To paint or NOT to paint?

Question

Here are 3 pics of my  25 yr. old kitchen. The latest trend is painting cupboards,  & I'm wondering... Should I paint these cupboards white? Or possibly a seafood green? Or not?

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Personally I would stain them for a new update as I am not a fan of painting cabinets. So many colors to choose from. Research Min Wax.com. With that as well changing out the hardware will also aid with a different style.

Cindy Hagemann · Answer

Painting would certainly update the dated cabinets. I see you have new pulls and beautiful appliances. Any color you choose for you home, would work. Personally, I like a more neutral color - such as off-white for cabinets. Updating the countertop might be a consideration too - since once you paint the cabinets, you will them look at the countertops and realize they are next! One thing leads to another in DIY Home Improvement!

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Personally and this comes from experience- I would not paint your cabinets. I would update the walls, countertop, drawer handles and pulls, and decor before I would paint. I have painted cabinets that were mismatched or ugly (homemade ones) with beautiful results but if you are not 100% on prep and painting cabinets you can have scratching and scuffing. Oak cabinets are classic look that if you took down that wallpaper and painted a rich color in your kitchen (think a darker seafoam green since you are leaning towards that color) the kitchen will dramatically change. The countertop is what dates your kitchen and today there are so many options for countertops. I would even spray paint the drawer pulls and knobs with a black or rubbed oil bronze and that will update too! I love painting but your cabinets looks great and painting is a time consuming process that if not done right can be bad. good luck

Donna Dame · Answer

Honestly, I would not touch the cabinets.  They look solid and in good condition, the hardware is up to date.  The vast majority of time the reason cabinets are painted is because they are bad looking...but yours are not!  If you want to update the kitchen, ditch the wall paper and put in a nice neutral base color.  Then start looking at all of the INCREDIBLE wall art and storage options on here to make your kitchen a whole new place!  You will be MUCH happier leaving good cabinets in place rather than going through the upset it will take to strip down and re-do your kitchen...especially if you have children who need to eat on a regular basis!  If you think I am wrong, ask a realtor to come through your house and take a look at it....they will do this for free...I can pretty much tell you that leaving those cabinets alone is your best bet (maybe a counter upgrade to granite depending on where you live and the housing market)!  There are much easier and less stressful ways to update your kitchen AND make your inner craft demon happy!

Cheryl Baar · Answer

Hi Mickey for what's it's  worth  we moved from our old home where had gutted our kitchen and redid the whole thing including custom cabinets our new home had oak cabinets like yours I was very disappointed I had to leave my natural cherry cabinets but I decided I wanted a french  country look so I base coated my cabinets a cream color then I crackle glazed them very slightly not big crackle then I antiqued them but wait I didn't stop there I took a 3-D stencil that was raised vines and grapes and put them in two corners not to much hand painted them and then distressed them ever so lightly put a clear coat on them 18 years later I still love them morrow of the story do what your heart tells you. If you don't want to paint them all just do top and leave the bottom natural or remove  the glass in some to give a new look and paint the inside a favorite color go slow if you are scared it is YOUR kitchen do what pleases you. Take care, good luck Cher aka retired designer

Connie · Answer

I agree with Janet on staining them.  The stain they have now is different tones of color and staining them would upgrade them. Pick your favorite stain color and build off of that color in your walls, curtains and backsplash, new countertops if it's in the budget otherwise they could work with the new stain because their neutral.   Good luck!

B J Alexis · Answer

I wouldn't paint perfectly good cabinets just because it is the latest trend.  Should you still be in the same house when the trend changes...what then.  What may be bothering you is the bland pale colors--try repainting the walls surrounding the cabinets a more bold color, or just a couple of the walls a more bold color.  Pick one of the colors in the valance above the sink and see how much a couple of walls painted a new color would change your perspective.  Painting cabinets is not as easy and more expensive than you may have been led to believe.

Darline · Answer

My cabinets are 53 years old, they are birch and were darker than yours; definitely not in as good condition.  I let my daughter paint them white, have a pump color paint on the walls and white beadboard backsplash.  Decorated with 40' abd 50's objects in needed places, it works for me.  Wouldn't paint yours, but might consider wall color, they even make paint for countertops now.  Go where your heart tells you.

Joni.choate · Answer

You also could paint them white, then glaze them in dark brown.  Wipe most of the glaze off, leaving in cracks & crevices.  End up with a soft creme antique  look.

Howard · Answer

Sounds like you want some change. Well, change something else, not your cabinets. Maybe re-stain them.  They look nice.

Teresa · Answer

I have maple cabinets that are 20 yrs old. Yours appear to be in very good shape. Mine are also - just got a bit darker over the yrs is to be expected.  I would leave them alone and find another less drastic way to get some kind of change.  BTW, I also have tile countertops. Love yours.

Michelle · Answer

I love the wood. White would be ok but I think the lip of wood around your tile counter would chip after a bit of time and then you would just get frustrated after a while and wish you never did the project. If anything, It would take FOREVER to do but if you sanded the wood and stained it a farm house green or even milk paint. That would be nice.

Mary Cae Orazem Weaver · Answer

You are going to open a can of worms.If you paint it white your white backsplash, and White tile cabinet tops will be questionable.Find a friend who has good decorating ideas.

D roach · Answer

could you not just change the handles, think you would be amazed at the change a small thing can make.

Patsy · Answer

Yes,white.

Judy Fitzpatrick · Answer

Recently did a kitchen update - similar cabinets, my husband too was not a fan of painting wood - I changed out the counter tops to a dark laminate - updated appliances to the white with gray and stainless steel - absolutely amazed at the result - the cabinets look awesome - no more need to paint them.

Kit · Answer

If your house also has the same type of cabinets in one of your bathrooms ......you can use that as your practice cabinet and then decide if you want to tackle the project of all the cabinets in the kitchen. I painted my bathroom cabinets white and it made a huge difference in a small bathroom. After that I was able to do the kitchen with more confidence.   Also you may find that it would be to your advantage to find someone who would spray paint the doors for you at a decent price as they are the most time consuming. You could paint the cabinets and drawers yourself as they don't take as much time and you could probably get those done in a couple of weekends.
Good Luck!!

Crg341889 · Answer

I would paint - either color would look great, and so would both. White on bottom, sea foam on top.

Mon2913831 · Answer

I would paint walls, update counter and change curtain , backsplash.

𝕭𝖗𝖔𝖈𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊 𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 · Answer

Go white...better to go neutral and add your seafoam green accents. Then if you get tired of that color you don't have to repaint. I made the mistake of going red with my lower cabinets...ended up tired of the color three years later..

Helen McGroarty · Answer

I would go with the all white, but that's a personal preference. Did my 10yr old kitchen about 2 years ago, and it made a HUGE impact (I think). If you are considering updating the countertops on a budget, check out Encore Decorative Countertops, http://www.encorecountertop.com/index.php?pag.... It's time intensive, but not difficult. The family has to be okay with the kitchen being out of commision for about 3 days, but it's worth the time and effort. Attaching before and after pics for you.

Queenie bell · Answer

I would, getting ready before the holidays

Connie Jelinek · Answer

No, no,no, I have painted cupboards, white on just plyboard,  I would love to have your cupboards.  Painted cupboards show everything.

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