How to paint a kitchen

Without being pedantic as far as the equipment is concerned, here are some essential bits of knowledge that you will need if you intend to carry out a DIY paint job on your kitchen. The first and most essential part of the operation is, because of the very nature of the kitchen, to thoroughly clean all of the surfaces that are going to be painted. If you don’t clean the walls, for example, the kitchen paint you intend to use will just not take – that is guaranteed. Wearing rubber gloves, prepare a solution of trisodium phosphate in hot water and use this to wash all of the surfaces to be painted. This is to remove grease from the surface – all kitchens have grease clinging to the kitchen surfaces, no matter how efficient the air extraction system. If the solution gets dirty, replace it. Make sure you wear old clothes or a paint coat and definitely some eye protection when doing this job. Trisodium phosphate is available in spray cans in most countries – ask your paint or hardware store about this. Once the walls are clean and dry you can start with the kitchen paint.

Chat to your local Kings Paint & Hardware about which type of kitchen paint to use – remember that there is often a lot of water vapour and grease vapour in the air in a kitchen so it’s no good using an ordinary PVA or emulsion paint. The minimum you will need will be a semi-gloss or eggshell type paint. You’ll find that short nap rollers are the best method of applying this type of kitchen paint. Once complete, give the kitchen plenty of air and admire your work.