Should You Paint Inside Kitchen Cabinets? (Read This First!)

By painting your kitchen cabinets, you can avoid the costly consequences of major renovations and dramatically improve your kitchen.

However, some issues may arise during this process.

One such issue is whether to paint the interior of the kitchen cabinets.

In this article, we take a closer look at this question and answer it, and discuss some other tips for painting cabinets.

Jump to Content >> show

Should You Paint Inside Kitchen Cabinets?

Most kitchen cabinets are commonly left unpainted on the inside. It doesn’t matter whether the kitchen cabinets are painted or not.

The inside of the cabinet is usually adequately protected from the oil vapor that sticks to the outer part of the cabinet, so you can do whatever you want.

However, cabinet doors must be painted on both sides.

It should be easy enough because you have to remove the door before painting it.

Nonetheless, if the interior of your kitchen cabinet is previously painted, it’s best to touch it when you repaint the cabinet.

If you finally decide to paint the interior, a good point to note is that it is not an easy process like exterior painting, as access to most interiors is very limited.

It takes more effort to paint the inside of your kitchen cabinets than most people think. Painting the backside and working with the corners are two things that can be very difficult.

You should also consider the possibility of particles of paint chips on kitchen utensils and tools.

This doesn’t always happen, but if the painting is not done correctly, there will be paint stains on these cabinets no matter what you store in those cabinets. Another thing to consider before making a decision is the cabinet condition.

If the cabinets are in order, you’re probably painting for decorative purposes and there is no need to paint the interior.

However, if you are painting a cabinet to extend its lifespan and make it last longer, you may need to paint the interior to provide complete protection (Best Home Fixer, n. d).

Do You Paint Both Sides of The Kitchen Door?

When painting the cabinet, there is no need to paint both sides of the cabinet. The interior can only be seen when the cabinet is open, and not painting the interior of the cabinet will not affect the result.

However, you may want to paint both sides of the cabinet door.

You should start by painting from the back of the door, not the front. If you turn the door too early and the paint smudges, it won’t be obvious as it is on the inside.

You can paint cabinet doors inside and out, but removing them before painting makes the task easier. Remove hardware from cabinets and doors.

If you don’t want to detach the door, you’ll likely not be able to paint the inside of the cabinet. If you are painting the interior, work from the inside to the outside.

Do You Paint The Inside of Kitchen Drawers?

Most homeowners often worry about whether or not to paint the interior of their kitchen drawers. If you’re are one of those, the short answer to this question is yes.

Although this is not standard practice, there is nothing wrong with it.

Painting inside the kitchen drawer or not depends on your personal choices.

However, there are many advantages to this step. If you do it right, you will have some charm in your kitchen.

There are several steps to drawing drawers in the kitchen. Here are some important steps to follow:

Gather the necessary equipment

Make sure you have sandpaper, brush, and spatula. You will also need materials such as water, paint, and a primer.

Remove hardware from door cabinets and drawers
Clean the drawers
Check the drawers for any holes or dents and repair them accordingly
Apply a primer to minimize sanding time
Paint application
Semi-gloss latex paint has proven to be the best paint for interior cabinets.

In most cases, you should start by applying paint to the most important parts of the drawer. Always make sure your coat is not only good but also relatively light.

In summary, painting kitchen cabinet drawers is one of the best projects you want to consider. It gives your space a fresher and more stunning look.

If you’re considering painting the inside drawer of your kitchen cabinet, you won’t regret it.

In most cases, you should think of applying finishes that don’t leave after smell. You may want to go for water finishing as oily finishing leaves unpleasant odors that stick for a long time.

Is It Better to Spray or Brush Paint Kitchen Cabinets?

Painting is a great way to extend the life of your existing cabinets, giving your kitchen a much-needed makeover. If your kitchen cabinets are in good condition but are pale or outdated, you may want to repaint them.

There are two methods of cabinet painting: brush painting and spray painting.

