Updating your kitchen doesn’t on a regular basis must suggest gutting it. Typically, primarily probably the most beautiful transformations come from one factor as simple as painting your kitchen cabinets. It’s a high-ROI home enchancment enterprise that’s budget-friendly and will totally refresh your space.
To curate this document, I reached out to my Instagram group of home DIY fanatics – people who’ve effectively reworked their very personal kitchens. Their real-life solutions and mannequin insights current wise suggestions on deciding on the easiest paint for kitchen cabinets. Whether or not or not you’re looking for a quick short-term exchange or a additional sturdy, expert finish, these community-tested picks and concepts will help data you via the strategy.

Strategies to color kitchen cabinets for a factory-smooth finish
Deciding on the easiest paint for kitchen cabinets isn’t almost shade, although shade does make a significant impression on the kitchen’s whole look. Kitchen cabinets take plenty of day-to-day placed on – greasy palms, spills and infinite opening and shutting. With parts like sturdiness, VOC ranges, drying time and ease of software program to ponder, the right paint will look good and stand as much as the day-to-day requires of your kitchen with out the need for frequent touch-ups.
1. Start with a sturdy top quality primer
Making use of primer will set the stage for a flawless, sturdy finish. Think about it as making a powerful foundation sooner than you add the colour.
Zinsser BIN Primer: Recognized for great adhesion, Zinsser BIN is a shellac-based primer that’s best possible for blocking stains and sealing in any grease or odors from the kitchen.
Zinsser 123 Primer: This water-based varied is user-friendly and quick-drying, which makes it good for many who’re attempting to knock out your enterprise quickly. Quite a lot of people talked about that it adheres successfully and provides a {{smooth}} base.
2. Choose the right paint
V33 Cupboard Paint
V33 Cupboard and Cabinet Paint is broadly praised for its sturdiness, standing as a lot as stains and scratches whereas staying up to date.
Standout Qualities: Significantly designed for cabinets, providing a sturdy, washable finish that resists frequently placed on.
Why It’s Worth considering: For lasting outcomes, V33 is an excellent selection. Some prospects report it seems to be like merely just about nearly as good years later.
French Fashionable Alfresco Paint
Frenchic’s Alfresco range is all about ease and outcomes. This paint generally doesn’t require a primer, so it’s selection for many who’re attempting to offer your kitchen a quick short-term makeover and hoping to cut out a step throughout the course of.
Standout Qualities: Frenchic Alfresco provides a sturdy, chalky finish that cures to be pretty sturdy as quickly because it’s completely dry. It’s a tremendous select to ensure that you a matte, delicate look.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Frenchic provides a {{smooth}}, velvety finish and is sweet for indoor initiatives, notably in smaller areas.
Rust-oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint
Rust-oleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint is one different favourite, notably for these looking for a professional-quality finish with out the skilled price tag. It has great safety, and considerably goes a terrific distance, making it budget-friendly.
Standout Qualities: Instagram DIYers rave about Rust-oleum’s {{smooth}} software program and high-quality finish. Its technique is good for kitchen cabinets, and it’s accessible in a variety of shades to swimsuit any design.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Rust-Oleum delivers a refined, premium look with out the premium price, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious renovators.

Annie Sloan
Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint is a popular choice for kitchen cabinets, recognized for its ease of software program and its matte, chalky finish that gives a rustic, basic contact to any kitchen.
Standout Qualities: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is versatile, adhering successfully to quite a few surfaces without having primer or sanding in plenty of circumstances. Its ultra-matte finish creates a singular, textured look that will add character to kitchen cabinets, and it’s obtainable in quite a lot of warmth, earthy colors. The paint could be low in VOCs, making it safer to utilize indoors.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is sweet for many who’re looking for a quick, ingenious exchange to your cabinets with out in depth prep. However, it may require a topcoat or wax finish for added sturdiness in high-traffic areas, as a result of the matte finish could be liable to stains and scratches in busy kitchens.

