Painting
your cupboards can give your kitchen a whole new look, but it's not always an
easy task to accomplish-- especially if you've never done it before. Below are
some helpful tips that can make the process easier and less messy.
Lay Down a Tarp
Before you
even open your paint can, it's best that you put down a tarp on your floor and
countertops. Paint has a tendency to drip and get all over the place. The more
area the tarp covers, the less area you'll have to clean up later. If you do
not have a tarp, then you can instead lay down newspapers. Really, anything
that you don't mind getting paint on will work.
Use Painter's Tape
Since
counters are right on the wall (usually) it's best to use painter's tape to keep
paint off the walls. Painters tape works to create a border, making sure the
paint doesn't go where it's not supposed to. It also works great for making
straight lines and patterns, if you're trying to be fancy with it.
Painters
should know that there is a difference
between painter's tape and masking tape. While
these two tapes look and feel much alike, painter's tape tends to be blue; this
makes it easier to see. Also, masking tape is more likely to leave behind
sticky residue than painter's tape.
Paint Two Coats
Lastly,
make sure you paint at least two coats on the cupboards to make sure the color
is vibrant and the paint covers everything. Read the paint can to know how much
time you need to wait between coats. Between coats, also make sure to close
your can. You are not likely to be able to close it as well as the paint store,
as these stores use a lid press paint
can closer. However, you can get pretty close
by using a hammer to tap the lid shut.
When you're done with your project, all that is left to
do is clean up. If you've followed these tips, there shouldn't be much clean up
to do. Good luck!