Repainting the kitchen cabinets may seem like a lazy Sunday afternoon project, but it is really not!
Our home design team is only too well aware of the potential pitfalls of a kitchen unit refurbish – and have compiled a list of the worst mistakes a newbie can make when attempting a repaint…. You have been warned!
Instagram Expectations
You’ve seen the pictures of other people’s amazing remodels. So why are your own so disappointing? This is because in real life, remodels are rarely picture-perfect. Remember, you are still repurposing an old unit, and this is bound to have minor scuffing and aging. Also, those perfect shots have probably been craftily staged to look flawless – real remodels still bear a trace of what lies beneath!
Rush Job
Doing a rushed job is the leading cause of kitchen calamity. Our designers suggest settling in for the long haul.
A kitchen repaint takes a long time – maybe even a full week – so first, ask yourself if you are ready. If not, perhaps it’s time to call a professional.
Zero Prep
Not preparing properly is a surefire recipe for failure. Cleaning and sanding are essential before even beginning the repaint. Clean everything with a grease remover before you paint – or the paint will not stick.
Likewise, you need to take out all the drawers, shelves, hinges, handles etc, before applying the paint. It will not work if you paint around it – trust us, we’ve seen the results!
It should go without saying that you also need to sand and prime your units before applying paint.
Jigsaw Nightmare
When you remove your kitchen units – because you very definitely will paint them separately – you need to label everything.
This is so you can reassemble them in the right places afterward. Believe us, this can quickly turn into a real-life jigsaw if not!
Color Catastrophe
There’s nothing worse than looking around to realize the whole kitchen is screaming at you – but that’s how you’ll feel if you pick the wrong color.
To try and check, test out the color on a large board and place it on your wall to see if you like its look. This is a lot quicker than painting the whole room and then getting a migraine.
Still Wet
Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by replacing your units before they have had a chance to dry properly.
Think about how long your nail varnish takes to dry before it is properly ready. That long!
Touch dry is not the same as cured, and you need to give your units ample time to dry in before reattaching to the main unit.
This could take days, but so be it, we say!!
Finally, painting your kitchen units is not simple. There is no quick fix, and you are not going to be done anytime soon.
If this sounds too much like hard work, we suggest letting a professional take the strain – check out our contact page for a speedy reply or get your feet wet with our DIY tips here!