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When you’re remodeling or renovating your kitchen, you’ll eventually get to the cabinets. Should you paint them, replace them or refurbish them? It’s definitely a difficult question to answer for many homeowners and renovators. Each option has its ups and downs, but we’re here to help!
When to Replace
Sometimes, you’ll need to do more than just paint your cabinets. When your cabinets are missing shelves, warped or are older than 15 years, you might want to consider replacing your cabinets. Using wholesale kitchen cabinets can help you stay on budget but still have great, quality cabinets installed in your kitchen.
You can also replace cabinet doors. If you’re really looking to add a fresh, new look to your renovated kitchen, adding new cabinet doors is a great way to accomplish this. A quick internet search will provide countless results for companies that specialize in custom sized doors to fit your existing cabinets.
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When and How to Paint Your Cabinets
If your existing cabinets are still in great shape, you can choose to paint them. There are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind as you paint your cabinets. Here are some tips and tricks to knowing when and how to paint your cabinets.
Think about what material your cabinets are. Wood is the best cabinet material to paint. If you have cabinets made of another material, such as laminates, they won’t hold onto the paint as well. If your current cabinets are stained or glossed, you’ll have to sand them down prior to painting. That way, the paint will adhere to the cabinets.
Remove all food prior to painting. Make sure you have somewhere in your home to store your food while you paint your cabinets. You might also want to temporarily move your other appliances to another space while you paint your cabinets. You don’t want to get paint on your stainless steel appliances.
Label your doors and shelves. The parts of your cabinets that will need to be removed as you paint them will need to be labeled. The worst thing is trying to put on cabinet doors that don’t go where they belong. It takes much longer, and it turns the process into a hassle that you will quickly get tired of. Avoid any headaches by labeling your cabinets.
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Avoid the roller brush. In order to get the best paint coverage, a two-inch fine bristle paint brush is the ideal tool to use. It can get all those hard-to-reach corners and details that a roller brush can’t. Plus, you have less chance of accidentally painting an area you shouldn’t (like appliances if you choose not to move them) if you use a bristle brush instead of a roller.
Use gloss or satin paint. You want to use a paint that’s easy to clean. Since these cabinets are in your kitchen, it’s more likely they’ll get dirty. Whether it’s food from all your cooking adventures or dirt from when the dog shakes off after coming in through the doggie door, your kitchen cabinets need to be covered in a durable finish that will keep them nice and clean for years. That’s why it’s important to use paints with a hardy finish. You can talk with the specialist at the paint store about what’s best for your cabinets, as well.
Go bold. If you’re feeling adventurous, choose a bold, bright color for your cabinets. Whether it’s mustard yellow, cherry red or even electric purple, you can go bold with your cabinet color. Introducing a bright cabinet to your kitchen can really give the space its own story and life – different from any of the other rooms in your home.
Paint the inside of the cabinets. If you have open cabinets or cabinets with glass fronts, you’ll want to paint the inside of the cabinets. You could even paint the insides a different color than the glass doors or the bases of the other cabinets. Your glass cabinets show off the contents inside, but they also show off your cabinet shelves. Make sure they’re painted so they look cohesive with the others.
Your kitchen cabinets are one of the major statements in your kitchen. When you’re renovating your kitchen, consider painting your cabinets. If they’re still in good enough condition and don’t need to be replaced, painting them can be an easy, budget-friendly way to keep your kitchen looking fresh. That being said, it’s important to recognize when it’s time to replace your kitchen cabinets with new ones.
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