Update Your Space: How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Painting or wallpapering the walls of any home can be tricky, messy and tiring. As such, you may have never even considered applying the treatment to cabinets, drawers or tabletops around your home. Furthermore, your home - especially your kitchen - might need an update, but you might worry about redecorating on your own. Thankfully, this year has been hallmarked by do-it-yourself interiors and decor trends - one of which has outlined how to paint kitchen cabinets.

Bold colors, references to nature and exciting textures have all found their way into lists of 2020 interior trends. Happily, each design trend is more accessible than the last. An easy way to capture all three trends is to wallpaper or paint kitchen cabinets in your home. It might sound complicated - or better left to a professional - but you can also paint kitchen cabinets and other surfaces in your home. Follow below for more information on updating your space with painted or wallpapered modern kitchen cabinets!

What Color to Paint Kitchen Cabinets: Making the Most of 2020 Interiors Trends

Bold Monochromatics

One of the most popular and easiest to achieve interiors trends of 2020 is the “Bold Monochromatics” trend. This trend allows interior designers and amateur decorators alike to create stunning, rich interiors without too much effort. Interviewed by Tonelli and Carter, Jonathan Rachman of Decorist endorses the trend. Rachman recommends choosing colors like “Cobalt Blue, Kelly Green or even Aubergine.” He explains that each can be used to “evoke monochromatic in a daring way that’s full of personality and elegance. Add elegance and personality to your kitchen cabinets with a wallpaper or paint in a deep emerald or rich hunter green shade.

Dark Kitchen Cabinet Doors

According to Courtney Hill Fertitta in an interview for Elle Decor, dark painted doors are taking the place of pale neutrals this year. Courtney Hill Fertitta, founder of design studio Courtney Hill Interiors, recommends using the trend to add warmth to your kitchen. Fertitta explains that “painting an interior door in a rich color adds...character to the space.” She recommends pairing a rich brown, gray, or other color with “great hardware” in order to “provide an artistic element for the room.” Fertitta thoroughly endorses the trend because the color's personality "can be as fun as the stories of the people” who walk into your kitchen!

Try not to limit yourself - or your kitchen cabinets - to typical kitchen colors like yellow and beige. Paint kitchen cabinets a warm dark brown like “Coffee Date” by Clare. The interior paint supplier describes the rich tone as full of character “like a bold, complex dark roast.” The site ensures that “this rich brown is a color that will spark a conversation.” For a bold but calming color and a bit of textural interest, consider a wallpaper instead of paint.

Navy as a Neutral - and Every Shade of Blue

Ashley Knierim of The Spruce endorses navy in her article “Interior Design and Decor Trends to Expect in 2020." Knierim notes that the use of navy “has been slowly creeping up on us, but has finally arrived with a bang.” Quoting Mary Maydan - the founder of Maydan Architects - Knierem adds that navy “is starting to replace neutrals like gray and beige in residential spaces.” Navy has added to existing trends like dark-painted doors and bold monochromatic designs, both significant in 2020. Furthermore, Sherwin Williams recently named “Naval SW 6244” as their 2020 Color of the Year. The company chose “Naval” because of its simultaneously calming and emboldening tone. Interestingly, blue has been studied frequently by color theorists and color psychologists for its calming but invigorating effects on mood. Navy can make people feel both more serene and more creative, making it the perfect shade in which to paint kitchen cabinets.

According to Knierim, decorators cannot really go wrong with any shade of blue this year. From the baby blue of Grandmillenial style to dazzling shades of sapphire, blue is everywhere in 2020 interiors. Knierim explains that “blue has always been a go-to paint color,” but its applications - e.g. in nurseries and bedrooms - have become a bit tired. Knierim recommends using shades of blue “in textiles, wallpaper, or even large furniture pieces for a splash of color." She notes that blue is versatile and is "peaceful in nearly any shade.” Anyone can achieve the look by wallpapering the shelves or painting the exteriors of their kitchen cabinets in a stunning, unexpected shade of blue.

