(Family Features) If your kitchen needs updating but new cabinets are out of your budget’s reach, consider a makeover for the cupboards you already have. A fresh coat of paint is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to transform a tired, outdated kitchen.
Wooden cabinets with minimal architectural detail (raised panels, routing, etc.) are the easiest styles to repaint, but that’s not to say other materials and styles can’t be done. You just need to plan for the added complexity and time.
These steps can help you create a looks-like-new kitchen on your own:
- Remove the cabinet doors and hardware, including all knobs and pulls. Unscrew hinges from the cabinet side, leaving them intact with the doors. Using a piece of painter’s tape, label each door and its corresponding location, as well as a plastic bag of related hardware, so everything can be easily reassembled.
- Years of cooking residue needs to be cleaned away to ensure you have a fresh surface for new paint. Scrub thoroughly but avoid soaking cabinets then allow to dry completely.
- Sand doors and cabinets to ensure a stronger base for paint to adhere to. If you’re only painting the exterior, there’s no need to sand inside the cabinets. Just tape off the interior to avoid unnecessary work and unsightly scuffs. Aim for a consistent look across all surfaces, giving special attention to any areas the prior finish is especially rough or shiny. If you have to sand away the old finish entirely, fade those areas into the remaining finish to prevent obvious demarcation. Use a cloth and vacuum to remove dust.
- Apply primer-sealer to all surfaces and allow to dry completely.
- Paint the cabinets first, paying extra attention to avoid drips and smudges in visible areas. Then paint doors and drawers, avoiding pooling of excess paint around corners and other architectural details. Use care to prevent visible brushstrokes by applying thin coats.
- Once the first coat is dry, lightly sand and wipe away dust with a cloth.
- Apply the final coat of paint and allow all surfaces to dry thoroughly before rehanging doors.
Accent your freshly painted cabinets with updated wall paint or window treatments to create an entirely new feel for a fraction of the cost of all new cabinetry.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
