Painting a kitchen costs €50 to €200 in materials for an average-sized kitchen. The paint itself costs €20–€80 (depending on quality and quantity), with the rest going on preparation: primer, sandpaper and masking tape. Have it done professionally and you’re looking at €400 to €1,000 for a skilled decorator. Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a kitchen — with the right preparation, you can give an ageing kitchen a completely new lease of life. In this article you’ll find everything: choosing paint, preparing the surface, and the correct technique.
What does painting a kitchen cost? DIY vs. professional decorator
| DIY | Professional decorator | |
|---|---|---|
| **Kitchen with 15 cabinet doors + carcasses** | €50 – €200 (materials) | €400 – €1,000 (incl. labour) |
| **Cabinet doors only** | €30 – €100 (materials) | €300 – €700 (incl. labour) |
| **Saving by doing it yourself** | 60–75% | — |
Which paint should you use for kitchen cabinets?
This is the most commonly asked question — and the most important one. Ordinary emulsion or cheap wood paint is not suitable for kitchens. Kitchen cabinets are touched, dampened and cleaned every day. You need a paint that can handle all of this.
| Paint type | Suitable for | Price | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Furniture paint (alkyd or water-based)** | Wood, MDF, painted surfaces | €15–€30/litre | Excellent, hard finish |
| **Kitchen cabinet paint (specialist)** | All kitchen surfaces | €20–€40/litre | Best adhesion properties |
| **Chalk paint** | Wood, MDF (not for high-gloss cabinets) | €15–€25/litre | Matt, vintage look — seal with wax |
| **Gloss (alkyd)** | Wood and MDF | €15–€30/litre | Strong and washable, but longer drying time |
Recommended: use a high-quality furniture paint or specialist kitchen cabinet paint in a water-based formula. These are easy to work with, dry quickly, and once cured are excellent for wiping clean.
Brands that work well: Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell, Dulux Trade Diamond, Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell, Rust-Oleum Cabinet Paint.
Materials (painting a kitchen, 15 doors + carcasses)
| Material | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture paint or kitchen cabinet paint | 1–2 litres | €20 – €60 |
| Primer (adhesion primer, specifically for smooth surfaces) | 0.5–1 litre | €10 – €20 |
| Sandpaper 120, 180, 240 grit | 1 set | €5 – €10 |
| Brush (2 inch, good quality) + foam roller | 1 set | €10 – €20 |
| Masking tape | 2 rolls | €6 – €10 |
| Degreaser (Krud Kutter or washing-up liquid) | 1 bottle | €5 – €10 |
| Wood filler | 1 pot | €5 – €10 |
| **Total** | **€61 – €140** |
Step-by-step guide: painting a kitchen in 9 steps
Step 1: Remove the cabinet doors
Unscrew all the cabinet doors and remove the handles. Lay the doors flat on a protected work surface or trestles. This gives a far better, more even result than painting them in situ.
Label each door (with a piece of masking tape on the back) so you know which door goes where.
Step 2: Clean everything thoroughly
Grease is paint’s worst enemy. In a kitchen there is always a layer of cooking vapour, grease and residue on the cabinets — even when they look clean.
- Wash all surfaces with degreaser or hot water + washing-up liquid
- Rinse with clean water
- Leave to dry completely (at least 1 hour)
Step 3: Repair any damage
Fill scratches, chips and dents with wood filler or stopper. Leave to dry and sand smooth (grit 180). Any imperfections in the surface will always show through once painted.
Step 4: Key the surfaces
Sanding ensures better adhesion for the primer. This is essential for:
- High-gloss kitchen cabinets (lacquer, vinyl foil, lacquered MDF)
- Smooth chipboard surfaces
Use 120-grit sandpaper. Always sand with the grain (for solid wood) or in one direction (for MDF). Remove all dust with a hoover and then a damp cloth.
Step 5: Apply adhesion primer
Primer creates a sealed, stable surface. For kitchen cabinets, priming is always necessary — never skip this step.
Use an adhesion primer specifically designed for smooth, difficult-to-key surfaces. Apply with a foam roller for a flat result. Leave to dry fully (approximately 2 hours — check the tin).
After drying, lightly sand with grit 240. Wipe away the dust.
Step 6: First coat of paint (base coat)
Apply the first coat of furniture paint. Use a foam roller for large flat areas and a brush for edges and any profiling.
Technique for an even finish:
- Roll on the paint in W-motions, then lay off
- Work quickly so the paint doesn’t start to dry before you’ve laid it off
- Use thin coats — thick coats will run and sag
Leave to dry fully according to the drying time on the tin (typically 2–4 hours for water-based paint).
Step 7: Sand between coats
After the first coat, lightly sand with grit 240. This gives a smoother surface for the second coat. Wipe away all dust.
Step 8: Second coat of paint (top coat)
Apply the second coat. Aim for a neat, even finish. With a satin or matt paint: the second coat is your final coat. With a gloss finish: consider a third coat for extra coverage and depth.
Leave to dry for at least 24 hours before rehanging the doors — the paint won’t be fully cured but will hold up to normal use.
Full cure time: water-based furniture paint takes 7–14 days to cure fully. Treat the cabinets gently during this period and avoid harsh cleaning products.
Step 9: Rehang and touch up
Rehang the doors. Fit the handles. Remove the masking tape from the carcasses. Check that all edges are neat and touch up any thin patches as needed.
Colour advice for kitchen cabinets
| Colour | Style | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **White** | Classic, minimalist | Spacious, timeless |
| **Cream/warm white** | Country, Shaker | Warm, inviting |
| **Dark blue / navy** | Modern, statement | Atmospheric, depth |
| **Dark green (sage, bottle green)** | Trending, organic | Warm, natural feel |
| **Anthracite / dark grey** | Industrial, modern | Clean, on-trend for 2026 |
| **Terracotta / dusty pink** | Warm, retro | Personal, fashionable |
Practical tip: paint a test patch on an A4 sheet of paper and tape it to a cabinet door for a day. Look at it in different lighting conditions — artificial light versus daylight can sometimes give a completely different colour result.
Common mistakes
- Painting directly onto grease. Even if the cabinets look clean: always degrease. Cooking vapour is invisible but will ruin adhesion.
- Not using primer. On glossy surfaces, paint without primer lifts quickly, especially on the edges.
- Applying too-thick coats in one go. Thin coats give the best result. Three thin coats are far better than one thick coat that runs.
- Sanding too aggressively between coats. A light key with grit 240 is enough — over-sanding will remove the first coat.
- Using the cabinets too soon. Paint looks dry but takes 7–14 days to fully cure. Impatience leads to scratch damage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean painted kitchen cabinets?
After full curing (2 weeks): use a soft cloth with warm water and a mild washing-up liquid. No abrasive sponges or harsh cleaning products — these will damage the paint film.
Can I paint dark cabinets white?
Yes, but you’ll need more coats. Use a white covering primer as the first coat. Allow for 3 coats of white furniture paint for full coverage over a dark base colour.
Do I need to paint the inside of the kitchen cabinets too?
Not necessarily, but if the inside looks tired: a coat of white furniture paint makes the interior look crisp and is much easier to keep clean.
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