Should You Paint Both Sides of Your Kitchen Cabinets? Weigh the Pros and Cons
When renovating your kitchen, one decision you'll likely face is whether or not to paint the inside of your cabinet doors. While the exterior surfaces usually get plenty of attention, the insides tend to be an afterthought. But the interior surfaces play an important role in the overall look and feel of your kitchen. So should you take the time to paint both sides of the cabinet doors? Or stick to just sprucing up the outer facing sections? There are good arguments on both sides of the issue.
Painting the inside of the doors provides a more seamless, polished look but requires extra preparation and expense. The choice depends on several factors like your budget, accessibility to the interior sections, and desired aesthetic. You can then weigh the pros and cons to make the best decision for your specific renovation.
Pros of Painting the Inside of Cabinet Doors
What are the potential upsides of taking the time to paint the undersides of your cabinet doors in addition to the front exterior? Here are some of the reasons you may want to consider painting both surfaces.
Boosts Home Value
Giving your kitchen cabinet interiors a fresh coat of paint can increase the overall value of your home. When you go to sell your house down the road, prospective buyers are likely to peek inside the cabinets. Seeing an attractive, coordinated color on the inside demonstrates attention to detail and a higher quality renovation. This can boost your home's resale value more than simply painting the outer area.
Expands Design Options
Since the inside of cabinet doors are mostly hidden from view, you have more freedom when selecting an interior paint color. You aren't limited to white or colors matching your kitchen's palette. Feel free to choose bold accent colors, metallic sheens, or even stain or clear-coat the wood instead of paint. Matching the existing exterior color is also an option for a seamless look throughout.
Finishes Overall Look
Painting the undersides to match the outer cabinet surfaces creates a fully pulled-together, finished aesthetic. The interior color completes the look instead of having distracting bare wood or mismatching old paint visible from certain angles. The cohesive appearance will be noticeable to anyone using your kitchen.
Cons of Painting the Inside of Cabinet Doors
However, there are also some potential downsides to weigh when deciding whether or not to paint the inside of the doors.
Involves Lots of Prep Work
Properly painting the undersides of cabinet doors involves thorough preparation of the surfaces. You'll need to clean them, sand to rough up the existing finish, fill any holes with wood filler, and use sanding or other techniques to level out any uneven areas. Proper prep work helps the new paint adhere evenly and prevents peeling or chipping down the road. It takes significantly more time compared to only prepping the front exterior.
Can Be Challenging to Access
Built-in cabinetry with fixed shelves and braces can make it nearly impossible to paint the backsides of doors when installed. You'll likely need to completely detach and remove the doors to do a thorough, professional paint job. Even with freestanding cabinet units, it can be awkward and difficult to fully paint the undersides without taking the doors off. So accessibility is a consideration.
Adds Significant Cost
Since there is increased labor time involved, painting the insides of your cabinet doors will add to your total kitchen renovation budget. You may need to purchase more primer and paint to cover the additional surfaces, along with extra supplies for prep work like sandpaper and wood filler. If hiring a professional, you can expect to pay extra labor fees for the additional work required.
Key Considerations for Making the Decision
When deciding whether it's worth your time and money to paint the inside of cabinet doors, take the following factors into account:
Type of Cabinets
Do you have custom built-in cabinetry or standalone units? Built-ins typically have more bracing, shelves, and obstacles limiting access to the interiors. But with standalone cabinetry, it's simpler to detach the doors for painting. Evaluate how feasible it will be to access the undersides before committing to an interior paint job.
Current Condition of Interiors
Examine the current state of the inside surfaces. If they are uneven, crumbling, or have existing wallpaper or finishes, extensive prep work may be required to create an ideal painting surface. But if they just need a quick clean and sand, you can likely paint the interiors without issue.
Accessibility of Inside Surfaces
Can the doors be fully detached to allow painting all sides? Or do fixed shelves or other barriers exist? Also consider whether you can successfully paint the undersides with doors still attached to save time. Carefully evaluate the accessibility challenges unique to your kitchen cabinets.
Skill Level and Budget
Are you comfortable painting the insides yourself or will you need to hire a professional? Factor the cost into your budget. Also consider if interior painting is needed to stay within your desired overall renovation budget, or if you can allocate funds to this extra step.
Painting both the exterior and interior surfaces of your kitchen cabinet doors has advantages and disadvantages. Key pros include boosting your home's value, expanding your design options, and finishing off the aesthetic. But the extra prep work, costs, and accessibility challenges pose significant cons as well.
Carefully weighing the pros and cons and evaluating the specific details of your kitchen is key. Painting the insides can provide a more seamless, polished look if done properly. But leaving the interiors as-is also saves time, money, and hassle. In the end, choose the option that best fits your renovation goals, skill level, and budget.
Regardless of your decision on painting the inside surfaces, proper preparation of all cabinet door sides is a must. Take the time to clean, sand, and dry both the exteriors and interiors thoroughly before applying any new paint for the most durable, lasting finish possible.
With some strategic planning and evaluation of your unique situation, you can determine if undertaking the extra work of painting inside your kitchen cabinet doors is the right choice to elevate your kitchen to the next level.
Environmental Factors
While humidity and moisture are a concern when deciding whether to paint both sides of your cabinet doors, environmental factors such as sunlight and heat can also impact the decision. If your kitchen is exposed to direct sunlight, the exterior of the doors may fade faster than the interior, leading to an uneven appearance. Additionally, if your kitchen is prone to high temperatures, the exterior paint may crack or peel over time, requiring frequent touch-ups. Painting both sides of the doors can help evenly distribute the wear and tear, making the doors more durable overall.
Time and Cost Considerations
As mentioned earlier, painting both sides of the doors can take more time and resources than painting just one side. However, if your kitchen cabinets are older and have already been painted once, it may be more cost-effective to repaint both sides instead of replacing the doors entirely. This can also help prolong the lifespan of the cabinets, as a fresh coat of paint can help prevent moisture and humidity damage.
Ultimately, the decision to paint both sides of your kitchen cabinet doors comes down to personal preference. Some homeowners prefer the uniformity and completeness of having both sides freshly painted. For others, limiting painting to only the most visible exterior side is perfectly adequate. Consider your own priorities for aesthetics, budget and the effort you're willing to expend before arriving at the right decision for your unique situation.