Little Greene Intelligent Satin
Little Greene is renowned for its high-quality paints. Their Intelligent Satin finish is particularly favoured for kitchen cabinets, as a consequence of its sturdiness and aesthetic attraction. I’ve used it in my very own residence on the doorways and panelling in our utility room and I adore it’s delicate low-sheen finish.
Standout Qualities: It provides a tough, washable finish, that’s best possible for furnishings and kitchen cabinets. It’s designed to face up to stains and scratches, guaranteeing longevity. It’s low VOC too, making it an environmentally nice choice.
Why It’s Worth Considering: It provides great safety and a {{smooth}} finish. Its sturdiness makes it a reliable selection for kitchen cabinets, sustaining its look over time.

Benjamin Moore Advance
Benjamin Moore Advance could be very regarded for its sturdiness and {{smooth}}, expert finish, making it a best option for kitchen cabinets.
Standout Qualities: This waterborne inside alkyd paint provides the durability of oil-based paint with the straightforward cleanup of water-based paint. It provides great levelling, resulting in a {{smooth}}, brushstroke-free finish. Plus, it’s low in VOCs, making it safer for indoor use.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Recognized for its long-lasting, hard-wearing finish, Benjamin Moore Advance is praised by DIYers and professionals alike. Whereas it may require longer drying situations between coats, the result is a resilient, polished look that’s successfully positively definitely worth the wait.

Farrow and Ball Stylish Eggshell
Farrow & Ball is famous for its luxurious, high-quality colours, nonetheless it’s a bit of little bit of a blended bag for kitchen cabinets. Some people I spoke to felt it wasn’t pretty sturdy ample for high-traffic use. Others talked about that they found it troublesome to make use of with out brush marks, so cautious prep is essential for attaining educated look.
Standout Qualities: Stylish Eggshell provides a {{smooth}}, low-sheen finish that resists scuffs and is easy to clean. It’s low in VOCs, making it safer for indoor use.
Why It’s Worth Considering: Farrow & Ball’s rich colours add sophistication to any kitchen.
Preparation
Even with the easiest paint, your outcomes depend on good prep. Listed beneath are the steps you don’t want to skip:
- Clear: First, clear your cabinets utterly with sugar cleansing cleaning soap or a grease-cutting cleaner. Nothing kills a paint job faster than grime beneath the paint.
- Sand Flippantly: For optimum adhesion, give your cabinets a light-weight sanding. You don’t should go too laborious – merely ample to robust up the ground considerably.
- Prime (If Wished): In case you’re using Zinsser BIN or 123, that’s the time to make use of it. Even when the paint you choose says “no primer needed,” priming can nonetheless add extra sturdiness.
Utility concepts
Utility points merely as so much as paint top quality. Proper right here’s the best way to get the easiest outcomes:
- Use Foam Rollers: A small foam roller helps avoid brush strokes and presents a {{smooth}}, even finish.
- Brush for Particulars: For cabinet edges and corners, use a high-quality brush to avoid streaks.
- Take Your Time Between Coats: Allow each coat to dry utterly sooner than making use of the following. Some paints moreover need curing time to reach full sturdiness. Check the instructions in your paint for specifics.

Errors to avoid when you paint kitchen cupboards
When painting kitchen cabinets, a lot of widespread errors may end up in a less-than-perfect finish. Listed beneath are some pitfalls to watch out for:
- Skipping the Prep Work: Grease, mud, and former gloss can forestall paint from sticking. Clear and sand your cupboards utterly sooner than you start.
- Deciding on the Fallacious Paint: Not all paints are fitted to cabinets. Seek for sturdy, cabinet-specific paints like Benjamin Moore Advance or Rustoleum Kitchen Cupboard Paint for a long-lasting finish.
- Ignoring Primer: A primer helps paint adhere larger and provides a {{smooth}} flooring. Use a high quality primer like Zinsser 123 to avoid peeling and chipping.
- Dashing Dry Time: Allow each coat to dry completely sooner than making use of the following. Dashing by the use of dry situations can result in streaks and smudges.
- Skipping the Topcoat: A clear topcoat on high-traffic cabinets offers extra sturdiness and shine, notably for many who’ve chosen a matt or satin paint finish.
With consideration to these steps, your kitchen cupboards could have a {{smooth}}, expert look that lasts!