Repainting completely transforms a kitchen without the disruption and expense of a remodel. Our professional kitchen painters at Hughes Painting have lots of tips to make the job more efficient.

Prep Work for Kitchen Painting

First, if you’re painting the entire kitchen, don’t choose the wall color until you’ve painted your cabinets. They typically account for the largest, most visible surface area in the room. You could think of cabinet paint as the foundational color to build upon.

Also, cabinets may cast shadows that affect the appearance of the walls around or beneath them.

Pick your kitchen wall paint after you’ve lived with the new cabinet color for a few days. Observing it as the light changes will give you a feel for how light or dark to go with the walls.

If your kitchen painting project includes the cabinets, leave ample time for prep. They’ll have to be emptied, thoroughly dusted, and washed to remove grease. Relocate any food products, dishes, utensils, small appliances or knickknacks that are in the way.

Remove all the cabinet drawers, doors and hardware. If you plan to use the same hardware, be sure to sort and label the pieces.

You may want to relocate the project to the garage or basement. If not, cover your floors, countertops and appliances.

When you strip the old paint, wear protective gloves, goggles and a mask. Make sure the room is well-ventilated. Use a brush to apply the stripping product. When it reacts with the paint, gently scrape at small sections until the old paint peels away. Use wood filler and a putty knife to fill in holes.

If you’ve chosen new hardware, fill in all the old holes that don’t line up.

Sand all the pieces with medium-grit sandpaper. Make sure that all surfaces are dust-free before you start painting the cabinets.

Preparing walls for paint, especially kitchen walls, is difficult and time-consuming. Grease and caked-on food have to be removed.

Cover the floor, furniture, countertops and large appliances with plastic or drop cloths.

Dust the walls and use a vacuum with attachments for hard-to-reach places. Thoroughly wash all surfaces with warm, soapy water. If you have to use a degreasing product, make sure that the area is well-ventilated.

When the kitchen walls are completely dry, use a paint scraper to remove flaking paint. Smooth out bumps in the plaster with sandpaper or an electric sander. Mend cracks or holes with spackling paste.

Be sure that all surfaces are free of dust before you apply primer and paint.

Equipment for Kitchen Painting

Any do-it-yourselfer who tackles kitchen painting will have a long shopping list:

• Ladder
• Drop cloths
• Painters’ tape
• Protective goggles, gloves and mask
• Detergent and degreasing cleaner
• Sponges and old towels
• Vacuum
• Sandpaper and sanding block or electric sander
• Paint scraper
• Putty knife
• Spackling paste
• Paint brushes, rollers and rolling trays
• Stripping product
• Primer
• Paint
• Cleaning supplies

Ask a professional in the paint department for advice. Not all paint roller covers, for example, are appropriate for any surface.

The Hottest Kitchen Paint Colors

When it comes to kitchen paint colors, white, ivory and light gray aren’t going anywhere. However, homeowners are feeling freer to bring in bold pops of color.

It all depends on how you use your kitchen and what sort of ambience you want to create. Do you like a beach house feel or a Santa Fe vibe? Do you spend more time cooking in your kitchen or working on your laptop at the breakfast bar? Do you want your kitchen to boost your energy or calm you down?

In general, light colors are best for large surfaces. They reflect light and make spaces feel airy and serene.

You can be as daring as you like in smaller areas like the space above the countertop and the base of the kitchen island. If you have some cabinets with glass doors, consider a playful contrasting shade for the inside.

Trending colors include deep blues and greens, warm brown-grays and terra cotta. Many modern kitchens incorporate black or navy accents.

If you’re one of those enviable people who wants to gain weight rather than lose it, you might consider red; it stimulates hunger. Red may not be the best choice, however, if your kitchen doesn’t get a lot of light.

Satin or Semi-gloss Paint: How Are They Different, and Which Is Best?

Most kitchen paint colors come with a choice of finishes ranging from matte to high-gloss. These classifications indicate the shine level and how much light the paint will reflect.

In a high-traffic area like a typical kitchen, the paint needs to stand up to lots of abuse. It also needs to be a snap to clean.

That’s why matte, the least slick and shiny finish, isn’t recommended for kitchens. You can’t just wipe away grease or splattered tomato sauce.

The most popular choices are satin and semi-gloss.

A satin finish is silky and elegant with a subtle glow. In addition to its good looks, it’s fairly stain- and mildew-resistant. Most grime wipes away with soapy water and little effort.

A semi-gloss finish has 40 to 70 percent higher shine depending on the paint. It’s a good choice for dark kitchens because it bounces a lot of light. It’s also easier to clean than satin finish. You can usually clean up even the nastiest splatters with a paper towel.

It all comes down to personal preference and how much gloss you like. Some professional kitchen painters recommend putting satin on the walls and semi-gloss on the cabinets, wood accents and backsplash.

Why Kitchen Painting Is a Job for the Pros

Painting is not a job for the faint of heart. It takes a lot more time, prep and hard work than the home improvement shows would have you believe. Your project could drag out over several weekends. Meanwhile, your kitchen will be in shambles.

If you’re determined to save money by tackling this on your own, you may be surprised. Supplies add up quickly, especially if you buy the wrong products the first time around. Professional paint jobs often end up costing less, and they pay off for years to come.

Hughes Painting has been exceeding homeowners’ expectations for more than 45 years. Our professional kitchen painters are experienced, licensed and insured. We stand behind our work and guarantee complete satisfaction.

Make it easy on yourself and your wallet. If you own a home or condo in Virginia Beach VA or Chesapeake VA, give us a call today.