The Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets & Tips on how to start

If you are considering a kitchen update, think about painting your cabinets to save money and stress. To start painting while still using your kitchen you need to know The Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets & Tips on how to start with the process.

Do you love seeing all these beautifully renovated kitchens because it is really time to update your own kitchen? You wish you could afford it but buying new is just not in your budget right now. Also remodeling your kitchen is too time-consuming, and too much hassle for you right now?

I have an easy solution for you if you are considering updating your kitchen cabinets, RV cabinets, or even a bathroom vanity. It can really take the overwhelm out of a wish for a more modern or stylish-looking kitchen.

Just paint it!!!

Yes, it is absolutely doable and I can show you how!

You just need to know some basic information. For example, what is The Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets & Tips on how to start

If I have convinced you or you are starting to think about painting the cabinets of your kitchen or RV but you have no clue how to start, here are all the tips for the Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets, RV Cabinets:

First of all, you need to know what is the best paint to use. How to prepare the cabinets, what is step 2 and 3, and 4?

Let’s start with step 1. Which paint should you use?

There are different types of paint:

• Latex paint
• Oil-based paints
• Acrylic paints
• Milk paint

The best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets & Tips on how to start

1.Latex Paint/Water-based Paint

Latex paints are water-based and are probably the most affordable paints. In addition, it is very easy to clean once it is dry!

Latex paint is safer to use since it produces fewer fumes, but you still need ventilation while painting.

However, it can require a great deal of prep work to get good results.

Water-based paint is ideal for RVs, you can use it inside in smaller spaces because of fewer fumes.

2.Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paint is a very popular choice because of its durability and moisture resistance. However, oil-based paints dry harder which provides great resistance to wear and tear but there is not a lot of flexibility within the paint.

That results that oil-based paints being more likely to crack, dry out, and become brittle over time. Also, the fumes are much higher, therefore make sure to have proper ventilation while painting inside.

Oil-based paints are hard to dispose of, need solvents to clean up and are highly flammable and yellow with age. I don’t recommend using oil-based paints.

3.Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is chemical-based which makes it more elastic. However, it is not recommended to use in an RV as acrylic paint can produce dangerous fumes.

But now there are also new paints on the market that are easier and safer to use and don’t need a long dry time.

New Alkyd-based paints are more expensive than traditional wall paint.

I would only suggest you go with either Sherwin Williams Emerald Paint or Benjamin Moore Advance paints if you decide on a bright white paint color.

The reason why is that you don’t need to add a Top Coat for protection to it. A Top Coat tends to add a yellowing effect after some time to the finish.

Please take my word, you don’t want to use Valspar Cabinet and Furniture Paint. I used it once and hated it. It is hard to paint with and it scratches easily after a couple of days. Not really worth the money.

4.Milk Paint

Milk Paint is my absolute favorite paint for indoor painting. First of all, it doesn’t smell and is easy to use.

“Milk Paint can be made from milk and lime, generally with pigments added for color.

It is extremely durable, often lasting for many years if protected from the elements. It is made of all-natural ingredients and is very safe and non-toxic once applied”.

The downside is that it is more expensive than water-based paint but cheaper than acrylic paint.

I use Milk Paint for almost everything because it doesn’t smell. When I painted my RV cabinets it was absolutely no issue to do so while living in it. Sure, I left the door open while I painted, but it has no dangerous fumes while applying.

I have never used a primer when I painted with Milk Paint. However, I would suggest using a primer when you apply the paint to unfinished wood (because it sucks in the paint and you use more of the more expensive paint). I would also use a primer when painting a very dark wood with a light color, or if the wood is stained.

After you have decided which paint you want to use – I recommend you use Milk Paint – here are the steps to take in order to paint your cabinets:

More detailed information on Latex vs. Acrylic Paint can be read here: https://generalfinishes.com/faq/what-difference-between-latex-and-acrylic-paint

If you want to use your kitchen while painting the cabinets, I highly recommend using Milk Paint because it has no toxic fumes.

