If your kitchen is looking tired or outdated, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference (without the cost of a full renovation). Whether you're updating cupboards, tiles or benchtops, with the Dulux Renovation Range, it’s easy to achieve a professional finish with DIY confidence.
Here’s how we took a dated kitchen and transformed it with paint.
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Step 1: Remove cupboard doors
We began by removing all the cupboard doors and drawers from the kitchen, laying them out flat on a clean surface. We then removed the handles as we were replacing them with some more modern hardware.
Expert Tip – Take 2 small pieces of masking tape, sticking one piece to the inside of the cupboard door and the other to the inside of the cupboard. Write the number “1” on both pieces of masking tape. Continue numbering all the cupboard doors so that when it comes time to reattach the doors, you simply have to match the numbers.
Step 2: Repair damage and fill holes
Next, we checked all the surfaces for dents, scratches and holes. Thankfully, this kitchen was in good condition. However, because we were updating the hardware, we needed to fill the holes left behind by the old handles on the cupboards and drawers. We used Selleys Spakfilla Rapid to patch up these, then sanded everything smooth once it dried.
Step 3: Prime
With the surfaces prepped, it was now time to prime. This is the most important step in transforming your kitchen. A kitchen is a high traffic zone and can be subject to a lot of wear over time. If you don’t get the prep work right, you risk your paint finish chipping, peeling or flaking due to the frequent use. Nobody wants this.
We thoroughly mixed the additive into the Dulux Renovation Range Primer and applied 1x coat to the cupboard doors, exposed cabinetry and kitchen tiles. The Dulux Renovation Range has much longer recoat times than standard wall paints. For the primer coat, 4 hours dry time is needed before moving on to the next step.
Step 4: Paint
After waiting 4 hours for the primer to dry, it was time to apply our first coat of Dulux Renovation Range Tiles & Benchtops in Dulux Lexicon Quarter. We began by cutting in with a brush, before rolling. Like the primer, Dulux Renovation Range Tiles & Benchtops has a much longer recoat time than regular wall paint. 8 hours drying time is needed before applying our next coat.
We suggest working in sections to try and limit the impact that this drying time has on your project. However, don’t rush to get painting again. For the best finish, you’re going to need to have some patience.
After our first coat was dry, we applied our second coat. The Dulux Renovation Range requires a minimum of 2 topcoats. However, for this project, we have opted for a third topcoat. So once our second coat was dry, we applied the third and final coat of paint.
Step 5: Reattach the cupboard doors
After the final coat was dry, we reattached the cupboard doors and the fresh handles. Thanks to our masking tape tip, this process was simple and the kitchen transformation was almost complete.
Bonus Project – How to coat a timber benchtop
To go along with the painting transformation in this kitchen, a new bare timber benchtop was also fitted. To protect the timber and keep it in tip top condition, we applied Cabot’s Benchtop Clear.
We chose this product for 2 main reasons. 1. It is food safe. That makes it perfect for a kitchen benchtop. 2. Cabot’s Benchtop Clear is non-yellowing. That means it’s the perfect product to preserve the natural look of this bare timber benchtop and keep it looking great for years to come.
Here’s how to coat a timber benchtop with Cabot’s Benchtop Clear:
Step 1: Sand
We started by sanding the bare timber benchtop with 120 grit sandpaper. We made sure to sand only in the direction of the grain. Once the whole surface was sanded, we used a microfibre cloth to remove all the sanding dust from the benchtop.
Step 2: Coat
Next, we thoroughly stirred the Cabot’s Benchtop Clear (don’t shake it) and applied our first coat to the timber benchtop with a brush. We allowed it to dry completely before applying our second coat.
Expert Tip - For best results, lightly sand to remove any grain raise using 240 grit paper. Remove all sanding dust.
Transforming a kitchen is no small feat, but the Dulux Renovation Range made the whole process simple and satisfying (even with the long drying times). So, if you’re looking to refresh your kitchen, but don’t have the budget to renovate, painting is the best way to achieve your dream kitchen.
Visit your local Inspirations Paint store to get everything you need for your next DIY project.
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