Painting for Kitchen Cabinets

It would be truly remiss if we didn’t devote a blog to painting cabinets.  Cabinets can be painted if they were previously painted, or if they currently have a wood finish and the homeowner is looking for a change. Because of the expense of remodeling, cabinet painting is one of the most economical means of making a significant change to the kitchen.

Color choices

A homeowner should strive to balance the color and style of the kitchen, the countertops, floors, walls, and appliances when choosing a color scheme for the cabinets.  The paint can have a matte or glossy finish. White is still a favorite and creams, and greys are sweet neutral finishes. Earthtones such as tan, rust, and browns will blend in, too. All shades of blue are fashionable and timeless. 

But bright colors are coming back into play again, too, including purples, orange, greens, and yellows. If you want to go retro, try choosing something vibrant such as neon colors or a bright red.  

There are other things which can help guide your choice of paint colors.  Smaller kitchens look bigger with lighter colors, but black can be stunning.  If you have children or are a particularly prolific cook, consider that, as well.

Once the color choice and sheen is chosen, it becomes time to get down to the job of applying it. 

The prep process

Cabinets and drawers take quite a beating from splattered food, grease, and sticky fingers, so surface prep may include cleaning. All drawer pulls, handles, hinges and other hardware has to be removed. We often remove and transport the fronts of cabinets and drawers offsite to prepare and paint them in the shop. But, we keep meticulous track of which pieces go in each spot, so you can be assured that we will return each piece to its rightful place. 

We will mask and seal off the cabinet to protect the interior of the cabinet, as well as masking all counters, walls, appliances, trim, and floors.

Oak cabinets, will have a heavy wood grain, may require filling.

Each surface to be painted will need cleaning, sanding, and dust removal before the coats: then a prime coat will be applied followed by the color coat.

The painting options

Priming and painting may be  “Hand Brushed” or “Spray Applied Finish.” Two coats are the minimum amount, and there is a drying period between each layer so the paint can cure properly. We are meticulously careful to pay attention to this detail, as nothing will ruin the look of a kitchen more than having unsightly cabinets as the result of the top layer of paint damaging an undercoat. 

Finally, everything is returned to its rightful place, reassembled, and tightened. The amount of time required depends on the size of the kitchen, the type of preparation needed, the paint which is chosen, and other factors. We won't rush a job just to finish or skip on paint coats or details, because the only way to get the best possible results is to take the time to do it right. 

The Wood Doctor is the leader in wood restoration, refinishing and refacing in the Portland area. Call 503-560-5220 for a project consultation.