How to Paint a Kitchen
A beautiful kitchen helps make the house a much better home. In fact, having a nice kitchen actually encourages some people to cook their own meals, serving as a bonding activity amongst family members. As many people say, this room is the heart of the house.
So, if your kitchen looks dated, consider repainting it to keep it fresh and clean-looking. But be forewarned, this is not an easy task.
The truth is that professional painters say that the kitchen is one of the most challenging rooms to paint as it contains the most cabinets. It is also the area which accumulates the most dirt, grease and grime.
If you’re planning to paint your kitchen, here are some tips that can help make this task more manageable and less worrisome.
Clean All Visible Areas
The walls and the cabinet doors are the most exposed areas in the kitchen. Depending on how much you use your kitchen, it is highly likely that they have accumulated a lot of grease and grime over the years.
So, the first thing you should do is clean all the visible areas and remove the grease, grime, and dirt. You may use sugar soap or a strong detergent for cleaning. Ensure that you rinse everything with water and let them dry.
Prep the Walls and Cabinets for Painting
It is recommended that you sand the walls and the kitchen cabinet doors before applying the paint to ensure it lasts long.
Painting over old paint would not result in a smooth and durable finish. Initially, it may seem that the new coat of paint masked the chipped or cracked old paint. However, these flaws are going to become visible in just a short span of time. Eventually, the new coat of paint is also going to show signs of damages earlier than expected.
Don’t forget to detach the kitchen cabinet doors, so it would be easier to sand and paint. Set aside the hinges and handles of the doors and label them so none of them would get lost.
After sanding, wipe the sanded areas using a tack cloth to rid the surface of dust and dirt. Check the walls for any dents or uneven areas and apply caulk if you find any.
Cover the Exposed Areas
The final step in the prep stage is to cover all parts of the room that won’t be painted yet. It is recommended to start painting from the top of the room going down. So, if the project includes the kitchen ceiling, this is the part that gets painted first followed by the cabinets and the walls.
Use a plastic sheet or film to prevent paint drips from ending up on areas like countertops, appliances tiles, sink and floor. Meanwhile, put masking or painter’s tape before painting the walls.
Prime and Paint
After you are done with covering and masking, it’s time to apply the primer. You may put one or two layers of primer. The primer serves as a good foundation for your paint. It plays an integral role in ensuring that your paint adheres well to the surface and lasts long.
It is recommended that you use a roller to paint walls and other large areas. When you are finished with the large areas, switch to a brush when you work on the smaller areas and the edges. Using a brush is better as you would have more control which would prevent mistakes.
Once you are done applying the first coat, let the paint dry according to the manufacturer’s instruction. While waiting, you may work on the kitchen cabinet doors.
Since you are already done with sanding and caulking them, you can proceed with applying a primer on the cabinet doors followed by the paint.
For the handles and hinges of your kitchen cabinet doors, if they are made of metal then you can use metal polish to make them look brand new. You can also opt to repaint them.
Once the walls are dry, you can now paint the trim. The first thing you should do is put masking tape on the walls right next to it. Then, you can start painting on the trim. It is recommended that you use a paintbrush for this to minimise any errors as the trim is small and needs your full focus and control.
Finish up by removing the plastic covers and reattaching the kitchen cabinet doors with their handles and hinges. Remove all the masking tape attached on the walls, too.
Do you want to give your kitchen an upgraded look? Repaint the walls with the help of our experienced residential painters! Call us today on 086 608 1817 / 085 139 0233 to learn more about our painting services.
