One of the most heavily-used spaces in the house, the kitchen is central to our family life and our entertaining. When your kitchen is feeling outdated and blah, or the finish is wearing out on the cabinets, it is time for a change. Kitchen painting is a fabulous way to bring new life, energy, and creativity into the heart of your home! Just be careful, as there are some important tips to ensure fabulous results, and there are many ways to create a disaster.
Kitchen Painting Key #1
Refinishing or repainting your kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to update and refresh the whole look of the kitchen. Be aware, however, that this project requires a lot of time and patience. Take the time to thoroughly research the necessary steps and products that will produce good results. If you rush this job, you are bound to regret the outcome.
One of the most important steps is to remove the previous finish so that the new finish can adhere properly. This can be done mechanically (by sanding) or chemically (with caustic strippers). The thoroughness that is needed for this step varies according to what you plan to put over it. If you are going to paint, you just need to buff off the glossiness, but if you are going to restain, it takes a more complete stripping.
After you have done your research about all the steps involved, you might decide that cabinet refinishing is a bit beyond your do-it-yourself level. If so, contact a professional house painter. A quality painting company can refinish your cabinets for you at a fraction of the cost of replacing them!
Kitchen Painting Key #2
Any area of your home is more pleasant when it is not assaulted by chemical scents, but in the kitchen, you especially want to avoid extra fumes. One way to keep your kitchen smelling delicious is by using zero-VOC, eco-friendly paints during the painting process. These paints do not release chemicals as they dry, so your home is healthier, and your food will not taste faintly of Sherwin Williams or Behr!
If you are hiring a professional house painting company to paint your kitchen, ask them what options they have for zero-VOC paints. The cost difference is negligible, but the benefits are tangible!
Kitchen Painting Key #3
Planning is important in any painting project, but in the kitchen, it is even more so. First of all, the kitchen contains so many different surfaces, angles, and items that it is a logistical challenge. Added to that, however, is the fact that you need to live in this house and use the kitchen as the project is carried out. That makes planning essential.
When painting, you always want to start at the top and work your way down. If you are painting the ceiling or crown molding, that’s your starting place. Everything below the ceiling is in the “splash zone;” anything you can move out of the kitchen should be moved, and everything else needs to be protected with painter’s plastic and tape.As you do this, certain cupboards, shelves, and appliances will become inaccessible. Think about how long they will need to be covered, when you will need them next, and how you can continue to function while the project is underway.
As you continue the kitchen painting project, keep planning each stage carefully to avoid getting yourself in a jam!
Kitchen Painting Key #4
Because cabinets take up so much of the visual space in a kitchen, they are commonly painted or stained a neutral, uniform color. In that way, they can be striking and beautiful without overwhelming the senses. However, this leaves your remaining wall space as the perfect place to use a bold, memorable color. Especially if your cabinets are white, choose a wall color that will stand out.
Whether you want a spicy red, an organic green, an icy blue, a delicious brown, or a creamy yellow, choose a wall color that will make your mouth water!
Kitchen Painting Key #5
All walls need to be cleaned before they can be painted, but this is especially true in the kitchen. Airborne food particles, especially grease, leave a thin film on the kitchen walls, and if this is not washed off effectively, it spells certain disaster for your new paint. Use a soft sponge with grease-cutting soap, then wipe off the soap with a clean, wet sponge. Now you can apply paint without fear!
Cherry Hill Painting
Kitchen painting is a wonderful event to have happen in your home, but the process can be overwhelming for a less-than-extreme do-it-yourselfer. If you are hoping for new life in your New Jersey kitchen, without the hassle and stress of a drawn-out DIY project, contact Cherry Hill Painting. Our friendly staff will take care of the details, so that you can focus on enjoying your refreshed kitchen!
Cherry Hill Painting provides interior painting, exterior painting, kitchen cabinet refinishing, pressure washing, carpentry, and more! Contact us for a free house painting estimate.