What can I do with old metal cabinets, old metal kitchen hutch?

I can't replace my metal cabnits. Any ideas what I can do? They are white. Im wanting to have a country kitchen look, but hate the white.
  14 answers
  • Judy Gray Judy Gray on Sep 17, 2014
    If you use a paint meant for metal...and clean them REALLY good, they should come out fine. You may want to remove the doors and take them outside and spray them. Choose a nice color scheme, based on your favorite colors. look online for ideas of color combinations. Be sure you don't go too dark, especially if the room is north or west facing.
  • Peggy Peggy on Sep 17, 2014
    I think you should clean them really well and use a primer before you paint. Or..have you heard of the chalk paints every one is using. Anne sloan chalk paint is just one brand available.
  • 197244 197244 on Sep 17, 2014
    What kind of look are you going for? Do you like modern, farmhouse, shabby chic, industrial? There are many options for metal. There is paint that Modern Masters Inc carries that would work on them. You can use a chalk base paint. You'd need to clean them good, but I've painted metal & it looks great.
  • Tracey Tracey on Sep 17, 2014
    Wallpaper them. You can use a paintable one. Like beadboard or another pattern and then paint them or just use as accents.
  • Tressa Lackey Walden Tressa Lackey Walden on Sep 17, 2014
    Thanks everyone ,you gave me some ideas.I wish I had a way to take pic.of it so you all can see it.The metal kitchen hutch is old,1958.miss indoor on top right side and bottom is missing the door.In my kitchen I only have the metal hutch and the sink below are those old metal cabnits.Thats all I have in the kitchen for storage.I rent,the land lord told me I can fix it or throw out the hutch in trash.but then there goes my storage.I dont have the money to buy cabnits expecially when this place isnt mine.oh ,What does the chalk paint do,never heard of it before.
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on Sep 18, 2014
    Cover them with burlap,or chalk paint, then you can write messages all over each cabinet,if your landlord approves.the chalk paint is not reversible.i like a combination of burlap and chalk paint. P.s. Chalk paint now comes in multiple colors!fun!
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Sep 18, 2014
    I bought a house built in 1930 and it had 3 pieces of those old metal cabinets, love them! I painted them with Krylon, although I think I'd use something else next time. They are so light that I was able to take them outside and scrub them, then rinse with the water hose.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 18, 2014
    After cleaning, you need to treat any rust...inside and out. There are a lot of colors between black and white. Some of the light mocha and light grays are pretty and will give you that country look. And it is trendy now to paint the upper cabinets a light shade and the bottom ones darker...it is a matter of taste. I have not used chalk paint, but from all the praise it is getting, I would certainly investigate it...there are waxes, accent colors...all kinds of suggestions...use your imagination. Look on line at ANN SLOAN CHALK PAINTS and you will see all sort of things! Good luck and post photos. Also, you can google making your own chalk paint! Or ask for how to make it here on HT! We want to see before and after photos.
  • BR BR on Sep 19, 2014
    Scrub the cabinets well, then pencil a simple folk art on the existing doors. I've seen this done on metal cabinets before and it's striking. Cut out and decoupage pieces of cloth making the cabinets look like they're appliqued.
  • Tressa Lackey Walden Tressa Lackey Walden on Sep 19, 2014
    Thanks everyone.
  • Tressa Lackey Walden Tressa Lackey Walden on Sep 23, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Judy Gray Judy Gray on Sep 24, 2014
    @Tressa Lackey Walden I have seen some cabinets with wall paper behind the shelves or a paint color different than the outside color. I have also seen graphics stenciled on the doors for a really different look. Simple and fun. slender, straight lines in descending order can give a deco sort of look, which is rather in the style of the era.
  • The Chirping Frog The Chirping Frog on Sep 30, 2014
    Paint, wallpaper, decoupage.... lots of great options.
  • Lara Kulpa Lara Kulpa on Aug 25, 2016
    Try just painting very thick horizontal stripe along the middle in a really bright, fun color OR a neutral just off from the main color. These cabinets are more 40's and 50's mod than art deco (20's), so I wouldn't really go with trying to make them look retro at all. Do something modern and bright to liven up the space. I grew up worshipping the 'retro' feel of my Grammy's kitchen cabinets, and I remember her saying she hated them forever... well, she's gone now and I'm raising my family in this kitchen and can't WAIT to fix up my own metal kitchen cabinets!