Materials Trends: Metallics and Natural Wood

Metallics

According to the article "Top 15 Interior Design Trends for 2020" by COLLECTED Interior Design, metallics are a major trend for the rest of the year. This trend is expected to become even more beloved as we move into the Fall and Winter seasons. While the article predicts "tin panels to be a popular backsplash option for kitchens," the material can also work perfectly on kitchen cabinet doors. Mixed metals are also predicted to be popular. The site notes that "silver and brown metals will work well together - like iron and gold or bronze." Get the look of the fabulous brushed silver-effect cabinet pictured above by trying any of the three wallpapers shown below. Wallpaper can easily be applied to cabinet surfaces like contact paper, and can be removed and replaced whenever desired for a fresh new look!

Natural Wood

According to Jade Bloomfield in her article "Wood Trends 2021: The Beauty of Natural Wood Furniture" for LuxDeco, "wood trends are a constant for our interiors." However, pale, unfinished wood that honors the natural grain of the material has recently emerged as a coveted style. Bloomfield explains that "after years of painted, cerused and high gloss woods, natural wood has well and truly made its way back onto the design world's mood board."

Excitingly, kitchen cabinets appear to be one of the major furnishings experiencing the trend in full force. Bloomfield uses that "if interiors magazines and Instagram are anything to go by, natural timber kitchen cabinetry" might eclipse traditional styles. Get the organic look of the two cabinets pictured above by using a faux wood contact paper.

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Yourself

What You'll Need

To safely wallpaper or paint kitchen cabinets yourself, you will need the basics - wallpaper or house paint and a surface to paint on. You can paint the interior or exterior of the cabinet doors, or you can paint or wallpaper the shelves. Contact paper is another great material to use instead of paint or wallpaper, as it is pre-lined with a peel-and-stick adhesive. In addition, you will also need paint brushes in various sizes. You might also want to purchase painter's tape if painting the cabinets and a smoothing tool if applying wallpaper. For your safety, consider a ladder or step stool, gloves, and a solvent mask if sensitive to paint or adhesive fumes. HGTV recommends including "fine-grit sandpaper, a sanding block, tack cloth, steel wool, a paint applicator, primer sealer, and denatured alcohol" in your list.

Consider picking up a few additional items if you are hoping to create a more complicated effect or simply clean up your planned design. For instance, cosmetic sponges can be used to dab paint and create an ombre pattern. Stickers in exciting shapes - chevron stripes, polka dots, geometric shapes or organic forms - can be placed on cabinet doors and painted over. When the stickers are peeled back, they reveal a unique pattern. Lastly, grab a few swab sticks while at the pharmacy or grocery store. Swabs can be used to quickly and carefully wipe away any wayward drops of paint or adhesive. You might also want a protractor or ruler if creating a geometric pattern. This can be achieved either with different colors of paint or a mix of paint and wallpaper.

Where to Buy the Materials

You can find a smoothing tool for applying wallpaper without bubbles or bumps at any home improvement store. The Roman Wallpaper Smoothing Tool from Home Depot is a great inexpensive option. The tool has only five-star reviews on the company's website and costs less than $10 to purchase. You can purchase everything else you will need at any home improvement store like Lowes, the Home Depot or Ace Hardware.

What Kind of Paint to Use on Kitchen Cabinets

According to Erica Puisis in her article "The Best Type of Paint for Kitchen Cabinets", semi-gloss or gloss finish paints are typically best. This is because "a paint with some sheen will help reflect light and be more durable in the long run, which is important in the kitchen environment." Above all, Puisis notes, "avoid painting kitchen cabinets with an eggshell or flat finish paint." Puisis warns against flat finish paints because they "aren’t as washable as semi-gloss or gloss finishes." If you choose a flat finish paint, "you run the risk of rubbing through your paint job the next time you need to scrub your cabinet doors."

