For those who like to do things themselves to save money...

[toledo13]

How hard is it to paint a kitchen? I've painted 2 bathrooms... is it harder than that? I prefer to save money and do it myself...

I don't really want to move out my stove and fridge... just paint the things you can see hahaha...

Any advice?

 

[Whitty]

I just got done doing mine and it went well....the taping off takes up the most time. I haven't done my bathroom yet but I'm sure it's a lot alike just on a bigger scale. I didn't pull out my stove...just painted down as far as I could but I did pull out my fridge since if I move, that might go with me but the stove would stay with the house. And it also allowed me give the floor a good cleaning where the fridge was

You can do it!!!! Good Luck!!!

 

[rcraw45425]

Trust me, if you don't move these items you'll regret it. Recently stayed in a gorgeous beach condo, I was in the laundry room and discovered that they had "painted around" the washer/dryer combo. It really took away from the room. Plus, if you change stoves or fridges there may be a gap, and you can't really match paint colors down the road.

 

[figment95]

Funny you should ask......I'm painting my kitchen right now. I'm taking a break in between coats. It's not hard to paint a kitchen but the prep work takes longer than any other room. The key is to scrub everything very well. I found that TSP works the best because it cuts through all the grime and residue that some other cleaners leave on the walls. I didn't move any of my appliances but I taped everything so that I would not make a mess. I never hire people to do anything I can do myself. Painting is a pain, but you can definately do it. Good luck!

 

[mickeytattoo95]

I can't stand painting either, that's why the whole time I'm doing it, I keep telling myself, "you're saving money, you're saving money!"

My husband and I also put in our own Dog Fence and saved $900. It only cost under $200 for the same product/colar a local company uses, but their cost is $1100 for fence, collar and installation.

I love saving money!

 

[lspst8]

If you can paint a bathroom, you can paint a kitchen. It is definately worth it to spend the time taping around all the cabinents or windows. When I painted my kitchen, I didn't move the stove or the fridge. The stove is set in with cabinents all around so you can't tell at all. You can tell a little with the fridge if you peak into the gap between it and the wall, but it doesn't bother me one bit. My kitchen in fairly small (maybe 10x12) so it would have been a big hassle to move anything and try to paint around it.

 

[C.Ann]

When I lived in my old house, I used to paint every room in the house once a year.. I can't paint anymore (doctors orders) and I really miss it.. It was something that I really enjoyed..

I would definitely move the fridge and the stove.. There are caster strips (with wheels on them) that you can buy that are fairly cheap and will make it easier if you have no one to help you move the heavier objects..

Gosh I miss painting!!

Good luck!

 

[neatokimmo]

Get a good brush that won't drip and skip the tape. Cut your edges first then roll the walls. If you get some on the cabinets, wipe it off immediately.

You are saving a ton by doing it yourself!

 

[kathie859]

One thing that's slightly different about painting a kitchen vs the bath is the absolute need to wipe down the walls/ceiling with some sort of grease cutting product. There are special products in the paint department for this, but any good cleaning product will work. Trisodium phosphate is one of better de-greasers available. If you don't remove the greasy film that's inevitable in the kitchen, your paint may not adhere quite as well.

I'm lucky--I have an adult son who is a great painter and he did the project for me.

 

[PHXscuba]

I agree that if you've painted bathrooms succesfully you can totally paint a kitchen. I found that the actual painting time wasn't huge for my kitchen but the taping off (for both kitchens and baths) was the biggest chunk of time.

I think next time I might tape plastic up against my cabinets because I got a few more splatters on them than I intended. Messy cook, messy painter!

We have a wall oven so I didn't have to paint behind, but we did move the fridge out and give it a single quick coat where you couldn't see.

PHXscuba

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Get a good brush that won't drip and skip the tape. Cut your edges first then roll the walls. If you get some on the cabinets, wipe it off immediately.

You are saving a ton by doing it yourself!

So agree no need to tape with a good brush and a steady hand... a good brush is worth every penny it cost!

