When deciding on interior painting, many homeowners are overwhelmed with decisions. The decision to paint a kitchen is one of the main stressors. There are so many options for painting a kitchen. Many think the kitchen is an easy room to paint themselves. However, it is one of the most difficult, and the most time-consuming rooms to paint. While there are typically fewer paintable surface areas to cover, the amount of masking off and protecting in a kitchen is tremendous. Options for painting a kitchen are many and may be best left to professional painters.
Some questions you may want to ask yourself
- Do you paint only the walls, or include the trim and ceilings?
- What about painting the cabinets, or should you replace them?
- And the biggest stumbling block, what color is best for a kitchen?
Spraying vs. Brush and Roll in Different Stages
If the kitchen is under construction or is currently being fully remodeled, painting the kitchen can be much easier. Painting a kitchen that does not yet have cabinets or flooring installed can simply be sprayed with a paint sprayer. Spraying is a lot less time-consuming and less expensive than the traditional brush and roll technique. The options for painting a kitchen are greatly increased if the kitchen is complete and just needs a repaint.
Trim, Ceilings, and Choosing the Right Finish
Deciding on painting the trim and ceilings when painting a kitchen is a personal one. Most people decide to paint the full kitchen if they’re remodeling for themselves. This decision leaves the entire kitchen looking updated, fresh, and clean. If they are painting for resale, the typical choice is only to paint the parts that look dirty or worn.
Most professional painters recommend a satin or semi-gloss finish in a kitchen. Since the kitchen is the most popular room in a home, it gets a lot of traffic and abuse. Additionally, the mess from food and grease splatter can create a surface that needs a lot of cleaning. The paint in a kitchen must be able to stand up to stains and mildew as well. Both satin and semi-gloss finish is best for these situations.
The Cost-Effective Impact of Painting Cabinets
Another set of options for painting a kitchen is the cabinets. Many older homes have “dated” honey oak-colored cabinets. Replacing cabinets can be very expensive. A less expensive solution many people are turning to is to paint them. Painting cabinets can completely change the look of the kitchen. It can update and refresh an older-looking style. Further, painting cabinets can be 50-75% less expensive than replacing the cabinets! If the decision is made to paint your cabinets, it is best to hire a professional. You will want to make sure you are hiring a professional with experience and knowledge in the area of cabinet painting. Painting cabinets is a much different process than painting walls or trim.
Choosing Colors for Your Kitchen
Color selection is another one of the huge options for painting a kitchen. If the kitchen is part of an open-concept area, color experts recommend the same color for the entire space. If the kitchen is separate from other rooms, you can more easily choose a different color. The main goal in color selection is to ensure you are creating a cohesive feeling throughout the home.
There is a lot of research available online about the psychology of color and which colors are best for different situations. The fast food industry and restaurants in general spend a lot of money on choosing “just the right color” to create the environment they want to achieve. Luckily that information is readily available to help the average homeowner in color selection.
With so many options for painting a kitchen available, it’s best to do some homework before deciding on how to proceed! Selecting a good professional painter is always a good choice.
