We get asked a lot how we went about painting our brand new IKEA kitchen, so I thought it worth creating a post with the full details. So here goes!
You will need:
We got the keys to our cottage earlier this year in March, and got started right away on a full renovation. The kitchen units were unsalvageable, so we ripped these out and started from scratch.
We knew we wanted to have bold, statement kitchen cupboards, but couldn’t quite afford the price tag that came with them. We ended up making the decision to create a budget version of this look ourselves.
After taking a look at various kitchen companies, we ended up going with an IKEA kitchen. Not only did it mean we could fit it ourselves, it was also the overall cheapest option for us – and luckily we loved the IKEA Axstad range! We chose the white Axstad doors, which have a lovely matt finish and detailed inset panels.
Prep
If your cabinets are not new, make sure to thoroughly clean them to remove any marks, dirt or grease. I’d also recommend taking your doors off and removing any handles before you start.
Prime
It’s very important to prime your cupboards before painting. It helps your paint stick to your surface, prevents chips and gives a better overall finish. I would 100% recommend Zinsser B.I.N Primer for priming your IKEA kitchen. It’s a shellac based primer which sticks to all surfaces, and is basically the queen of primers!!!
However, there are two things I’d recommend when using this primer. First of all, you have to work fast with it (really fast!) otherwise it can go quite nasty. Secondly, use a brush to coat any inset panels (as a roller will not reach these) and then use a sponge foam mini roller to coat the remainder of the door / units. Avoid using any fur rollers as the primer will pull the fur off and go over all your lovely cupboards – not a good look!
Paint
Once your primer is dry, it’s on to the exciting part – painting! We painted ours with Lick Green 04 paint in matt finish. I honestly cannot recommend this paint enough. It’s sooo easy to use, gives great coverage and I’m convinced it smells like chocolate! They’ve got a beautiful range of colours, so they’re definitely worth considering when choosing your paint.
Again like the primer, use a brush to paint any inset panels and then use your second mini roller to coat the remainder of the door / units. I’d recommend applying 2-3 coasts to achieve full coverage.
I also painted the fronts / sides of my IKEA units, to give a better overall look. Once you’ve finished painting, and everything is dry, pop your doors onto your units and accessorise with your handles and knobs.
The Comments
danielle
how has it held up? can you email me your final thoughts after a year? thanks! yella33@yahoo.com
Carlyle
Hello, your kitchen looks gorgeous. I am considering doing this with my Axstad kitchen but I’m worried about how durable it’ll be. I have two small children so the paint needs to withstand a lot.
Alison Stribling
Hi there, Thanks for sharing this information. I’m curious about how your painted cabinets are holding up. Would you put a clear coat on top if you did it again? Or has the paint held up?
Meg Monde
Alison StriblingHello!
They’ve held up great! You could always put a coat of varnish on top for further protection 🙂
Fab
Hello,
Please, can you speak about your final thoughts after a year ?
Please !
Meg Monde
FabHello!
It’s now been 2.5 years since we painted our kitchen and it’s held up great! I’ve had to do a couple of touch ups here and there but that was expected 🙂