Imagine you walk into the kitchen of your home, and instead bland, outdated cabinetry, you are greeted with a masterpiece. It’s magic. This is like turning a jack-o’-lantern into a carriage. But with fewer mouses and more paint – helpful hints!
Let’s begin by talking about colors. The entire spectrum is at your disposal. You don’t have to stick with beige or white. Try bold colours like rich blues and greens. Imagine a deep, navy cabinet that will make you feel as if you are diving into an ocean whenever your hand reaches for a platter. It’s like living on the brink!
Texture has its own importance. While a sleek, modern finish may be appealing, don’t discount the charm of an aged look. It adds personality, much like the laugh lines on faces that are so interesting.
Most people fall down during the preparation stage. It may be tempting to paint your walls and call the day a success, but building a house with sand is not a good idea. Sanding is tedious but necessary for a perfect finish.
Have you tried painting when it’s humid? It’s like trying to run in quicksand–frustrating and messy. To avoid paint peeling as quickly as old wallpaper, aim for dry conditions.
Let’s talk about the technical side of things for a few seconds. Your best friend is primer. The same thing as skipping a breakfast before a long run, you will regret it by the halfway point.
It’s an age-old debate: rollers or brushes? Brushes provide precision, but if handled improperly can leave streaks. Rollers may cover large surfaces quickly, but miss those annoying corners. My advice? My advice: Use both! Use brushes for the edges and details, and rollers for broad strokes.
The quality of your brush is more important than most people think. Cheap brushes shed their bristles more quickly than my dog’s fur sheds in the summer. This is both annoying and counterproductive.
Don’t forget the hardware! Knobs and handles will add a touch of elegance to your cabinets. By replacing outdated ones, you can transform your cabinets without spending too much money.
A friend of mine once asked me to help her repaint the cabinets that belonged to her grandmother. It was a horrible shade of yellow–a mustard-like color. Instead, we chose a bright teal and added some gold handles. Her kitchen transformed overnight from drab into fab.
Have you ever heard of glazing? It’s a little extra work, but well worth it to add depth and dimension to your painting. Think of adding shadows in your masterpiece.
You can also add some flair to your cabinets by using two-toned cabinets. Lower cabinets are one color and upper cabinets another.
You’ll laugh at this: Remember how I mentioned sanding earlier? You’ll never believe what happened when I used an electric sander to save time. I sanded the veneer through by mistake! Patience pays off, that’s the lesson I learned!
Speaking of patience, drying times cannot be negotiated! The same as pulling out cookies too soon from the oven, rushing this step will cause them to crumble (and ruin your hard-earned work).
We should talk about environmentally friendly options, because who wouldn’t like to beautify and save the earth at the same? Low-VOC painters are better for the air and won’t stink your house up!
Hire professionals if DIY fails you or if it’s not your thing.
This is a crash course on how to transform old cabinets (and possibly fewer power tools) into beautiful focal points using just paint and elbow grease. Want to give a fresh look to those dull cupboards? Grab your brush and get to work!