Is your kitchen a good candidate?
Painting works best when the carcasses, hinges and drawers are in good working order and you're happy with the layout. If doors are swollen, laminate is peeling or the whole kitchen is falling apart, paint won't fix it.
Solid wood, painted wood and MDF doors take paint well. Laminate, vinyl-wrapped and high-gloss doors can be painted too, but they need specialist primers and more careful preparation, and the result depends heavily on the product used.
How the job is done
Doors and drawer fronts are usually removed, labelled and painted flat, while the frames are painted in place. Preparation is critical, because kitchen surfaces are coated in years of invisible grease.
- Degrease thoroughly
- Sand or abrade to give the surface a key
- Fill any chips or dents
- Apply a primer suited to the material
- Apply two finish coats of a hard-wearing paint
- Refit doors and adjust hinges
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Brushing or spraying?
Hand painting with good brushes and fine rollers can give an excellent finish, and some people like the subtle texture. Spraying gives a smooth, almost factory-like finish but needs masking, ventilation and specialist equipment. Some decorators do both; others specialise in spraying.
How long will it last?
With good preparation and a durable product, painted cabinets can look good for years. The doors that get the most use – under the sink, the bin cupboard – will show wear first, and it helps to be gentle while the paint fully cures, which can take a couple of weeks even after it feels dry.
