Are you thinking about transforming your kitchen? The idea of painting kitchen cabinets with white is exciting. It brings a peaceful charm and refreshing brightness to any kitchen. Painting kitchen cabinets is a significant decor project that requires careful consideration.
So, before painting your kitchen cabinets, you need to ask yourself some questions. It will help you make better decisions. That is why we have compiled 15 important questions that you should consider before you take up this task.
Asking yourself these questions will provide valuable insights. It will help you make an informed decision about painting your white cabinet kitchens. Conscious thoughts and planning are necessary to achieve the kitchen of your dreams.
Considerations Before Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets White
- No one can deny the beauty of white kitchen cabinets. They are trending in the world of decor. But before you get white cabinets for your kitchen, you need to consider your personal style and preferences. Does the clean and classic look of the white cabinets resonate with you? Will they match your kitchen’s overall aesthetic and complement your home’s decor? To answer these questions, it is crucial to assess your style preferences and existing color palette. This will help determine if the cabinets are the right fit.
- You also need to check the condition of your cabinets. You need to evaluate if their structure needs any repairs or not. Depending on their condition, you can decide if they only need painting or refinishing or a replacement altogether.
- The most important factor that you should consider is budget. You must have an amount in mind that you are willing to invest in this project. Depending on your budget, you can consider hiring professional help. In case your budget is low, you can also take up the painting process yourself. Understanding your budget will help you define the project’s scope and any necessary compromises.
To help you make this decision, go through the questions enlisted below.
1. Why Should You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets?
This is the first question that you need to ask yourself. You know what difference a new coat of paint can make to a space or worn-out furniture. You might have fallen in love with the dark wood of your kitchen, and it still might be in good condition. But color trends change over time. You might be seeing white and light colors in the more modern home designs every day. This is because white inspires a fresh and bright environment. If you want to imitate this aesthetic, then painting cabinets can be a good money-saving option as it costs only a few hundred dollars.
2. What Types of Cabinets Do You Have?
One of the first steps while revamping cabinets is to discover what sort of cabinets you have. This will help you decide whether or not to paint your cabinets. This will also help you know what kind of preparation they might need. The following are some of the most typical cabinet materials:
- If you see any repeating patterns or seams around the edges of the doors of the cabinets, you can conclude that they are not made of solid wood. You have to sand solid wood only if it is unfinished or if its surface is extremely smooth.
- Doors that were previously waxed or varnished with Jolie Piants or any other paint products are complete. Generally, the cabinets that have already been completed don’t need to be sanded.
- If your cabinets have a flat appearance or plastic finish, they might be made of laminate or Melamine. Such cabinets require quick sanding and 48 hours to cure after the first layer of paint is applied.
- Thermofoil is frequently mistaken for laminate and melamine. A thin coating of vinyl is pressed onto the cabinet doors of thermofoil cabinets. Thermofoil often doesn’t accept paint over the long term; thus, it is not advised to paint it.
- If you have metal doors, we will advise you not to paint them with powder coated finish.
3. Which Type of White Will Suit Your Kitchen?
Ideally, your kitchen surface should be cohesive and complement one specific white. The whites in your kitchen should match each other and be of the same kind. It’s also crucial that their undertones complement one another. You can choose the perfect shade for your cabinets depending on the color of your kitchen countertop. If your countertop is white, you should choose clean white paint with little to no undertone. You should consider warm white paint colors for your cabinets if your white countertop has a tent of orange or red in it.
4. What is the Best Paint for My Cabinets?
When deciding on paint for your cabinets, it is essential to invest in good paint. This is an important factor to take into account as it determines the durability. There are specialized cabinet paints that offer a smooth surface. However, any high-quality paint should also work. Just make sure that the paint is acrylic and not vinyl. Paint with an acrylic latex base is long-lasting and simple to clean. Stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations to know the cure time of latex paint. Cure time is the period before the painted surface can tolerate daily use.
After painting, you will have to choose the type of finish you want, matte or glossy. A matte finish produces a low-gloss, flatter surface. On the other hand, a high gloss finish offers a high sheen and reflecting surface. If you want to achieve a look that is somewhere in between, you can go for a satin finish. You can find the detailed directions on the label of the paint can. While your cabinets will shine under a gloss finish, it can make dents and faults more visible. Besides, a flat finish can get challenging to clean. That is why kitchens frequently embrace semi-gloss or satin finish.
5. Should I Use Varnish or Finishing Wax as a Topcoat?
The answer to this question depends on personal choice. However, Finishing Wax can be the more convenient of the two options. It is excellent at concealing breaststrokes and other floors because of its matte appearance. It simply replaces any scratches or scuffs. Additionally, it comes in a range of colors that may be used to create a variety of finishes. On the other hand, Varnish can be a fantastic option if you want a little extra longitude or a great gloss.
6. Should I Try Tester Pots for The Right Color?
There are many variations of each shade of color available in the market. Therefore you might get indecisive while choosing the perfect color. You may think you have already chosen the base color as white. So choosing a shade of white won’t be difficult. But we assure you it won’t be easy either. Deciding to paint the cabinets white is half of the work done. Different shades of white might look the same from far away. But they may appear completely different when applied on various surfaces. Even the lighting has a huge impact on how paint appears on the wall or cabinet. To avoid any confusion, it is better to try tester pots on a small part of the get the best idea.
