Should I Paint that? The Insides of Kitchen Cabinets

You might remember our post on painting cabinets from our “Should I Paint that? Series.” We mentioned how painting your kitchen cabinets is a wonderful way to increase the value of your home and inject some new color into your kitchen. (If you’re interested in reading more about how painting can add value to your kitchen, check out our post, “The Power of Paint in the Kitchen.”) In our post on painting cabinets, we only briefly mentioned painting the inside of your cabinets. So today, we’re going to address that very topic in detail.   

Why don’t more people paint the inside of their cabinets?

Painting the insides of cabinets is not a common practice, and here’s why. 

Most kitchen cabinets are already stained or sealed on the inside to protect against wear and tear. Manufacturers realize that you will be storing things like cans and cooking utensils inside of the cabinets, so the insides need to be protected. 

Because the insides are mostly hidden from view, most people only worry about the surfaces of the cabinets that can be seen. Maybe if cabinets did not have doors, more people would spruce up the insides. 

Then there’s the costs. Painting the insides of cabinets will cost two things: time and money. Painting the outsides of cabinets is time consuming. You have to remove the hardware, remove old chipped paint, repair scratches and holes, clean thoroughly, prime, paint, and reassemble. 

By the time most people paint the outsides, they aren’t in the mood to repeat the process on the insides of their cabinets. And, of course, it requires more paint. 

Why you might want to paint the interiors of your cabinets

If we haven’t scared you away, then chances are that you’re serious about painting the insides of your kitchen cabinets. And why wouldn’t you be? Though it is entirely optional, if opening your cabinets to see a fresh new color makes you happy, then do it. 

Some people will paint the insides of their cabinets with a color that contrasts with the exterior. The contrast provides a surprise pop of color that can feel exciting. And you can feel certain that your kitchen is unique. 

How to paint the insides of your kitchen cabinets?

Photo Credit: https://watermark-designs.com/

Painting the interior of your cabinets is not much different from painting the exterior. 

First, determine the material your cabinets are made of. Are they wood, laminate, or metal? And what condition are they in? Typically, wood is easier to paint than laminate or metal because paint adheres to wood surfaces much better than harder, slicker surfaces. Determining the material and condition of your cabinets will tell you what type of paint you will need, and how much work it will take to prepare the surfaces for that paint. 

Next, clear out the content of the cabinets. Remove all of the boxes, cans, and cooking utensils. Relocate them to a place where you can access them when needed as this process may take a couple of days. 

Then, remove the doors, drawers, and hardware. Any hardware that will be in your way as your prep, prime, and paint the insides of the cabinets should be removed. 

The next step depends on whether the insides of your cabinets have been painted before, and if they are in good shape or not. If there is old, chipped paint in the cabinets, then you will need to remove the old paint. Once the old, chipped paint is removed, you can give the insides a good sanding. Sanding is important because it smooths out rough surfaces, but it also makes the surface rough enough for the primer to adhere to. 

Once the surfaces are sanded, clean them thoroughly, removing any dust or debris. If you’re looking for a great cleaning product, try TSP. It does a wonderful job at cleaning just about any surface. But be careful—it can be harsh on the skin and harmful if the fumes are inhaled or come into contact with any mucus membranes. If you use TSP, wear protective gear. Also read the directions carefully and allow the surface enough time to dry before the next step. 

The next step is to fix any deep scratches or holes using wood putty. During this step, you can fill in holes from old hardware if you plan on installing new hardware that requires different positioning. Again, give the surfaces a good wipe down. 

Finally, it’s time for the fun part—priming and painting! As we mentioned earlier, be sure to choose the right paint for the surface you’re covering. And whatever paint you choose, be sure that the primer is the same. For example, if you’re using latex paint, then you should use latex primer as well. 

Give the insides of your cabinets an even coating of primer, and allow it to dry. Once that first coat has dried, apply a second coat, and give that enough time to dry. Always consult the directions of the products as they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. 

Once the primer is dry, you can apply your paint of choice. We recommend using a roller and a good edging brush. And because the insides of your cabinets are likely unlit and dark, use a good light to prevent missing spots or applying unevenly. After the first coat has dried, apply a second coat. Finally, it’s time to reassemble the hardware, doors, and drawers, and to move the contents of the cabinets back into place. You can now enjoy the fruits of your labor every time you open your cabinets! 

If you’re interested in freshening up the insides of your kitchen cabinets, but don’t want to undertake the amount of work it requires, Paint Positive is happy to help. As the leading experts in Northeast Ohio in all things paint, we would love to speak with you about your next home paint project. 

Contact us today for your free consultation!