Painting Kitchen Cabinets? Don’t Make These 10 Common Mistakes
DIY paint projects are a great way to stay occupied and immerse yourself in an enjoyable task. While they remain an excellent way to pass the time, they are often challenging, making you prone to errors.
You’ll need to check that the final product is satisfactory. To ensure this, you’ll need to know what to look out for. Read on to discover the ten most common mistakes you might make when painting kitchen cabinets:
1. Picking The Wrong Paint Color
You must take extra care when selecting a suitable color for your kitchen cabinets. While there is no right or wrong for color selection, ensure the shade you pick blends well with your decorating style. The right shade should complement not only the walls but the decor too.
To avoid this common mistake, use a poster board in the shade you like and hold it against the cabinets. This should help you determine if it blends with the surroundings. Alternatively, you can also look through color trends to narrow down your preferences.
2. Not Prepping The Cabinet Surfaces
The first step to any procedure is preparation and this includes wiping and sanding the cabinets. Sanding ensures the paint adheres to the surfaces, giving them a matte finish.
Make sure you wipe down the cabinets using a grease remover and let it dry. Failure to prep the cabinets often results in the paint peeling off the surfaces. This means you risk incurring costs in materials.
3. Leaving Dust On The Surfaces
Dust is one of the main factors contributing to a shoddy paint job. Leaving dust makes the surfaces look clumsy, full of bumps and grit. What’s more, the paint will chip away in a short time. Use a vacuum or sweep away the dust with a brush to ensure the cabinets are smooth and clean.
4. Failure To Use A Primer
Use a primer immediately after sanding and cleaning off the dust. A primer gives the wood a nice clean finish and prevents unpleasant bumps from appearing on the surface. It also helps the paint stick.
5. Not Dismantling The Cabinets While Painting
Another crucial component to preparation is taking apart the bits and pieces. First, dismantle the cabinet doors and shelves. Placing them on a flat surface makes it easier for prepping and painting.
It would be difficult to paint all the surfaces while still attached to the walls. Additionally, ensure you remove all small and moving parts such as hinges, knobs, and screws. Painting over these parts results in cracks and chips on the surface, decreasing the aesthetic appeal of your decor.
6. Not Labeling The Cabinet Parts
Parts are bound to get lost once you dismantle them. Fortunately, you can avoid this by labeling all the components. Label the cabinet doors and shelves so you know what each part does.
Also, remember to include the location in the tags to make it easier to replace all items. Keep the screws and other small hardware in a small container or jar to prevent them from getting lost.
7. Leaving Old Paint On
Always get rid of old paint before putting on a new coat. You can do this either by scraping it off or by using paint removers or thinners. You’ll get them at your local hardware or supermarket. Getting rid of old paint ensures the new coat sticks, improving the quality of the finishing.
8. Using Low-Quality Paint
Applying high-quality paint will not only add to the aesthetic appeal of your cabinets but also protects them from wear and tear. On the other hand, using low-quality products undermines your craft. Don’t cut costs when it comes to the quality of your paint. Poor-quality paint will only last a few weeks before it chips and peels off.
9. Not Allocating Enough Time To The Project
DIYs are a time-consuming venture. You’ll need to carefully estimate the amount of time necessary for each step, from prepping to drying. Not allocating enough time could result in sub-standard work leading to redoing the work from scratch.
10. Inadequate Drying Time
The excitement of finishing the project could make you underestimate the time it takes for paint to dry. It will take some time for it to cure fully. Resist the temptation to touch or poke at the surfaces before they are dry.
Painting kitchen cabinets, when done carefully, can be a satisfying process. With these tips in mind, you’ll have an easier time with the next DIY paint project you undertake.
