Updating your kitchen doesn’t on a regular basis ought to suggest gutting it. Usually, most likely probably the most attractive transformations come from one factor as simple as painting your kitchen cabinets. It’s a high-ROI home enchancment mission that’s budget-friendly and may totally refresh your home.
To curate this guidelines, I reached out to my Instagram group of home DIY lovers – people who’ve effectively transformed their very personal kitchens. Their real-life solutions and mannequin insights current smart tips on choosing the perfect paint for kitchen cabinets. Whether or not or not you’re looking out for a quick non everlasting exchange or a additional sturdy, expert finish, these community-tested picks and solutions will help info you via the strategy.

paint kitchen cabinets for a factory-smooth finish
Choosing the perfect paint for kitchen cabinets isn’t practically colour, although colour does make a serious have an effect on on the kitchen’s whole look. Kitchen cabinets take a great deal of on daily basis placed on – greasy arms, spills and numerous opening and shutting. With parts like sturdiness, VOC ranges, drying time and ease of utility to consider, the acceptable paint will look good and withstand the on daily basis requires of your kitchen with out the need for frequent touch-ups.
1. Start with a strong top quality primer
Making use of an outstanding primer will set the stage for a flawless, sturdy finish. Contemplate it as making a powerful foundation sooner than you add the colour.
Zinsser BIN Primer: Acknowledged for great adhesion, Zinsser BIN is a shellac-based primer that’s final for blocking stains and sealing in any grease or odors from the kitchen.
Zinsser 123 Primer: This water-based varied is user-friendly and quick-drying, which makes it good for individuals who’re in search of to knock out your mission quickly. Numerous of us talked about that it adheres successfully and offers a {{smooth}} base.
2. Choose the acceptable paint
V33 Cupboard Paint
V33 Cupboard and Cabinet Paint is extensively praised for its sturdiness, standing as a lot as stains and scratches whereas staying up to date.
Standout Qualities: Notably designed for cabinets, providing a sturdy, washable finish that resists frequently placed on.
Why It’s Worth considering: For lasting outcomes, V33 is an outstanding alternative. Some prospects report it appears to be merely practically nearly as good years later.
French Trendy Alfresco Paint
Frenchic’s Alfresco differ is all about ease and outcomes. This paint generally doesn’t require a primer, so it’s an outstanding alternative for individuals who’re in search of to present your kitchen a quick non everlasting makeover and hoping to cut out a step throughout the course of.
Standout Qualities: Frenchic Alfresco supplies a sturdy, chalky finish that cures to be pretty highly effective as quickly because it’s completely dry. It’s an superior select should you want a matte, mushy look.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Frenchic offers a {{smooth}}, velvety finish and is correct for indoor initiatives, significantly in smaller areas.
Rust-oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint
Rust-oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint is one different favourite, significantly for these looking out for a professional-quality finish with out the skilled price tag. It has great safety, and a bit of bit goes an awesome distance, making it budget-friendly.
Standout Qualities: Instagram DIYers rave about Rust-oleum’s {{smooth}} utility and high-quality finish. Its parts is good for kitchen cabinets, and it’s obtainable in numerous shades to go well with any design.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Rust-Oleum delivers a cultured, premium look with out the premium worth, making it a very excellent various for budget-conscious renovators.

Annie Sloan
Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint is a popular various for kitchen cabinets, acknowledged for its ease of utility and its matte, chalky finish that gives a rustic, basic contact to any kitchen.
Standout Qualities: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is versatile, adhering successfully to different surfaces with out having primer or sanding in a lot of circumstances. Its ultra-matte finish creates a singular, textured look that will add character to kitchen cabinets, and it’s accessible in quite a lot of warmth, earthy colors. The paint might be low in VOCs, making it safer to utilize indoors.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is correct for individuals who’re looking out for a quick, creative exchange to your cabinets with out intensive prep. Nonetheless, it’d require a topcoat or wax finish for added sturdiness in high-traffic areas, as a result of the matte finish could possibly be susceptible to stains and scratches in busy kitchens.

