Ways To Transform Your Kitchen Using The Best Primer and Paint

A fresh coat of paint on your cabinets can dramatically enhance your kitchen, but a poor paint job can have the opposite effect. Whether you’re aiming for a bold, contemporary look or a more subtle update, proper preparation and high-quality products are essential for a long-lasting, beautiful finish.

In this guide, we’ll showcase a few inventive ways to transform your kitchen with just some paint and primer, along with product recommendations and tips for creating these stunning looks in your home.

Choosing the Right Primer for Kitchen Cabinets

Priming is key to a successful painting project, especially for kitchen cabinets. It ensures that paint adheres properly and lasts longer by covering porous surfaces, blocking stains, and evening out texture.

Kitchens have high humidity and moisture levels that can affect painted surfaces. Therefore, choose a primer with excellent coverage, adhesion, and mold resistance. Before applying primer, clean any visible mold or mildew and allow surfaces to dry completely.

Opt for products like KILZ 3® Premium Primer. This fast-drying, low-odor primer is mildew-resistant and well-suited for high-moisture areas.

Update Light Cabinets to a Darker Shade

Transforming light-colored cabinetry to a darker shade might make you think priming is unnecessary, but it’s essential for a flawless finish.

To achieve a fresh, light green look:

1. Start with KILZ 3® Premium Primer for its fast-drying, low-odor, and mildew-resistant properties.
2. Follow up with a topcoat of KILZ® Tribute® satin-finish paint in a color like Subtle Celery.
3. Apply the paint using smooth, even strokes for a professional finish.

This combination will offer excellent coverage and a durable finish that can withstand the demands of a busy kitchen. The soft green color can create a restful and tranquil atmosphere, perfect for a family space or entertaining area.

Create a Contrasting Island

A colorful island can act as a striking focal point in a primarily neutral kitchen. Painting it a deep, inky blue adds visual interest and contrast, making your kitchen stand out with added personality. The contrasting tone helps to define the island’s significance within the kitchen layout and can tie together other decorative elements.

Use these steps to update your island:

1. Begin with a mildew-resistant primer like KILZ 3 Premium Primer.
2. Choose a durable, scrubbable paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish, such as KILZ Complete Coat® in India Ink.
3. Apply the paint with a brush or roller, moving in careful strokes in the same direction as the wood grain for a smooth, even finish.

For best results, allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. This will guarantee a professional-looking finish that will last for years.

Try Two-Toned Cabinets

Mixing and matching cabinet colors adds a unique and stylish touch to your kitchen. Two-toned cabinets, tied together with matching hardware like bronze pulls and knobs, create a sophisticated look while breaking up the monotony. The contrasting colors bring visual interest and a personalized feel, allowing you to showcase your design style.

Follow these steps for this painting project:

1. Start with a high-quality primer that promotes adhesion, like KILZ 2® All-Purpose. This versatile primer works well on various surfaces, from rough wood to glossy laminate.
2. For the finish, use a low-VOC product like KILZ Tribute Interior Satin Paint. Choose contrasting colors such as Contemporary White for upper cabinets and Old Lamppost (an antiqued dark blue-gray) for lower cabinets.
3. Apply the paint in thin, even coats, allowing each to dry completely before adding another.
4. Sand lightly between coats for the smoothest possible finish.

Lighten Up Dark Cabinetry

Brightening up dark cabinets can refresh and modernize a dated kitchen, opening up the space and creating a more airy and inviting atmosphere. Proper priming prevents the original color from showing through and altering the tone of your chosen color. This method guarantees that your new light color appears true and vibrant without any of the previous dark colors bleeding through.

For best results:

1. Begin with KILZ 3 Premium Primer, which has a thick, high-hide formula capable of covering even the darkest tones.
2. Follow up with KILZ Complete Coat in White Wing, a soft, sugary white with a cotton undertone.
3. Apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat for the most even and durable finish.

Play With Textures

Mixing and matching textures can elevate your kitchen design. Combining natural wood tones with deep, saturated colors on painted cabinets creates a striking contrast and adds depth. This interplay of painted and natural wood surfaces brings intrigue and uniqueness to your kitchen. The result is a distinctive design element that sets your space apart from standard layouts.

