YAY or NAY on painting my own kitchen cabinets? I need advice!

Cindy
by Cindy
Help! I'm indecisive whether I should hire a professional to paint my 10-year-old, coffee colored, maple kitchen cabinets or hire a pro for around $3,000 to 4,000? I was looking to paint them a linen white color with a very faint glaze to go with my antique Labrador granite and tile floors, which may be changing to hardwood if I save the money and not hire a pro. Trying to stretch my dollar, but at the same time, not ruin the most expensive investment in my kitchen! Any advice if anyone has done one or the other. Pros and cons. Thanks so much in advance!
  15 answers
  • The Rozy Home The Rozy Home on Apr 20, 2015
    Hi Cindy! I painted mine and love the results (www.therozyhome.com/blog/kitchen-reveal). Just make sure you prep well. Sand them down evenly, clean them well (to remove dust) use a good primer, good paint (I like Sherwin Williams) and good brushes (Purdy) and you will be good to go. I took my sweet time doing them and have been happy with them.
  • Mary ruth hawkins Mary ruth hawkins on Apr 20, 2015
    I painted all of my ceilings and walls in my house so when it come to my dark kitchen cabinets I took that job on too. I will say it was the hardest job of all. If you don't mind the hard work and time you will put into them you will save money. Now everybody who walks into my kitchen makes a comment about my cabinets saying it really made my kitchen.
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Apr 20, 2015
    I painted mine and am very happy with the way they turned out. It's a lot of work, though, at every stage of the process so if you hate sanding, prepping, and painting you'll hate your life for the duration of the project.
  • Leah Rieve Heeger Leah Rieve Heeger on Apr 20, 2015
    It is a lot of work, but I'm so happy I painted my own. 3 years later I still smile when I look at them.
  • Audrey Audrey on Apr 20, 2015
    I painted mine, they are also white linen, also put on clear varnish, after they were dry, and it makes them easy to keep clean. I realy think you will be happy with then, also will brighten up the kitchen a lot.
  • Megan Wasden Robinson Megan Wasden Robinson on Apr 21, 2015
    I'm currently painting my cabinets. I was sick of the builder oak. I am using chalk paint as is requires no sanding or stripping. I'm about halfway through the process and am loving what I see. Can't wait until I'm finished! I vote for you to paint your own. Yes, it's a lot of work, but big savings doing it yourself.
  • Karen Karen on Apr 21, 2015
    I painted mine and love them
  • Cindy Cindy on Apr 21, 2015
    Thank you so much for all of the advice! Send pics if you have! I would love to see your kitchen. @Karen @mary ruth hawkins @Megan Wasden Robinson @Audrey @Leah Rieve Heeger @MaryStLouis
  • Shari Shari on Apr 21, 2015
    Painting kitchen cabinets is certainly a doable DIY project. I have not personally done it (my kitchen cabinets are already white) but I've done a lot of furniture painting and a few bathroom cabinets so I would not hesitate to paint my kitchen cabinets if they needed it. Frankly, I've read some horror stories about "professionals" who have done a terrible job so you aren't even guaranteed great results if you spend the money to hire it done. If you are unsure where to begin, talk to the paint professionals in your local paint store (some place like Sherwin Williams where they really know paint as opposed to Lowes or Home Depot sales clerks who primarily just mix paint), do some internet research, read some tutorials and/or watch some YouTube videos to get a good overview of the different products and methods (which are endless). I think if you prep well, use a good quality bonding primer and paint. and understand going into it that it is a time-consuming job that you cannot (and should not) rush, you should be able to successfully complete this project, thereby saving yourself thousands of dollars. Good luck!
  • Cindy Cindy on Apr 21, 2015
    Rose and Juju, wonderful job with your kitchen! What a transformation! @Juju (Journeys With Juju) @therozyhome No search results.
  • Dee Dee on Apr 21, 2015
    It's a big commitment and takes lots of special tools time and patience! Well worth me paying to have my own done bun a pro for a fraction of new cabinets and mine were all real wood!!! If you're a great painter with time and patience ....go for it!!!!
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Apr 21, 2015
    Here are some photos of my kitchen at our country home in the Ozarks. I went looking for photos after reading your post and have realized that while I took project photos, I have no pictures of the whole kitchen. The house is being added onto and remodeled as we speak (and we're 250 miles away) so it will be a long time before I can take a room photo. :)
  • Laurie Laurie on Apr 21, 2015
    I had a pro paint ours for less than $1,500. We were moving, and I had plenty of other things to do at the time! I did end up painting the insides myself after she was done though. I think if you have the time, and want to save the money, you could do it yourself. We removed all the doors and the hardware (which saved her some time, and us some money), and hung them ourselves when she was done. Prep is key - clean, dry and a good primer. She used and recommended Stix, which you can find at Lowe's. Good luck, whatever you decide to do! Here is a before and after: I would like to paint the backsplash tiles, and still have to figure out the proper color for the walls!! Any ideas are welcome!!
  • Diane Read Diane Read on Apr 27, 2015
    Go for it. I recently did my cabinets after getting a $3,000 quote. I used a liquid sand paper remover and General Finishes Chalk Paint. They came out great. It was a chore since I have a lot of cabinets but it was so worth it. I did them in two different colors, uppers were done in seagull gray and the bottoms in driftwood. My kitchen looks brand new. It wasn't that expensive to them, probably around $200.
  • Mary ruth hawkins Mary ruth hawkins on May 02, 2015
    Here are a few pictures of my cabinets after I painted them. Before they were very dark. Mary Ruth Hawkins