Little Greene Intelligent Satin
Little Greene is renowned for its high-quality paints. Their Intelligent Satin finish is very favoured for kitchen cabinets, ensuing from its sturdiness and aesthetic enchantment. I’ve used it in my very own residence on the doorways and panelling in our utility room and I adore it’s refined low-sheen finish.
Standout Qualities: It offers a difficult, washable finish, that’s final for furnishings and kitchen cabinets. It’s designed to resist stains and scratches, guaranteeing longevity. It’s low VOC too, making it an environmentally nice various.
Why It’s Worth Considering: It supplies great safety and a {{smooth}} finish. Its sturdiness makes it a reliable alternative for kitchen cabinets, sustaining its look over time.

Benjamin Moore Advance
Benjamin Moore Advance could be very regarded for its sturdiness and {{smooth}}, expert finish, making it a most suitable option for kitchen cabinets.
Standout Qualities: This waterborne inside alkyd paint offers the durability of oil-based paint with the easy cleanup of water-based paint. It supplies great levelling, resulting in a {{smooth}}, brushstroke-free finish. Plus, it’s low in VOCs, making it safer for indoor use.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Acknowledged for its long-lasting, hard-wearing finish, Benjamin Moore Advance is praised by DIYers and professionals alike. Whereas it’d require longer drying situations between coats, the result is a resilient, polished look that’s successfully positively well worth the wait.

Farrow and Ball Fashionable Eggshell
Farrow & Ball is famous for its luxurious, high-quality colours, nonetheless it’s a bit of little bit of a blended bag for kitchen cabinets. Some of us I spoke to felt it wasn’t pretty sturdy adequate for high-traffic use. Others talked about that they found it tough to make use of with out brush marks, so cautious prep is essential for reaching an knowledgeable look.
Standout Qualities: Fashionable Eggshell offers a {{smooth}}, low-sheen finish that resists scuffs and is simple to wash. It’s low in VOCs, making it safer for indoor use.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Farrow & Ball’s rich colours add sophistication to any kitchen.
Preparation
Even with the perfect paint, your outcomes rely on good prep. Listed beneath are the steps you don’t want to skip:
- Clear: First, clear your cabinets utterly with sugar cleansing cleaning soap or a grease-cutting cleaner. Nothing kills a paint job earlier than grime beneath the paint.
- Sand Frivolously: For optimum adhesion, give your cabinets a lightweight sanding. You don’t need to go too exhausting – merely adequate to robust up the ground a bit of bit.
- Prime (If Wished): For individuals who’re using Zinsser BIN or 123, that’s the time to make use of it. Even when the paint you choose says “no primer wished,” priming can nonetheless add extra sturdiness.
Software program solutions
Software program points merely as rather a lot as paint top quality. Proper right here’s learn how to get the perfect outcomes:
- Use Foam Rollers: A small foam roller helps stay away from brush strokes and affords a {{smooth}}, even finish.
- Brush for Particulars: For cabinet edges and corners, use a high-quality brush to stay away from streaks.
- Take Your Time Between Coats: Allow each coat to dry utterly sooner than making use of the following. Some paints moreover need curing time to realize full sturdiness. Confirm the instructions in your paint for specifics.

Errors to stay away from when you paint kitchen cupboards
When painting kitchen cabinets, a few widespread errors may end up in a less-than-perfect finish. Listed beneath are some pitfalls to watch out for:
- Skipping the Prep Work: Grease, filth, and outdated gloss can cease paint from sticking. Clear and sand your cupboards utterly sooner than you start.
- Choosing the Improper Paint: Not all paints are suited to cabinets. Seek for sturdy, cabinet-specific paints like Benjamin Moore Advance or Rustoleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint for a long-lasting finish.
- Ignoring Primer: A primer helps paint adhere larger and offers a {{smooth}} flooring. Use a high quality primer like Zinsser 123 to stay away from peeling and chipping.
- Dashing Dry Time: Allow each coat to dry completely sooner than making use of the following. Dashing through dry situations might find yourself in streaks and smudges.
- Skipping the Topcoat: A clear topcoat on high-traffic cabinets supplies extra sturdiness and shine, significantly for individuals who’ve chosen a matt or satin paint finish.
With consideration to these steps, your kitchen cupboards might have a {{smooth}}, expert look that lasts!