7. Do I Have All the Supplies I Need?
After starting the job, you might not want to waste your time going to the Home Centre to pick up supplies. So it is better to keep the required tools handy in advance. These tools include a Ladder, Painter’s tape, Drop cloths, a Drill or screwdriver, Sandpaper (of various grits), a shop vacuum, a degreasing agent, sponges, wood filler, putty knives, primer, paint, paint trays, liners, applicators (sprayer or brush and roller), etc.
According to the most recent paint tests conducted by Good Housekeeping, experts suggest Benjamin Moore’s Advance as the best paint for the kitchen. This paint is specially formulated for kitchen cabinets. It applies easily and smoothly and hardens to a furniture-grade gloss that can withstand even the busiest kitchens.
8. How Should I Plan My Prep Work?
The biggest error that you can make while undertaking any project is failing to know the requirements before starting. Painting kitchen cabinets might appear to be simple. However, it is a time-consuming DIY activity. Most cabinets require sanding the surface, followed by the application of wood filler to any gaps or uneven surfaces, and drying time. Use a moist towel or a lint-free tack cloth to wipe up all of the dust and debris after sanding. Uncleaned tiny particles might float into the paint and tarnish the cabinet’s smooth surface.
9. Can I Just Paint Over My Old Cabinets?
You should not take any shortcuts while renovating your cabinets. If you paint over your old cabinet, then they may get excessively thick. This will make the doors difficult to open and close. Also, if your old cabinets are not clean, their oil might ruin the freshly painted surface. So it is better to take out all the hardware. Unhinge the cabinet doors, sand and prime them, and then paint. This might seem like a lot of work to do, but it will be worth it. It’s normal for kitchen cabinets and drawers to be flat. So if you organize before starting the process, it will become simpler.
10. How Do I Sand the Surface?
Every surface should be gently sanded. The lacquer, varnish, or even a coat of prior paint can make the surface too smooth. The surface needs to be etched so that the paint can stick to it. It is common for DIY-painted cabinets to chip. Paints done by nonprofessionals can start peeling off if the surface is not sanded properly. Chipping is most likely to happen there if the area is not adequately prepared. So you need to keep in mind that you may sand cabinets between each and every layer of paint, not just the first one. Additionally, you should be sure to sand every corner and edges and crevices thoroughly.
You should sand the difficult portions, like cabinet door edges, manually. Otherwise, you can use an orbital sander, as advised by experts, to produce better and faster results. If the cabinets haven’t been painted or strained before, you should start with medium-grit sandpaper and then move to a finer one. You should consider stripping if it has an excessive amount of paint or a surface that is noticeably rough.
11. Is Rolling on Paint Better than Brushing?
Both rollers and brushes have different qualities. You should try to use them both for specific purposes. A brush can be effective for getting into small spaces, like the inside border of a traditional Shaker door. At the same time, you can use a foam roller while painting bigger uniform areas. This will speed up the procedure and make it easier to apply paint.
12. Do I Need to Remove Doors and Drawer Fronts?
You might have seen cabinets where the paints were slopped over the drawers’ inside and applied to hinges and hardware. As you start painting kitchen cabinets, it may seem convenient to leave the doors in place for painting. However, doing so will not result in a neat and polished outcome. Instead, you can use masking tape to cover the drawer sides and bottom if you don’t want to paint them.
13. How Do I Remember What Goes Where?
To paint the cabinets, you will have to take drawers out of their slots and cabinet doors off of their hinges. Then you’ll need to devise a method to remember where everything goes. Create a little schematic and mark each piece appropriately. This will help you reassemble each piece after they are dry. Additionally, you’ll need tape to cover hinges, fasteners, and edges properly. You’ll also need rosin paper or brown builder’s paper to cover the counters. Otherwise, it will add another unnecessary task of scrubbing the paint off the counter after you are done painting the cabinets.
14. How Much Will It Cost to Paint?
Taking up the task of painting is the least expensive way to transform into white kitchen cabinets. However, it is the most labor-intensive choice. You will spend less money but a lot more time if you do a DIY job. However, in DIY painting, you will have to invest in a range of supply tools and equipment. You should not attempt to refinish your kitchen cabinets if you don’t have the right equipment. You might have to redo all your hard work if you do so. The size of the kitchen and the type of paint used will also affect the budget for this kitchen transformation.
A DIY project will typically cost between $200 and $600. You need to keep in mind that painting is only a short-term solution. Depending on the quality of the job, you will have to again busy fresh paint and repaint the cabinets eventually. That is why we will advise you to give this task all the time it needs. With patience, you can get the best ROI.
15. How Should I Finish the Project?
After the painting is done, you will have to reassemble the hardware and cabinets. You can make sure the doors and drawers are placed in the right places with the help of labels. After you’ve finished painting your cabinets, you can upgrade them by putting a new backsplash or under cabinet lighting.
Summing It Up
All in all, by addressing these questions, you’ll be well-equipped to make informed decisions and achieve a successful transformation of your kitchen cabinets. With the right answers, you will be able to get the best results as well. It is evident from this article that it is not necessary to spend loads of money to give your kitchen a makeover.
Just remember to analyze the conditions of your old cabinets and make the necessary amendments.
Comment if you have any more questions. We will be happy to answer.
