Paint your kitchen in five easy steps

Kitchen walls and surfaces are often greasy. Before you start painting, it’s important to clean all surfaces thoroughly to ensure that you get a good finish. The best way to do this is to clean them down with sugar soap or a strong detergent solution. Use warm water and thoroughly rinse off all residue before allowing the surfaces to dry.

Before starting to paint, cover the edges of any tiles, appliances, trim and worktops with masking tape. This will help you to create a clean, crisp edge to the painted surface. It’s best to also cover worktops, appliances and the floor with a plastic sheet to catch any drips.

As with any room, start painting your kitchen from the ceiling down, so that any paint drips don’t fall onto freshly painted surfaces. For ceilings and walls, use a kitchen paint as these are hard-wearing and designed to be wiped down easily. A standard vinyl paint can be used on ceilings as they don’t need washing as regularly. You may find it easier to paint smaller surface areas and edges with a brush rather than a roller.

If you feel like painting the kitchen cabinet doors, it’s easiest to remove them first. Clean them with sugar soap or detergent, then fill any gouges or nicks in the doors with wood filler, before sanding the areas and wiping them down. Depending on the surface, it may be worth using a special primer and an undercoat will improve coverage.

Finish by painting all woodwork. Paint from top to bottom, starting with the windows – it’s best to begin painting in the morning so that they have a full day to dry before they need to be closed in the evening. Next, paint the door, door frame and architrave, followed by the skirting. By painting the skirting last, there is less risk of your brush becoming contaminated by dirt or dust.