Should You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the most popular ways to update a kitchen without a full remodel. Done well, it can make a dated kitchen look new for a fraction of the cost of replacing cabinets. Done poorly, it can chip, peel, and look worse than before.

When Painting Makes Sense

Cabinet painting is a great option when:

• The cabinet boxes are solid and in good structural condition
• You like the layout and don't need to move appliances or plumbing
• The style works with paint, such as shaker or simple raised panel doors
• The finish is dated, like orange oak or worn stain

When Replacement May Be Better

• Cabinet boxes are water-damaged, sagging, or falling apart
• Doors are peeling thermofoil or laminate that can't be properly painted
• You're changing the kitchen layout
• You want a door style that's completely different from what you have

Cost Compared With Replacement

Professional cabinet painting typically costs a fraction of new cabinets. It also avoids the downtime of tearing out cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes. That makes it one of the highest-impact updates for the money.

What Professional Cabinet Painting Involves

Cabinet painting isn't like painting walls. A quality process usually includes:

• Removing doors, drawers, and hardware and labeling everything
• Thorough degreasing to remove cooking residue
• Sanding to dull the old finish
• Filling grain or holes where needed
• Applying a bonding primer designed for cabinets
• Applying multiple coats of a durable cabinet enamel, often sprayed for a smooth finish
• Reinstalling doors and hardware once the finish has hardened

What to Expect

The kitchen may be partially usable during the project. Doors and drawers are often painted off-site or in a separate area. Afterward, the finish needs time to fully cure, so gentle use for the first few weeks helps it last.

Grain Shows Through

Oak and other open-grain woods will show their texture through paint unless the grain is filled. If you want a perfectly smooth look, ask about grain filling.

The STRIPES Takeaway

If your cabinets are structurally sound and your layout works, painting them can transform your kitchen at a much lower cost than replacement. The key is a thorough, cabinet-specific process with the right primer and enamel.

Planning an Interior Painting Project in Atlanta?

STRIPES PAINTING CO. paints interiors throughout the Atlanta area, from single rooms to whole homes and kitchen cabinets. Contact us to schedule a free estimate.

STRIPES PAINTING CO. - Built on Detail.