Semi-gloss is preferable for painting kitchen cabinets because "more resin and binders are used in formulating semi-gloss and glossy paint." This formulation gives "the paint more durability." If you are trying to decide between acrylic latex or oil-based paint for your kitchen cabinets, Puisis has an answer for that too. She recommends "latex paint as the best for cabinets." This is because "it offers lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is quicker to dry."

The Process

In their article "Best Way to Paint Kitchen Cabinets," HTGV lines out the process for painting kitchen cabinets on your own. The article first recommends that the homeowner or decorator determines exactly which kinds of materials they will be working with. This is because "wood, wood-laminate, and metal cabinets usually can be repainted without difficulty." However, the site explains, "plastic laminate cabinets might not accept a topcoat of paint. This is because laminate cabinets are slick and "often require special paints and techniques" to unpredictable results. You should also assess the condition and decorative elements of each cabinet to determine how difficult the repaint will be. HGTV explains that it might be better to purchase new doors in some cases. This is especially necessary "if the woodwork is warped, badly worn or damaged, or coming apart at the glued joints." After this stage, you should prepare a workspace and get ready to take the doors and hardware off each cabinet.

The second stage of repainting your kitchen cabinet doors will involve removing all doors. This makes the painting process easier, but reassembling your cabinets can be a bit complicated. To avoid complications, HGTV recommends using "masking tape to label each door with a number and its corresponding location as you remove them." If you cannot remember which door goes to each cabinet, the site warns that they might not line up when reinstalled. The third step in this process is to clean all surfaces and sand down wooden doors. Sanding encourages the new paint to grab onto old wood, forming a solid adhesion.

The fourth step is to finish prepping for painting. You should apply a primer-sealer to each surface you plan to paint. According to HGTV, a primer-sealer will accomplish three important elements of repainting surfaces. Firstly, it will "ensure a well-bonded finish coat." Secondly, it will "the need to sand and deglaze old finishes before repainting." Thirdly, a primer-sealer will provide "a good base for semigloss, water-based paint."

The fifth step is applying the paint to your cabinet doors. HGTV recommends starting with the inside edges and ending with the "cabinet doors and drawer fronts." Of course, you might only be painting part of your cabinets - the doors alone or the shelves alone. In this case, there is no real order to follow. HGTV recommends painting in "thin, light coats" because they "leave fewer visible brushstrokes and dry more quickly." After painting one layer, you should allow the paint to dry for a few hours before painting the next layer. For a quick how-to video - just over a minute long - watch "How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets" by HGTV on YouTube.

How to Refinish/Stain Kitchen Cabinets

The process to refinish or stain kitchen cabinets is very similar to that involved in repainting them. In her article "How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets to Make Them Look Brand New" for House Beautiful, Kelly Dawson explains how to make the most of your old cabinets by refinishing them yourself. Before getting started, it is important to remember that refinishing kitchen cabinets is typically best left to professional painters and home renovators. However, Dawson offers, "experienced DIYers can take it on with the proper tools, an adequate timeline, and enough research." The first step in refinishing kitchen cabinets is to allot enough time for the project. Dawson explains that "refinishing kitchen cabinets can take anywhere from four to eight weekends, or between 60 and 130 hours." The next set of steps are very similar to those listed above in the "How to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets" section of this article.

First, you will need to clean all surfaces you plan to paint on. Secondly, you will need to protect your clothes and the rest of your kitchen from paint splatter. You can do this by wearing a smock yourself and either moving furniture away from your painting area or covering it in plastic sheets. Thirdly, Dawson recommends soaking the hardware of your cabinets. This will help your cabinets look as clean as possible after they have been painted and reassembled. Next, you will need to strip the cabinets of their previous paint layers. Dawson recommends conducting this step outdoors, as you might have to use solvents to remove wax or shellac finishes. Lastly, sand, apply your stain, and add a layer of "paste wax on cabinets that you finished using penetrating oils." This will protect the stain and deepen its visual effect.