I am also in the process of painting my whole house...living room, and foyer done...next is bathroom using the free glidden for that

 

[minnie1928]

I learned a tip from the guy that painted my former house (needed it done to sell it quickly). He put the paint tray in a plastic grocery bag, then poured the paint on top of the bag. At the end of the day, you just pull the tray out of the bag and turn the bag inside out to throw it away. Cleanup takes about 10 seconds!

 

[buzz5985]

Get a good brush that won't drip and skip the tape. Cut your edges first then roll the walls. If you get some on the cabinets, wipe it off immediately.

You are saving a ton by doing it yourself!

I was going to say the same thing. Taping is a waste of time. Buy a cutting brush. If you hold the brush up the brisles are slanted at a 45 angle. This way you can cut close to woodwork. Always have a wet rag with you, have a drop or dribble wipe it up right away. Dad wallpapered and painted as a side job.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

I learned a tip from the guy that painted my former house (needed it done to sell it quickly). He put the paint tray in a plastic grocery bag, then poured the paint on top of the bag. At the end of the day, you just pull the tray out of the bag and turn the bag inside out to throw it away. Cleanup takes about 10 seconds!

Fabulous tip - thank you for posting!

 

[txloopnlil]

DO NOT SKIMP on cleaning the walls with a good degreaser - twice! I moved into a rental that had had the kitchen painted without being properly cleaned and the paint started peeling off the walls the very first time I tried to wipe down the wall. If you are going to paint the cabinets take the time to remove the doors and hardware and hinges rather than trying to paint around them.

 

[JennsBabySky]

The prep work also depends on the type of paint. We just painted my grandma's house and it hadn't been painted for a long time. The former paint was likely oil based, so we had to use a good primer before painting. If we had used latex painted directly on the older oil based paint, it wouldn't adhere correctly.

Otherwise, the painting was easy. Prep work is boring (I like the instant gratification of paint), but it makes the most difference. I don't think it is very hard to move the stove and refrigerator, so I'd definitely do those. But my refrigerator is on wheels, so that is relatively easy. For my stove, I'd just move it enough to squeeze behind the stove and just do one coat of paint.

 

[mickeyluvr004]

I would like to know what colors everyone prefers?? I am in the process of painting and at a loss for what color to do my kitchen and dining room thanks right now its a somewhat orange color it was ooopps paint and I thought it was lighter than it was Oh well my DH says when I am going to paint spend the money but my thing is its saving us alot of money when you can get a gallon for 5.00 I do like the color but think I am the only one who does

 

[rcraw45425]

Mine is olive green and golden yellow(like green granite, it matches some Raymond Waites wallpaper, along with golden yellow leather). My cabinets are cream with brushed silver hardware. Black appliances and a stainless Kitchen Aid range. Countertops are green slate tile with this color brown granite on the island http://www.1000granitecolors.com/GraniteDetail.asp?rid=69&photoid=2319&curPage=&gid=18&fm= Tumbled marble backsplash with hand painted tiles and mural. A hodgepodge that works with the antique hardwood. It helps that its a large space too. WHen DH started rolling the green on behind the fridge he was like "are you sure, cause I'm not painting over this!"

 

[PinkRhombus]

So agree no need to tape with a good brush and a steady hand... a good brush is worth every penny it cost!

I don't tape, either. Always leaks around it, but I spend less time fixing my oops than taping. At least on the ceiling. I do sometimes tape the baseboards.

They have a little square thing that works around the ceilings well. It has a short napped thing that fits on it. It has little wheels that keep it off the ceiling, and you can move pretty quickly. Only thing with that is the bottom of the paint has to be smoothed out or you'll usually have a thicker line there.


It doesn't take too much effort to pull out the stove and refrigerator. Much less time that trying to work around it.

Paint: $5 oops paint costs more than $20 exactly-what-I-wanted paint when you factor in that you're settling for what you don't exactly want.

Our color: Light yellowy beige. I got some of that embossed paintable wallpaper and put it as the backspash. Painted it an old-gold color, so it looks like those embossed panels they sell at home depot that would have been $20 per 2'x3' piece.

 

[Ozymoe]

Fabulous tip - thank you for posting!

OMG...the best tip ever! We are painting oue entire house inside this summer/fall. I am envisionioning this and it comes out aces!

thankyouthankyouthankyou!