Introduction

According to Mark Roemer Oakland, one of the best ways to spruce up an old kitchen is to repaint it using a suitable paint that helps to make it look much more attractive. Repainting an old kitchen is much more cost-effective than a complete kitchen renovation but can completely transform the look of your kitchen for the better.

However, repainting is not just about selecting your favorite color or matching the colors of the kitchen elements. You must understand the difference between the different paint types to understand which would be best for your kitchen. Now, let us look at the best paint types for sprucing up your kitchen cabinets:

The Paints

1. Oil-based paint – Historically, oil-based paint was considered the best for kitchen interiors due to its resilient finish and durability which made them perfect for cabinets and trims that experience heavy use. Plus, oil-based paint makes the surface easy to clean and is great if you want to open cabinets with greasy or sticky hands since they could be cleaned easily without worrying about dulling the surface.

Unfortunately, it has gone out of favor in the modern era due to some major negatives. For instance, it can take up to 16 hours to dry between coats and longer if the kitchen doesn’t have good air circulation.

However, the biggest disadvantage is that oil-based paint includes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause harm to your health. You can experience dizziness, shortness of breath, irritation of the throat, nose, and eyes, and even headaches. Plus, they are also harmful to the environment, especially to the ozone layer. On top of that, the use of toxic mineral spirits to thin oil-based paint before use is also considered a health risk.

2. Latex-based paint – Generally, latex-based paint is regarded as a good option for kitchen cabinets since it dries quickly, has much lower levels of VOC, and thus, less harmful to the environment, and is easy to apply as well. Plus, they can be scrubbed and cleaned regularly as well.

Modern latex-based water enamel paint is almost as durable as oil-based paint and offers a polished finish that is almost equal to oil-based paint. However, you are likely to see brush marks if you use a brush or roller instead of a paint sprayer. And, if you want the best result, you need to properly prepare the surface before use.

3. Hybrid enamel paint – Hybrid enamel paint which is based on acrylic alkyd offers the best of both paint types and is thus the best kitchen paint option. These offer the environmental friendliness and easy cleaning properties of latex-based paint and combine it with the durable finish of oil-based paint.

Plus, there is no need to visit hazardous waste disposal sites to dispose of the leftover hybrid enamel paint. And they look good whether you decide to use a roller, brush, or paint sprayer.

Conclusion

Mark Roemer Oakland suggests you choose hybrid enamel paint for your kitchen since they are easy to clean, offer a durable finish, and are non-toxic to the environment and your health. However, latex-based paint is also a suitable option if you decide to go that route.