Painting kitchen cupboards with finesse: how to upcycle wooden and laminate kitchen units

Hello! If you’re here and wondering about painting your kitchen cupboards, you’re likely one of two people: a property owner wanting to get a step closer to your dream home or a homeowner trying to sell up. Both, however, have something in common – you want to inject additional aesthetic value into the kitchen without breaking the bank. After all, we all want and deserve a beautiful home, and it goes without saying that it’s never been more difficult to sell a property.

The aim is to create an enduring visual appeal in your culinary space that will leave those who pass through breathless, and we’re here to turn this hope into a reality. But before we get into the tutorial, let’s cover some of the reasons why giving your kitchen a good lick of paint is a fantastic idea.

Why bother painting your kitchen cupboards, units and doors?

Why bother painting your kitchen cabinets when you could replace them? The obvious retort is that it’s a hell of a lot more expensive. According to Checkatrade, a new kitchen can add up to 10% of your home’s value – not bad, right? Well, the emphasis lies in the words “up to”. When a complete kitchen renovation could cost you an average of £10,550, you need to be sure that the investment will pay off.

The cost of painting your kitchen in comparison is much cheaper, sitting at around £100-200 depending on the size of the area you decide to paint and the type of kitchen cupboard paint. So in the long run, you save a bit all whilst putting your unique mark on the space.

Other convincing reasons to have a go at painting your own kitchen cupboards are that:

• It avoids unnecessary waste
• It’s a great excuse to change pulls as once the painting is done no one will know you’ve altered them!
• A durable paint can enhance your cupboards’ life span, protecting them against everyday wear and tear.
• You can make them look as good as new.
• It personalises the kitchen in a unique way.
• Like any furniture upcycling project, it’s a whole load of fun!

Where to start with your kitchen cupboard makeover: the planning

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: painting all of your kitchen cupboards takes time and effort, so if you’re not willing to do that it’s best to call in a decorator. If you are up for it, good on you! The best place to start is evaluating your cupboards. Are they made from hardwood, plywood, particleboard, fibreboard or metallic materials? What condition are they in? This will impact the considerations we’ve listed below so be careful to fully plan out your kitchen cabinet makeover for professional results.

What is the best paint to use on kitchen cupboards?

One of the biggest pitfalls DIYers run into when it comes to sprucing up the kitchen is not using the right paint and primer. After all, it’s the key ingredient to success and will make all the difference between a mediocre and a stunning end result. Paint for kitchen cupboards can differ from your standard paint for upcycling furniture as it needs to be extra hardwearing, but you might want to pick out something similar, for example, if it’s a chalky shabby chic vibe you’re going for.

We suggest checking out our line of high-quality water-based kitchen cupboard paints as they provide a gorgeous finish that just can’t be matched. What’s more, their water-based properties make them the superior choice for a number of reasons:

• They’re one of the most eco-friendly options on the market
• They come in a variety of hard-wearing, crack-resistant finishes
• They’re easy to clean up after and dispose of
• They’re child and pet-safe
• Their self-levelling abilities provide a velvety smooth finish worthy of magazine spreads
• And we’ll mix the paint to match the shade that you’ve set your heart on

Paint for wooden kitchen cupboards

Whether your kitchen units are solid oak, veneer or even plywood, there are so many paints out there that will infuse them with added sophistication. The best paint for wooden cupboards has to be good ol’ Farrow and Ball. With a variety of finishes that are all hard-wearing, wipeable and candy to the eyes, they make a wonderful statement in any property, however big or small. Other great options and Little Greene and Dulux, if you are looking for a cheaper option.

Paint for laminate kitchen cupboards

What about paint for laminate kitchen cupboards? Your best bet is to use an all-purpose paint formulated for UPVC and plastic, such as Bradite One Can. We’ll match the colour to whatever you have in mind and it’ll cover your laminate cupboards just beautifully.

Paint for metal kitchen cupboards

Although not the easiest DIY project, painting metal kitchen cupboards is an option if they’re suffering from rust and you don’t want to shell out the money to replace them. For metal kitchen cupboards you are going to need a hardy paint. We suggest opting for this wonderful all-arounder – Zinsser Allcoat – which can cover everything from brick and concrete to metal and wood. Another option here is Dulux’s Quickdry as it covers both wood and metal.

What finish should I use for my kitchen cupboards?

Good question! The short answer is it depends. If your priority is an easy-to-clean and highly stain-resistant kitchen, then you might want to opt for a glossy finish – but that’s not to everyone’s taste. For those seeking the benefits of a high-gloss paint and who don’t want the shiny look that comes along with it, a satin finish is a beautiful alternative with a subtler sheen.

If you’re set on the matt look, there are a variety of multi-surface eggshell paints that will do the job. It might require a bit of upkeep, but if you are willing to top up the colour when it needs it, it’s a lovely choice. Whichever paint finish you choose as long as you apply it well, you’ll come out on the other side of the project with a gorgeous kitchen to shout about.

