so dreamed of.
The arguments for painting are many: a fresh coat of paint has a way of hiding the standard-ness of many cheap cabinets. Instantly, a bright white or distressed ivory, or a funky colour like lime or aqua can lend a boring kitchen a bit of panache. Instant drama in a paint can. And yet, painting natural wood is never an easy step to take. Some wood purists feel a coat of paint defiles what otherwise would be all that natural beauty shining through.
So if you’re having the “painting the cabinets” debate in your own head right now, here’s what you should keep in mind:
Do you like how your cabinets look?
Sounds like a silly question, but sometimes we realize over time that our plain wooden cabinets aren’t that bad. But if you cringe every time you enter the kitchen, that’s probably a sign in favour of painting.
Is your wood low-quality?
All wood is not made equal. Oak cabinets, for example, are not in the same league as supawood board (MDF). If the wood on your cabinets is obviously of low quality, don’t hesitate to get out the paint brush. The simple makeover solution for oak cabinets that are dull and faded is to give them a new look rather than painting over the wood.
Do your cabinets have structural flaws?
Even a new paint job can’t fix sagging shelves and chipped doors.
Can you handle the job?
Painting kitchen cabinets is nothing to approach lightly. It must be done in a step-by-step methodical manner if you hope to have chip-resistant cabinets that won’t scratch and peel. You will need to know how to sand (and what kind of sandpaper to use), you will need to fill all cracks, and you’ll have to use primer. You’ll also have to know what kind of brushes to use (foam) to get into corners and to use several coats of paint.
You must remove all doors to do a good job, and you’ll probably need some large space to keep the doors while they dry. (Prep work is 75 percent of the job!) You have the choose the type of paint that you want to use. You can opt for oil or acrylic paint, but if you want a smooth finish, paint applied by spray will look smoother and more professional than using a brush.
And bear in mind that it's not only paint that can improve the look of your kitchen. Whilst you're at it you could also add more interest to doors, put on new hardware, or replace the countertop.
home design find - images: sheshamunga