Although professionals recommend acrylic paints (and they cover really good), I can not use them because of the fumes that give me a headache.

The steps to take when you paint your cabinets with Milk Paint:

Step 1: The first thing you want to do is prepare the cabinets’ surface. It is a good idea to remove the doors and hardware and take them to a covered place where they can dry overnight.

Step 2: Use TSP or a deglosser and clean the cabinets thoroughly. After that, lightly sand over it, using 220-grit sandpaper. Don’t forget to wipe off all the dust before you start painting.

Step 3: If the cabinets have cracks, scratches, or small holes, you want to use wood filler to fix that first. Let the filler dry and then sand it smooth.

I recommend using a primer first because it will save you paint. Also, if the cabinets are very dark and you want to go light, you want to consider using a primer first because it is cheaper than adding 3 coats of paint.

Step 4: Paint the cabinets once. Let dry overnight. When the paint is completely dry, lightly sand over it, wipe the dust off and then add another coat of paint.

Step 5: Use Top Coat from General Finishes to add at least 3 coats if you used a light paint color. This coat helps to protect the paint from scratches and chipping. So please do not skip this step. It goes very fast as the Top Coat dries within a couple of hours. It also adds a satin finish to the cabinets and is very easy to keep clean.

If you choose a dark color, do NOT apply the topcoat. It leaves a milky finish and doesn’t look good on dark cabinets. Use chalk wax to wipe on your dark-painted cabinets.

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The best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets & Tips on how to start and you can see me doing it on video

Do you want to see how to paint cabinets? Are you scared to start the process on your own? You need a friend to show you how to do it???

I made this fast and easy course for you, where you can see all the tips and tricks on video with your own eyes:

• You will see what brushes and rollers to use,
• how the paint looks on the cabinets,
• how long it takes
• and how difficult or easy it is to do.

If you need all the steps visually, get on the waiting list for the video guide right here. It helps you to decide if the paint works well with your cabinets (because I am painting different types/colors of cabinets), you see the whole process and you can make a decision so much easier for yourself.

No more excuses.

SIGN UP HERE:

This is a very good alternative paint (The best paint for kitchen cabinets)

Another amazing paint I just tried a couple of days ago is

Heirloom Traditions Paint All in one.

This paint claims no primer and no topcoat needed. So of course, I didn’t believe it and bought a quart of paint to try it out. And yes, this paint is amazing.

Here is the color chart for the Heirloom Traditions Paint All in One: (I tried out the dark blue color POLO)

I am recommending Milk Paint because it has no toxic fumes, especially if you paint your kitchen that you will use during the painting process. You don’t want to sit in toxic fumes while eating.

So the Heirloom Traditions Paint has very little fumes, I could hardly smell anything. The steps I took painting this cabinet door were:

• I cleaned the door with TSP and wiped it dry.
• Added one cover of Heirloom Traditions paint and let dry for about 2-3 hours.
• Added another coat of Heirloom Traditions paint and let dry over night.
• The next day I did the scratch test and it came out amazing.

Therefore I can recommend this paint, I tried it on a honey oak cabinet and this is how it looks now:

This is of course an amazing paint option if you want to get done as fast as possible. And who doesn’t want to get it done fast?

So this paint is more expensive than Milk Paint, but it only requires two coats of paint. The cabinet was a honey oak cabinet and it came out really great using Heirloom Traditions paint in the color polo.

Here is a link to check out Heirloom Traditions Paint if you want to.

Get a sample and try it out before you start with painting the cabinets. Getting a sample before is actually mandatory so you are sure that you like the color you chose.

But I am very impressed with how the cabinet door looks after just 2 paint covers. No sanding, no primer no topcoat.

If you have no time and want this project done fast, this is a very good option for you.

I will see you soon – can’t wait.

Conny

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