Here’s a popular question, Can I paint my oak kitchen cabinets? My answer is always, YES, you can! Several weeks ago, we finished up a kitchen project that features gray oak painted kitchen cabinets. I shared the before and after pictures on Facebook. And today, I am answering all your questions! Let’s dive in!
Here’s the kitchen before:
Anne Marie and Keith asked me to do a kitchen consult to help them pick colors, hardware and an over all style for their kitchen makeover. You’d have to see their whole house to really appreciate it, but as soon as I walked in I thought they should do gray cabinets. Their house has modern pops of design with transitional bones. It’s beautiful!
When painting oak cabinets, it’s important to remember that the cabinets have a deep wood grain so you can see some of that grain still after you paint them. For that reason, I always recommend a satin clear coat over the top to help diminish the glare and highlighting of the graining.
We decided to paint the kitchen cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Gray. Chelsea Gray is my favorite medium gray paint color. It’s so important when painting cabinets to prep them right. We sand, prime, paint, and finish with the recommended protective clear coat. We also use a professional grade air sprayer which gives a fine finish! This is a project you can take on yourself, but it’s one I recommend having a professional do, so it’s done right and holds up well! Here are the section of cabinets painted Chelsea Gray:
We added all new hardware as well which helped modernize the kitchen! Anne Marie and Keith also added new backsplash to coordinate with the medium gray color of the cabinets.
Last but definitely not least, John installed a barn wood wall on the way into the kitchen. Check out this gorgeousness!
Considering painting your oak cabinets? Check out these helpful FAQ’s:
Yes, gray paint works well for oak cabinets. Actually there are many colors that can work on oak cabinets, everything from whites and neutrals to deep, moody colors. The important part is in the prep work, ensuring the paint will adhere well and there will be no trace of the oak coming through.
Simply put. YES, painting oak cabinets does increase your home’s value. Anytime, you update and upgrade your kitchen design, it adds to the overall value of your home. The cost of painting kitchen cabinets is considerably less than replacing cabinets altogether, therefore keeping your investment costs lower.
The most efficient way to update oak cabinets is to paint them and change out the hardware. Remember, oak cabinets will show the graining even when painted, but with the right prep work and proper finish, you can definitely achieve a modern look.
Ready to start?
Kitchen Cabinet Painting- Get your FREE QUOTE
Ready to get started? Use our Contact Us form to get a FREE quote for your kitchen! Just email us a picture of your kitchen, a count of how many doors and drawers, and let us know where you are located. It’s that easy, and it will up the value of your home at a fractions of the price of buying new cabinets!
Need a little more inspiration?
Check out some of our other kitchen makeovers and mood boards! There are so many choices and options, I know you will find something that looks like just what you might need!
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Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)
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