How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets

The best way to organize your kitchen cabinets is to separate types of items. Spices should be separated from canned foods in the pantry, for instance. Glasses and mugs should be stored separately from plates and bowls. Consider making the most of your kitchen cabinet space by adding racks to the interior or exterior of each cabinet door. Consider purchasing the spice rack pictured above, which can be hung over any cabinet door. It can also store more than spices - always place small jars of jam or store flatware vertically. You can also incorporate additional modern kitchen storage by including a contemporary wine rack like the one pictured above. For drawers, consider metal drawer organizer racks. These are thin enough to take up very little space but strong enough to separate items effectively. Drawer organizer racks can also be used in cabinets and are perfect for cabinets that are not wide enough to store serving plates or casserole dishes horizontally.

One way to get around having organized kitchen cabinets - which we know can be impossible to keep - is to spray glass cabinet doors. Luckily, "Open Shelving" is out as a trend for 2020 interiors. According to Tonelli and Carter in an interview with Bailey Austin of Bailey Austin Design, "open shelving is out because practical is in." Austin explains that "people don't want to spend all their time accessorizing and want to keep their kitchens tidy." So, if you cannot find the time to keep your kitchen cabinets organized, never fear!

How to Further Accent Kitchen Cabinets

Swap out hardware

Remove heavy, outdated hardware from your kitchen cabinets. Interviewed by Tonelli and Carter, Karen Williams of St Charles New York recommends getting rid of “old style handles used on cabinetry." Williams suggests replacing these old-fashioned pieces with “streamlined, integrated hardware.” If you are not a fan of high-design modern aesthetics, consider adding antique or vintage pulls to your cabinets. According to Tonelli and Carter, layering the old with the new is a huge trend this year. It also has the capacity to easily transition from season to season. Layering contemporary and antique pieces will not go out of style when the trend is no longer top of mind.

Lauren Buxbaum Gordon of Nate Berkus Associates - the first partner in the firm’s history - recommends mixing and matching. Quoted in Elle Decor, Buxbaum endorses “getting comfortable mixing and matching old and new.” It can really take the design of your home “to the next level,” Buxbaum promises.

How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost?

According to Home Advisor in their article "2023 Average Cost of Kitchen Cabinets," kitchen cabinet prices range widely. They can cost anywhere from "$100 to $1,200 per linear foot." The article lists the national average cost to install or replace kitchen cabinets at $5,034. This sits in The middle of the typical range, which is between $1,841 and $8,393.00. While you can find kitchen cabinets on the low end for only $245, higher-end pieces can amount to $19,000.00. The cost to repair kitchen cabinets is significantly less, however, with the national average around $300. The cost to have kitchen cabinets professionally refinished is - on average - $2,384, a huge difference from what it costs to DIY.

Best Kitchen Cabinets for the Money

Kitchen Wall Cabinets: KNOXHULT, Corner kitchen cabinets, gray from Ikea

According to the Consumer Reports' brief "Kitchen Cabinet Buying Guide," buying new kitchen cabinets can cost homeowners an enormous amount of money. The guide notes that "selecting new cabinets...may account for as much as 40 percent of your kitchen renovation budget."According to Consumer Reports, the best way to find the right kitchen cabinets for your home is to research extensively ahead of time. The site recommends researching "manufacturer and retail websites" and taking "a good look at store displays" before buying new kitchen cabinets online.

Apparently, shoppers will "be able to tell the quality cabinets from the polished pretenders once you know where to look." For the least expensive cabinets, Consumer Reports suggests going to big box retailers rather than pursuing custom-builds. You can find durable home furniture online - including cabinets - through 1StopBedrooms. Stock cabinets - those that are either sold as a fully assembled unit or require home assembly - will be cheapest. However, "semi-custom cabinets offer more style options and configurations, allowing a more precise fit for your kitchen." To save the most money, the site recommends "revitalizing your old cabinets" by either repainting, restaining, or resurfacing them. Even applying brand new veneers to your cabinet doors should only cost "about $150 per cabinet."