Is your tired-looking kitchen in need of a refresh? Feeling inspired by the fresh spring air to take on a new project? Spring and summer are the perfect seasons for painting kitchen cabinets, as warm weather speeds up drying times, and open windows and doors provide better ventilation. Plus, the sunshine boosts your mood and motivation—the perfect recipe for project success!
What else do you need? Oh yes, DIY skills—definitely a huge bonus!
If you’re happy with most parts of your kitchen but would like to update the cabinets, you have two main options: purchase affordable kitchen units or revamp your existing cabinets with a fresh coat of paint.
In a previous blog “Is repainting kitchen cabinets cheaper than fitting with affordable kitchen units?” we explored the pros and cons of repainting kitchen cabinets and found that for small kitchens, depending on the condition of the units, refitting with budget-friendly options may be the better choice. However, for larger kitchens, painting kitchen cabinets is often the more cost-effective solution, as it significantly reduces costs compared to replacing them with new units.
Image below: units on the left painting kitchen cabinets in Navy using Zinsser Allcoat paint; units on the right is a Nora Navy Blue Kitchen Cabinets
If your existing kitchen units are beyond repair and not suitable for cabinet painting, don’t worry—affordable kitchen cabinets are available in various configurations. The pre designed budget kitchen cabinet sets offer excellent value for money, with 5 complete DIY kitchen cabinet sets starting at £349.95 and cover 180cm of space.
Refitting a 180-240cm long kitchen typically costs between £500 and £900. This price covers assembly and fitting of the units only. Additional costs may apply for extras such as plumbing, worktop cut-outs, and modifications, which should be budgeted separately. However, if you have DIY skills – it’s free! So for just the cost of the units you have a brand new kitchen.
In some cases, replacing kitchen units may be a more cost-effective option than painting, especially if your kitchen has a simple layout—such as a straight-line design with freestanding appliances. If this setup matches your space, consider exploring a range of pre-planned budget kitchen cabinet sets for small kitchens. At Impact Furniture, we offer over 80 different kitchen set combinations, giving you plenty of options to find the perfect fit for your space. Explore a variety of kitchen cabinet sets designed to suit different styles, sizes, and budgets!
Complete set of 7 kitchen cabinets in Light Oak from £529.95 and delivered within 7 days.
Painting kitchen cabinets can be tedious if patience and attention to detail aren’t your strong points. Hiring a professional kitchen sprayer and spraying kitchen cabinets ensures a flawless finish with minimal hassle. Many small local businesses specialise in kitchen respraying and repainting kitchen cabinets. For competitive quotes, it’s best to search “kitchen sprayers near me” on Google or check Facebook for local recommendations.
How much does it cost to have your kitchen sprayed?
Generally, for an average sized kitchen with around 20 cabinets and drawers a basic estimate would be around £1000 or so and will very much depend on your location.
Below is a before and after example of repainting kitchen cabinets from Spraylords
For those of you who enjoy painting and love to fuss over details below is a step-by-step guide to DIY repainting kitchen cabinets. Updating your kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat of paint is a time consuming but a budget-friendly way to give your family space a new look. Typically for a 20 cabinets medium sized kitchen you would be looking to spend around £200-300 on kitchen cupboard paint and other bits plus about 4-7 full days of your time. Follow these steps for a smooth, professional finish.
Start by clearing the cabinets and surrounding area. Remove all hardware, including handles, knobs, and hinges. Detach cabinet doors and drawer fronts for a cleaner paint job, labelling them for easy reassembly. Clean surfaces thoroughly with a degreaser like trisodium phosphate (TSP) or basic sugar soap to remove grease and grime. KRUD KUTTER® Pre-Paint Cleaner is a great TSP substitute. Budget hack: mixing a solution of warm water and a mild dish soap will have the same effect. For tougher grease stains, add a small amount of white vinegar or baking soda to the soapy solution.
If there are chips or cracks, use wood filler and sand them smooth before proceeding.