To create this look:

1. Start with KILZ 2® Gray Primer, formulated for use under dark, vibrant topcoats. This helps achieve more accurate color with fewer coats of paint and improves the hiding of previous colors.
2. Finish with a rich, blue top coat, like BEHR PREMIUM® Interior Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Very Navy.
3. Consider leaving some wood elements unpainted to create a textural contrast.

Go Gray

Gray remains a popular choice as a “third neutral” in kitchen design. Floor-to-ceiling gray cabinetry pairs well with wood floors and white and gold accents, adding warmth and elegance. This versatile color suits various styles, from modern to traditional. For the best results, clean and sand your cabinets thoroughly before priming to ensure optimal adhesion and a flawless finish. Gray cabinetry offers a timeless design choice that combines flexibility with sophistication.

To achieve this sophisticated look:

1. Use KILZ® Kitchen & Bath Primer to create a mildew-resistant primer film and ensure excellent adhesion to most interior surfaces.
2. Top with KILZ Complete Coat in Graphic Gray, a deep suede-like gray with warm undertones.
3. Consider tinting your primer to better match your desired topcoat, especially if making a dramatic color transition.

Get a Wow-Factor Wall Color

If you appreciate the rustic charm of natural wood cabinets but want to infuse your kitchen with personality, painting the walls offers a quick and impactful solution. This method highlights the wood’s natural beauty while introducing a vibrant splash of color. Before you begin, protect your cabinets and countertops with painter’s tape and drop cloths. A bold wall color can invigorate your kitchen space and enhance the warmth of natural wood tones.

Follow the steps below:

1. Prime your kitchen walls with KILZ® Mold & Mildew Primer, a water-based primer-sealer-stain blocker designed for high-humidity environments like kitchens.
2. Finish with a coat of satin enamel, such as BEHR ULTRA™ Interior Paint in North Pole Blue. The satin sheen creates a pearl-like finish that’s durable and dirt-resistant.
3. This primer-paint combination will also resist moisture, fading, and stains, making it ideal for busy kitchen environments.

Add Aqua Accents

For a fun, retro look, alternate white cabinets with vibrant aqua accents. Complement this color scheme with stainless steel accessories to enhance the fresh, beachy feel. This combination delivers a nostalgic touch with a modern twist, creating a lively and welcoming kitchen environment. Bright aqua accents infuse energy and personality, making your space both cheerful and engaging.

To create this eye-catching design:

1. When painting slick, glossy surfaces like aluminum or vinyl, use KILZ 3 Premium primer to ensure proper paint adhesion.
2. For the topcoat, try KILZ Complete Coat in Vintage Aqua for the accent cabinets and White Wing for the main cabinets.
3. Instead of stark white walls, consider a hint of sandy warmth with a color like Shaved Coconut.

Be Bold

Primary colors can become strikingly modern when paired with solid-white accents and contemporary fixtures. Complementary chairs can complete this bold look. Opt for primary shades to create a dynamic, playful kitchen space. Use painter’s tape to create clean lines between colors, especially if you’re creating geometric patterns or color blocks. 

To get this look:

1. Start with KILZ Kitchen & Bath Primer for a sleek, well-prepared surface.
2. Complete the tricolor combo with KILZ Complete Coat paint in Wake Up (yellow) and Authentic Navy.
3. Add white for the third color to balance the bold primary hues.

Create a Colorful Island

A coat of cool, Caribbean blue can define the space and introduce a playful burst of color. This vibrant shade makes the island a focal point, blending functionality with style. 

To create this look:

1. Start with KILZ Mold & Mildew Primer, which offers excellent adhesion to both interior and exterior surfaces.
2. Keep your island scuff-free with a tough topcoat like BEHR ULTRA™ Scuff Defense™ Interior Paint in High Dive.
3. Consider coordinating bar stools or chairs to tie the island color into the rest of your kitchen design.

Take Your Kitchen from Dreary to Dreamy

Even well-maintained wood cabinets can appear outdated and dreary. A coat of creamy white can significantly lighten and brighten the space at a fraction of the cost of replacing the cabinetry. Choosing a color that reflects light and adds freshness can elevate your kitchen.

To achieve this transformation:

1. Start with thorough cleaning and light sanding of your existing cabinets.
2. Apply a coat of KILZ 3 Premium Primer to ensure excellent adhesion and coverage.
3. Follow with your chosen shade of white or off-white paint in a durable, kitchen-friendly formula.