How to pick a kitchen colour scheme

Whether you want to jump on the sage green kitchen trend, fancy a bit of colour drenching or want to go sleek and mysterious with a monochrome colour scheme, there is a whole spectrum of shades available. If you’re feeling stuck, why not check out our F&B kitchen ideas? Or even better, explore our full collection to see what you’re missing out on!

When’s the best time to paint your kitchen?

A big mistake DIYers sometimes make is not leaving enough time for the project. Unfortunately, it’s not something you can bash through on a weekend. Depending on the number of surfaces you’re refreshing it could take up to 40 hours to do it right. Remember though, this will save you hella cash!

To make sure each cupboard is painted before you need to sell up, or you have guests around, you could enlist an army of helpers. See if your friends and family want to join you to help share the load. If not, you may need to find an empty slot in your schedule where you can guarantee that your kitchen cupboards won’t be needed. Sorry, that means no dinner parties!

How to paint laminate, wood and metal kitchen cupboards in 8 steps

Follow these 8 steps to infuse your kitchen with a new lease of life.

1.     Collect your tools and materials

To get started make sure that you have each of the following tools:

• Your chosen cupboard paint
• Paint brush and roller
• Painters tape
• Paint tray and kettle
• Screwdriver and drill
• Sandpaper
• Sugar soap or clean spirit
• Non-abrasive cloth
• Dust sheets and protective equipment / clothing

2.     Prep the cupboards

This step might look a little different depending on the space you have available. To protect your backsplash, walls and kitchen floor from any unwanted splats, cover them over with the dust sheets and protective stuff.

If you have a garage or outdoor space (and dry weather!) you might want to remove them entirely as you work on them. You could also set up a small station with all your equipment and materials. Again, don’t forget to bring the groundsheets to protect the surrounding area.

3.     Take off the doors and hardwear

Now it’s time to disassemble. This will allow you to really get in there with your brush. Starting at one side of the kitchen, remove all the doors with your tools and lay them in a logical order you will remember – if you feel that you might forget which door goes with which cabinet label them with a pencil and a bit of masking tape or put them each on a numbered piece of paper.

4.     Clean and/or sand

From years of cooking delicious meals, your cupboards may well have collected a lot of grease and grime. This means it’s time to give them a deep clean, using soap and warm water and making sure to get rid of every speck of dust. A Zinsser Degreaser would work beautifully here.

For laminate and metal cupboards you can leave them to dry and get on with the next step, but wooden cupboards will require some extra attention.

Once dried you then need to sand the wooden cabinets down, so you get a good application with the paint. It’s absolutely crucial here you get the perfectly even and smooth as it will affect the final finish. Once sanded, you can then remove the dust by wiping them down with a cloth and some clean spirit and/or sugar soap.

5.     Get priming

It’s time to start priming and painting those kitchen cupboards!

Tips for laminate, metal, melamine or MDF kitchen cupboards

Begin with a coat of primer and allow to dry for a few hours as directed. It should be nice and even. If you’re concerned about brush stroke marks, use a roller on the flat parts of the cabinet. Then you can reach for your paint to apply at least 2 coats.

Tips for raw, untreated MDF / unpainted wood

For these types of surfaces, you want to factor in their porousness. To get started we recommend going in with a mist layer (a mixture of 30% paint and 70% water), before you grab your paint. As always, let it fully dry before applying the paint. You’ll achieve a lovely finish after 2-3 coats of your chosen paint.

Pro tip: If you opt for a product like Zinsser 123 or BIN, you eliminate the need for a mist coat and can get that primer on right away.

6.     Start painting those kitchen cupboards

When the primer is dried, you can get to the main event – getting the paint on. Depending on what sort of effect you want to achieve, you can use a mixture of roller and paintbrush. Generally speaking, a roller will provide a modern, flat look whilst a paintbrush offers a more traditional, classical painterly feel.

We recommend starting in the corner, using the appropriate brush, and applying paint in the little niches, edges and difficult-to-reach areas. Then you can use either a small roller or a larger brush to tackle the wider parts such as the doors. You should work systematically across the surface of the cupboard, ensuring you don’t add to much paint to your implement to get the best final product.

7.     Get that second and third coat on

Once the first coat has dried, get back in there with your paintbrush and roller, following the steps above. Usually, 2 coats will do, but if you’re after a particularly bold or matt look more will be needed. Keep going until you are satisfied.

8.     Reassemble

When you’ve finished painting all of the cupboards and you’re sure they’re completely dry, carefully take off the tape, pop the knobs and handles back on and reassemble. If you decided to remove them from the kitchen, handle them with care as you move them back in and arrange them as desired. Then you can sit back and admire your newly refreshed kitchen cabinets.

Maintaining your new colourful cupboards

The best thing about painting your kitchen cupboards is that it’s super easy to keep them updated, fresh and colourful – you just repeat the steps above. If you go with a matt finish this might be more often than a glossier paint, but either way, they’ll stay beautiful for a long time to come.

Get started on your kitchen glow-up

Ready to dive in? We love that for you! Make sure to plan as far ahead as you can, get creative and follow all of our sage advice. Once you’re finished giving your kitchen the glow-up it deserves, feel free to tag us on social media – we’re intrigued to see what colours you pick out!

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