Everywhere we look these days, it seems everyone has trendy painted cabinets in their homes. Or, at the very least, popular image websites would have us believe… the thing is, painting cabinets may not be the best long-term solution for a cabinet renovation.

Cabinets You Shouldn’t Paint Over… And Why

Detailed Patterns, Warped or Damaged Cabinets

If your cabinets have detailed patterns or they are warped, chipped, cracked or have other damage to them, then painting your kitchen cabinets is not the way to go – it most definitely won’t solve your cabinet problem. There is also an excellent chance the paint will crack at the joints from expansion/contraction of the wood.

Open-Grained Wood Cabinets

If your cabinets are made from open-grained wood, this is advised against for painting. Open-grained wood looks much rougher and rustic, possibly with holes and grooves, which means they will need a filler to even them out… which means yikes – not a fun project. If your cabinets are made from poplar, they probably have a few dents in them. This is because poplar dents and is not a great choice for painting – unless you want to showcase those dents.

Hard Maple & Oak Cabinets

Cabinets made from oak—also an open-grain—should never be painted. Once painted, the open grain of oak will give your cabinets an orange peel appearance and feel to them.

Hard maple cabinets are another one to avoid painting as they change with the humidity and cooking can wreak havoc on these cabinets.

Non-Wood Material Cabinets

Cabinets that aren’t solid wood—those made of stainless steel, vinyl, laminate, engineered wood, or any other non-solid wood material—are a much bigger task to undertake as they aren’t as easy to paint. Paint will not adhere to the finished cabinet surface easily and will often peel off or chip.

The best cabinets to paint are tight-grained wood cabinets, however, they are not always easy to come by.

Things to Avoid When Painting Cabinets

We’re making it simple for you and giving you a checklist of what not to do and what not to use… so if you are set on painting your cabinets, please keep these tips in mind:

• Chalk Paint: Cabinets are too high-use and chalk paint isn’t the man for the job.
• Sealing them with Wax: Wax will not hold up over time and should you ever want to update your cabinets again, you’ll have to remove the wax and start all over.
• Just Say No to Cheap Paint and Tools: If you want a smooth, finished look for your cabinets, splurge on the good stuff.
• Rubber Feet: After your paint job is finished, use felt feet on your cabinet doors and drawers instead of rubber ones. Rubber feet may stick to your new paint job.

Hopefully, these tips and tricks make your decision on saying yes or no to painting your cabinets. If you are looking to replace your cabinets, find ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled cabinets online at The RTA Store.