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Kitchen Cabinets: Adding a Creative Touch Through Handpainted Murals
Are your cabinets in need of a face lift? If replacing them is not an option and painting them a solid color is too boring your taste, try painting a mural on your kitchen cabinets. This is a great way to showcase your artistic skills and make your kitchen decor stand out from the rest.
Cabinet Surface and Type
Before you rush to the paint store to buy paints, take a look at the cabinets. It should be easy enough to determine the type of cabinet face that you will be working with. Supplies and materials for painting metal cabinets may be very different from painting on an oil-based painted cabinet door surface, for instance. It is important to know what you are working with so that you can select the right materials for the job.
Design
Another important thing to do before you start painting, is to sketch out the mural that will be going on the cabinets. There are many different options for murals and only the home owner's artistic ability will rule out certain ideas. A clever mural may include painting faux windows on each cabinet to give the appearance of looking out the window onto rolling hills or a busy city street. Another idea is to create one large mural that spans the length of the kitchen and is broken down into sections by cabinet. If your style runs to the more whimsical and fun, try painting fruit to match the room's fruit border or colorful flowers to give the room a cheerful, garden feel. Sketch out a few designs before settling on one, as you may find that your second or third idea is actually better than your first.
Supplies
When you head out for supplies, do not forget to get at least two drop cloths that you can use to cover the counters and floor. If you will be painting the cabinet doors while they are still on the frame, drop clothes are essential, as you do not want to wind up with paint splatters on your countertops. Depending on the type of cabinet door surface, get the proper primer and paint. In most cases, acrylic craft paint will work very well for almost all jobs. Be sure to cover the design with a few coats of shellac or protective coating to make sure that the mural is not damaged by everyday wear and tear. It is also a good idea to invest in a good set of paintbrushes for the project, as they will make the painting go more smoothly and help you get the fine lines and details that you want.
Painting the cabinets is the fun project and taking the time to plan ahead, using the right equipment, and find the right paint for the mural will leave you with a kitchen that is sure to please while being a unique statement of your creativity and style.
Jessica Ackerman from WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, has skills in decorating with large outdoor clocks and wine bottle wall decor.
