If perhaps you are a homeowner who is in no position to undertake a major kitchen overhaul or even a renter whose landlord is unwilling to update that very old looking kitchen, there is still hope! There are many DIY ideas that you could use on those colorless cabinets in your kitchen to bring that shine back.

Cabinets are a focal point in any kitchen, so if you’re completely tired of your current ones, why not give them a beautiful face lift using paint? Painting can be exhausting, but if you feel up to the challenge of painting, you’ll soon have that lively kitchen in no time. The Guide to Planning Kitchens and Bathrooms, 2006, Independent Living Centre, NSW is a valuable site for valuable ideas on kitchen planning and design.

Hopefully, these cabinet painting ideas will help you create a paint job that is not only stylish but also exceptionally attractive.

Doing the legwork

Once you’re sure your cabinets will accept the paint, plan a couple of weekends to complete the task and don’t rush the job. As part of your preparations, it may be worth familiarizing yourself with the provisions of the Australian Standard for the Installation of Domestic Kitchens AS 4386 which sets out a variety of minimum requirements for any domestic wall cabinet.

Think about the color options

Whether you opt for a solid color or a base color that has another complementary accent shade, paint is arguably the most individual statement of your unique style. Painting your kitchen cabinets will require a commitment, as this task will render the kitchen unusable for several weeks.

There is perhaps no better color than black for contrast, especially if your kitchen floors, walls or countertops are in lighter shades. Black painted cabinets could also work well for almost any kitchen style, from the more modern contemporary to the more traditional.

If black doesn’t show up on your cards, you might want to consider beiges and warm browns for your painted cabinets. These two versatile colors could work well with almost any floor or countertop, from light or dark wood; to the black and gray tile; and to granite. Keep in mind that various shades of gray can add sophistication to any style you choose for your cabinets.

If a monochrome look doesn’t go well with your creative flair, how about mixing and matching colors for the upper and lower painted cabinets? Yellows and blues go together especially well.

A good resource to give you more information would be the website for Housing for Life, 2001, Master Builders Association of the ACT.

To brush or spray

Your next big decision to make is whether to brush or spray. Spraying your cabinets will give them a cleaner, smoother, and certainly more professional look, without leaving any possible brush marks. However, this could be time consuming and may require you to rent or purchase a paint sprayer. Using a brush on paint works quite well for simple cabinet designs and is definitely the least complicated approach.