Fresh Look, Low Cost: Repainting Your Kitchen Cabinets

November 20, 2008

Buying new kitchen cabinets can put a huge dent in your pocketbook. Fortunately, there are other ways to give your cabinets a makeover. A careful repainting job, for example, can jazz up your kitchen's cabinets without breaking the bank. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time for your project: depending on your skill with a paintbrush, your kitchen cabinet makeover might take at least two weeks. Here are some tips to get you started.

Prepare Your Kitchen

First of all, make sure to clean your counters, clear your cabinets, and remove any portable appliances. Also, wrap your counters, floors, windows, and appliances with rosin paper and plastic sheeting. Anything else that could be splattered with paint should also be covered up or moved.

Clean and Sand Your Kitchen Cabinets

Before painting, remove all knobs, handles, and metal decorations from your cabinets' doors and drawers. Wash the insides and outsides of your cabinets with warm, soapy water--grease buildup or dried food particles can spoil your paintjob. Next, sand your cabinets and spackle any gaping holes. You should be ready to paint.

Quick Painting Tricks

The following tips can help:

Use a paint that matches your kitchen cabinets' wood grain. If you need help tracking down the right paint, ask a hardware store professional.

Apply primer before painting.

Start painting on the inside of your cabinets and slowly move outward. That way, you can avoid smearing wet paint on your arms.

Use long, careful brushstrokes.

Don't forget that repainting works best on kitchen cabinets with solid, well-preserved doors. If your cabinets' doors are rotting or otherwise damaged, you may need more than a quick kitchen cabinet makeover. Check out home and garden shows for possibilities in new kitchen cabinets.