A brush painting means to apply paint using a brush or roller. On the other hand, spray painting requires the use of a spray gun to evenly apply all the colors to the cabinet.

Cabinets must be repainted with cabinet paint specifically designed to meet the needs of kitchen life, including the recurring occasion of opening and closing doors, leaking food and liquids, and steam and heat from an oven or stove.

No other paint can provide the required durability needed in the kitchen as much as paint designed specifically for cabinetry.

With a spray gun, you never have to worry about releasing the ugly brushstrokes that come with a brush or roller. Sprinklers usually do not need to be touched or sanded, but they leave a beautiful surface (Shoreline Painting and drywall, 2020).

Consider the pros and cons of each painting method below to determine a suitable option from both approaches

Advantages of painting with a brush

• Faster preparation
• Extended life span
• Low painting cost

Disadvantages of painting with a brush

• Longer painting process
• Brush marks

Advantages of spray painting

• Faster application
• Smoother Coverage
• Reduce labor costs

Disadvantages of spray painting

• Overflow
• Longer preparation

What Is The Best Paint For Inside Kitchen Cabinets?

You have to choose between acrylic enamel paints and alkyd cabinet paints. Acrylic and watercolor are non-smoke and easy to wash with water.

Alcohol or oil paints contain solvents that can irritate the lungs and cause nausea, so ventilation is necessary while painting.

Alkyd replacements require white spirit for cleaning but provide a hard, durable finish. Whatever you use, buy the highest quality kitchen cabinet paint you can afford.

Self-leveling paint softens as it dries, making it ideal for cabinetry. However, this type of paint dries quickly, making it difficult to mix shots. If you plan to use this type of paint, you need to work in a narrow area.

Many colors go well with your kitchen cabinets, but finding the right color can be difficult.

Before choosing an unusual shade, look at the different objects and colors in the room. Look at the walls, counters, aprons, floors, and appliances.

If the room already has a lot of colors, it is best to choose white or neutral cabinets. Good neutral colors for kitchen cabinets are light gray, dark gray, or a mix of gray and beige.

These neutral shades give you the freedom to use playful colors with accessories and technology.

If you’re looking for a bold color, have fun with yellow paint. It is a common color in kitchens. You can try bright yellow or pastel shades for the cupboard.

You can also sky blue color for your walls and kitchen cabinets. It creates casual feelings and creates a nice look when utilized together with white steel and stainless steel twangs.

Perfect green or turquoise color will also look great in kitchen cabinets. Dark colors like emerald green, cranberry red, and dark blue can enhance kitchen cabinets but they make small rooms darker, so they work best in large spaces.

If you plan to use dark colors in a small kitchen, try to balance it with white walls and bright accents. There are no restrictions when it comes to the color of kitchen cabinets (HGTV, n.d).

How Do Professionals Paint Cabinets?

Follow the steps below to paint your cabinets like a pro:

Remove the cabinet: Painting hinges and handles affects their functionality

Clean cabinets and arrangements: Prepare the cabinet just like any other surface by cleaning mold stains and rinsing the entire surface to eliminate dirt and grease.

Prime the cabinets: Apply colored adhesive paint to the cabinet using a high-density foam roller or brush.

Paint the doors of the cabinet: Paint the cabinet with a brush, roller, or spray. If cleaning the cabinet or rolling out seems very tasking, paint spraying may be for you.

Paint cabinet frame and railings: While the cabinet doors are dry, paint the front edges of the shelving units and cabinet frames. Always paint the longest part of the structure to avoid denting strokes.

Paint Cabinet sides

Paint the sides and other exposed surfaces of the cabinet. You can speed up this application with a roller, and when you do, it will re-line the rolled paint and match the surface to the rest of the unit.

Reinstall back the door and drawer

When the kitchen cabinet paint is completely dry, you need to reconnect the drawers and door, fasten the hinges to the door, and hang the door to the cabinet drawer. It is easy if you map everything correctly.