Lightly sand the surfaces with fine-grit (220) sandpaper and wipe off dust with a damp cloth. Apply a high-quality primer designed for cabinets to improve paint adhesion. This is extremely important if any water marks are showing through on the surface. Once dry, you can lightly sand again for an extra-smooth finish. For doors with carved patterns it may be easier to use a spray on primer for better and quicker coverage. Zinnser offer great undercoat spray paint.
Choose durable kitchen cupboard paint. Since you’re dedicating so much time to this project, using low-quality paint would only compromise the final result. Look for high-quality, durable acrylic latex paint that is specifically designed for cabinetry and ideally does not require priming as it will save you a lot of time. Below example of a gray kitchen paint with rustic finish with minimal prep and priming using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
With so many products on the market how do you make your choice? Well, kitchen furniture paint choice depends on what finish are you after and how much time you are prepared to spend painting your kitchen cabinets.
Below explores best paint for kitchen cabinets. Choose satin finish for modern interiors, matt paint finish for traditional heritage kitchens or rustic shabby chic chalk paint finish for farmhouse and country home feel. Opting for best paint for kitchen cupboards in a specific style will ensure repainting kitchen cupboards is a success.
Rust-Oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint – Satin Finish is a treat for your cupboard doors; bringing you an ultra-incredible depth of colour. Endless choice of colours and no primer needed, the satin finish will create a polished look in your modern kitchen space. Our favourite is blue kitchen cabinet paint Rust-Oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint, Satin Finish – Mineral Grey!
Zinsser Allcoat paint offers an exceptionally durable finish, making it an excellent choice for kitchen cabinets. Originally designed as a multi-surface exterior paint, it is built to withstand harsh weather conditions, giving it superior resilience for interior use.
With a 15-year lifespan on exterior surfaces without peeling or flaking, this can be used as kitchen cupboard paint and ensures long-lasting durability in high-traffic kitchen spaces. It does not require a primer and can be colour matches to ANY colour. At £22.99 for 1 l it is an exceptional value for money for creating modern kitchen styles. However, the drawback is that it takes 5-7 days to mechanically cure, which can make it slightly prone to damage when newly painted. Zinnser range is also available at B&Q.
For a distressed worn look use Chalk Paint™ developed by Annie Sloan. It’s hassle free and perfect for creating a rustic farmhouse kitchen charm. With no need for sanding or priming, you can simply apply paint to furniture. It also works on wood, metal, laminate, concrete, indoors, outdoors and beyond. Huge choice of pastel and vibrant colours, priced at £16.95 for 500ml. Painting your kitchen cabinets is a breeze with this product. Country style kitchens can be revamped in no time.
Don’t forget to seal the cabinets with a top coat. And if you are going for it, watch this comprehensive guide on YouTube!
An alternative kitchen furniture paint for achieving a traditional heritage look with a subtle, less distressed finish is Rust-Oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint in Matt finish, see some inspirations here. Their paint has some lovely deep and rich heritage shades, our favourite is Café Luxe priced at £25 for 750ml. Create a modern country kitchen with a depth of colour and flat finish.
Final tips:
Apply multiple thin coats, allowing each to dry before the next. Use a brush and roller for texture or a paint sprayer for a sleek look. A semi-gloss or satin finish is recommended for durability.
The best paint for painting kitchen cabinets is high-quality, durable acrylic latex paint that is specifically designed for cabinetry.
Reassembly of painted kitchen cabinets
Once fully dry, reattach hardware and reinstall doors and drawers. The labelling of parts you undertook earlier will come extremely handy at this point. Step back and admire your refreshed kitchen!
Hopefully, the information above has brought you closer to making a decision. With warmer temperatures approaching fast, spring and summer are the ideal seasons for a kitchen refit or refurbishment. Read our Guide to Why Summer is the Best Time to Refit Your Kitchen: 10 Reasons
Now is the perfect time to start planning for repainting your kitchen cabinets!
Impact Furniture customers can save 20% off their first EASEFIX installation with code impact20
Web Design by Make Us Visible
