Should You Paint Kitchen Cabinets?

Painting is a great way to make your home unique and keep up with current design trends. Whether you’ve considered it or not, painting kitchen cabinets may be an option.

Painting kitchen cabinets doesn’t matter. The wood is already protected against oil vapors, so painting on the inside is not necessary. It can also be difficult, but it can give a visually stimulating touch to a boring kitchen.

If you want to remodel your kitchen, painting the cabinets is an easy option. However, painting the inside of kitchen cabinets can be more complicated. Read on to find out why you should or shouldn’t paint kitchen cabinets.

Why You Should Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets can be an easy way to spruce up your kitchen. You can add a pop of color or reduce the contrast between your cabinets and cabinet doors. If you want to paint kitchen cabinets, you can be sure.

Here are some reasons why you should paint your kitchen cabinets.

Match the Cabinet Doors

A good reason to paint your cabinets is if you’re also painting the cabinet doors. You can match the interior to the doors to give your kitchen a more cohesive look. This can look more refined, and you won’t have to worry about it looking weird when you open the cabinets.

Matching can also be useful if you have windows in your cabinet doors. You can see the interior color without opening the cabinet, so you may not want to show the wood color.

Add Contrast

If you don’t like the idea of matching your cabinet doors and the interior, you can paint the interior with a different color. Sure, you could leave the wood inside, but that may not look good no matter what door color you use.

Consider using a complementary color or a different shade of the same color to contrast the cabinet doors. That way, you can still have a stylish kitchen but don’t have to use the same shade for all your cabinets.

Because You Want To

Don’t forget, you can do whatever you want with your kitchen. Assuming you own your home, you can make upgrades and changes that match your style. If you’re tired of the current look of your cabinets, consider painting the interior.

Although it can be complicated, it can be a budget-friendly upgrade. You don’t have to buy new cabinets and can complete the paint job in a few days. Then you can enjoy your “new” kitchen without replacing everything in it.

Why You Shouldn’t Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Painting your kitchen cabinets can be a good choice, but not everyone will want to do it. If you’re not sure if it’s the right option, consider why you want to leave your cabinets as they are.

Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t paint your kitchen cabinets:

Difficult to Do

Consider the shape and size of your cabinets. If they’re small and long or the cabinet is short, it can be challenging to reach everywhere. You’ll have to get the paint in all the corners, and you’ll have to paint the top, bottom, and sides of the cabinets.

Painting inside your cabinets can be difficult, and you may not get a sufficiently thick coat in all areas. If you don’t have much experience with painting, you might want to stop at painting the cabinet doors.

Likelihood of Chipping Paint

When the paint dries and starts to chip, it can fall onto or inside your kitchen utensils. The paint can get into your bowls or onto your silverware and even dirty your things. If you don’t properly paint the interior of your cabinets, there’s a higher chance of these issues occurring.

You may need to add a sealant to encapsulate the paint so it doesn’t chip. But that can take even more time and prevent you from using your kitchen for longer. And if you don’t use enough sealant, it may not solve the problem.

Uses More Paint

If you want to paint the inside of your kitchen cabinets, you’ll need to use more paint than if you were just painting the cabinet doors. You’ll not only need more paint now, but you’ll need more paint if you decide to redesign your cabinets in the future.

You may also want to have more paint on hand to fix areas where the paint chips. Painting the interior of your cabinets could increase the cost of renovating your kitchen, and it may not be worth it unless your cabinets have windows through which you can see all the time.

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

If you decide to paint the interior of your kitchen cabinets, you’ll need to take the right steps before and during the process. It can take a lot of time to prepare your cabinets for painting, and your kitchen may be out of service for a few days.

Here are the steps you can follow to make the most of your time when painting the interior of your cabinets:

1. Clean up your kitchen. First, you’ll need to remove everything you store in the cabinets you’re going to paint. Put the items in another room so you don’t accidentally get paint on them. You should also clear out everything in nearby cabinets to store those items safely. And open all the windows in your kitchen to prevent the paint smell from accumulating in the room.
2. Cover the countertops. Use something like plastic wrap or a tarp to protect your countertops from paint splatters. Cover everything from your stove to your sink to the backsplash tiles. This way, you won’t have to worry about removing paint from things you can’t remove from your kitchen.
3. Remove the doors. Removing the doors makes it easier to paint them, and you can position them outside for more ventilation while you paint. Taking the door off the hinge will also make it easier to access the cabinet since you or your arm won’t be blocked by a door.
4. Clean everything. Next, take the time to clean the interior of each of the cabinets you’re going to paint. Make sure you remove any signs of dust, and you can take this opportunity to ensure that the cabinets are empty. You never know when you might miss something small at the back of a cabinet top.
5. Use a primer. Look for a primer that matches well with your cabinet wood. Tight-grained woods like cherry and maple can handle oil-based primers. However, you should look for water-based primers if your cabinets are made of oak, ash, or other open-pore woods. Once you’ve chosen your primer, paint a layer of it on the entire interior of your cabinets.
6. Sand and seal. Once the primer is dry, use 220-grit sandpaper to sand the smooth parts of the cabinets. This will help smooth the cabinets even more and make them easier to paint. If you have any cracks, you should also seal them with latex. Let those areas dry before sanding them.
7. Paint the cabinets. Finally, it’s time to paint the interior of your cabinets. Make sure you reach all the corners along the back and sides and that you cover the top and bottom with paint. Bring your paint and brush into the room with the cabinet doors and paint those. Consider adding a sealant to encapsulate the paint, and then let everything dry before reattaching the cabinet doors.

Final Thoughts

Painting cabinets can be difficult and time-consuming. Consider how you want your cabinets to look and whether it’s worth the time and effort. Then, you can design your kitchen to your liking to match your style.