What to do about Ugly kitchen cabinets?

Question

The kitchen in my new house (along with everything else) needs some work but after buying the home and with a baby on the way definitely strapped for money.  I think painting the room and the cabinets will help a lot but I cant even tell if they are laminate or wood and even the inside of the cabinets are painted some horrible color (red and white outside, brown inside).  Does anyone know how to tell if they are laminate or have thoughts on colors and painting the interior?

Alison Savill · Answer

Check to see if it as a grain look to it if it doesn’t it’s laminate

17335038 · Answer

Painting the kitchen walls a lighter, more neutral color, even though it will take more than one coat, will be much easier than painting the cabinets. I would advise to leave the cabinets for now, and focus on getting moved in, and staying healthy to welcome the new baby when they arrive.

I do not see any knobs on the cabinet doors. In my opinion this is impractical, as it makes it so much harder to keep the doors clean.

For a quick and inexpensive face lift to the cabinets, you could add white knobs. This would soften the bright red, and integrate the white appliances.

HC · Answer

Kilz and paint. We recently went through a similar project with 1980s blue! Be sure to label what cabinet doors go where--we learned this the hard way! Add modern hardware to the doors. Hopefully, you can find all that you need at Walmart. If not, ask people at Lowes if there will be any paint sells going on in the future. Rome wasn't built in a day! Don't let it stress you!

Eloise · Answer

I've had extremely good luck with Rustoleums Cabinet Transformations. The kits include everything you need to refinish your cabinets including the cleaner. The best part is there is no sanding required and no 'use in a well ventilated area' restriction. Cleanup with soap and water.

Check out the colors at these 2 sites: http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/transformations/cabinet-transformations-dark-kit

http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/transformations/cabinet-transformations-light-kit

From the website: Rust-Oleum® Cabinet Transformations® is a revolutionary do-it-yourself coating system that will completely change the look of your cabinets in three simple steps.

Perfect for kitchen cabinets, bath vanities and furniture
Easy to use, no special skills required
No stripping, no sanding, no priming

Optional Decorative Glaze lets you create your custom look

Dee · Answer

I agree with HC,. First Lightly sand the cabinets, use a good primer with hiding properties. Sand again. Then paint the color of your choice. If it is laminate the primer will work well for that. Use a good paint, Advance or SW acrylic paint. Then you will not need to seal. I would get a paint sprayer, I have a Wagner and it is about $79 and works great.

Rose P · Answer

Try to match the white of the frames , then you only have to paint the doors and drawer fronts for now, I agree anything is a lot for you right now so make your husband do it.

Emily · Answer

It seems that you have a lot on your plate just now. Could you afford to have someone paint just the inside of your cupboards? Then you could put everything away and you do have wonderful storage. I would go white. My advise would be to wait to paint. concentrate on generally getting the house in order and taking care of yourself. My daughter moved into her first house with an 18 month old and did do all her cupboards. That was 24 years ago and they have held up great. Good luck with everything in your life!

Clinch · Answer

https://www.forrent.com/blog/apt_life/update-your-cabinets-with-contact-paper/

https://grillo-designs.com/decorate-rental-with-contact-paper/

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/renter-friendly-cabinet-makeover-17420879?expand_all_questions=1

Alice · Answer

Here's a video that might help...

Alison Savill · Answer

<div>decopatch</div>

Twyla J Boyer · Answer

If the current paint seems to be in good shape then what is under the paint is not important and you can just paint over the colors you don't like. If the current paint is not in good shape, you can scrape off a bit in an inconspicuous place to see if they are laminate. There is a bit of a glare, so I am not certain, but it looks like there is grain on the inside of the one open cabinet door, leading me to guess they are likely wood.

For the insides, at least as a quick, relatively inexpensive, and temporary solution, plain white contact paper might buy you a couple years without having to try to crawl in to paint. It also has less odor than paint.

For the cabinets and walls, a low VOC primer and then a low VOC paint would be best - and you really should have someone other than your pregnant self do the actual painting, if possible. If you must do it yourself, please make sure to have really good ventilation, take lots of breaks, and don't try climbing on stuff. No paint job is worth a risk to your or your little one.

The kitchen will likely look larger and more updated if you use a light color that coordinates with the whitish color of the cabinets for both the cabinet doors and walls. I am not saying both need to be the same lightish color. You could use something like a pale blue or teal or green or gray on the walls and a light taupe or light tan on the cabinets or the other way around. That would eliminate needing to try to match the cabinet color only to be disappointed.

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