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What paint colour for kitchen cabinets?

Outdated kitchen cabinets doors and drawers from the late 1980s that I wish to paint but am struggling with choosing a colour. Cabinets are in excellent condition Walls are Antique white USA and I will also paint the tiles in the same colour.Flooring is slate from the same era which will not be changed.Plenty of light from a large north facing window and a small east facing window.The wall oven was recently replaced and the colour of that section of melamine will not be replaced.Also happy to paint the melamine white benchtops which are also in very good condition

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EricL

Hello @Jennefer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about what colour to use on your kitchen panels.

I suggest having a quick look at the 20 kitchens transformed with paint. The one that stands out to me is the Rustic farmhouse kitchen renovation by @helsbren. The off white tan colour of the cabinets really provide an excellent contrast and gives the cabinetry really good definition. Then there are the darker colours from Kitchen refresh using paint and bleached floor by @dorabulldog. If you really want the cabinets to stand out this is the colour for you.

Painting the cabinetry in white will make your kitchen blend in with the wall and will not provide a strong contrast. I propose a neutral colour in light grey or perhaps that off white tan from helsbren. the other colours can always be brought in as a high light like a red vase or some decorative tea towels.

Let me call on our experienced members @redbournreno and @lifestylebymari for their recommendations

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

redbournreno

Hi @Jennefer ,

That is a super kitchen and shows what quality it must have been when installed and the great effort keeping it in good condition. If you don't have water damage or other disintegration then definitely just refurbish it. Your ideas are already perfect for a budget renovation without ripping things out.

The main issues that date it: dark colour alongside the dark walls, feature made of old routing, handles, plastic thing on the nook wall.

Main issues to colour match: slate floor (make sure any colour is put next to the floor in light and dark to be sure it doesn't clash), window frames (will you definitely keep them timber look or paint them too), benchtop (if you choose to keep it), antique white walls (assuming you aren't changing those either). Any colour you choose must work OK with all of them so get plenty of colour swatches from Bunnings.

The Dulux Renovation Range is very good and the bonus is that they can be tinted to almost any Dulux Colour. So narrow your colour selection to Dulux swatches. I think a soft white in a stain finish will give the best result for the cabinetry, a shade lighter than Antique white USA would be best, look at Fair Bianca Half, Natural White, or Whisper White. If you want a crisper white look (white is easier to work with for other fixture), then look at Lexicon Half or Lexicon Quarter. If you want more of a 'colour' to the cabinets, then look at Grand Piano Half, Paving Stone, Champignon or Teahouse.

The darker colours will be easier to pair with the existing benchtop. I'm not a fan of painting benchtops but others like it.

For the tiles you could paint them, but watch out for 'white' because it will be hard to look good between your white benchtop and your antique white wall. Go for a ' colour' or you could try some adhesive vinyl tiles. Maybe these could be good, but I haven't tried them myself. https://www.bunnings.com.au/hanwood-305-x-305mm-renaissance-vinyl-tile-1-86m-per-pack_p0500613

Follow all instructions on the tin really well, preparation will be the best path to success. Remember to fill the handle holes before your painting prep if you are changing the handle format. Good luck! It will be great.

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