Repainting kitchen cabinets

Repainting your kitchen cabinets can be a very effective way of giving your kitchen a revitalising facelift. But just jumping on in with a paintbrush and a can of any old paint may not give you the best results. Any renovation job has dos and don'ts, and following some simple guidelines will ensure that you get the finish you want to achieve to create the fresh new feel that you want in the kitchen.

Repainting kitchen cabinets: Tips

Here are some hints to make repainting your kitchen cabinets successful:

• Prepare your kitchen in advance by removing any unnecessary furniture (such as a dining table) and objects like food processors or decorations
• Remove all door hinges, catches and handles from the cabinet doors
• Pull out the drawers and paint them separately
• Clean the surfaces thoroughly to remove all grease and dirt
• Repair any dents or deep scratches with putty. And smooth the surface before allowing to dry
• If replacing the hardware, ensure that the holes for screws fit the old ones. If not, or if the holes have become slack, fill the old holes too
• Sand the entire surface if the paint needs removing. Paint that is in very good condition and that is clean can be simply painted over
• Paint the insides of the cabinets and the backs of doors first
• Use a standard paint roller to paint the fronts of the doors to ensure that they are painted evenly
• Gloss paints work well on kitchen cabinets - it is hardwearing and easy to clean

Painting kitchen cabinets: Don'ts

Avoiding these mistakes will make you repainting job easier and more successful:

• Don't try to make the job faster by laving the hardware on and painting around it. The result will be messy, with uneven brush strokes and a poor finish, and the job itself will take longer as it will be more fiddly
• Never paint over a dirty surface. Cleaning takes time and preparation, but a dirty surface repels paint and creates a lumpy messy surface
• Don't use cheap matte paint that will be difficult to clean and look less than perfect in your kitchen
• Don't rush into the job. Plan it so that you will have plenty of time and space to complete preparation, cleaning, painting and re-hanging of doors

Painting your kitchen cabinets can give them a new lease of life, so tackle the project properly and ensure the best results.

Repainting your kitchen cabinets

Repainting your kitchen cabinets is an excellent way to ensure that the kitchen looks fresh and clean again, or to give it a whole new look. Follow the dos and don't above to ensure that the job progresses smoothly with the least interruption to your household, and that the finished work is attractive and will last.