Best Kitchen Cabinet Paint in the UK

Choosing the best kitchen cabinet paint is an inexpensive way to completely refresh the look of your kitchen.

If you’re thinking of redecorating your kitchen and plan on entirely stripping your kitchen cabinets and replacing them with new ones, you might want to think twice. Assuming the wood is still in good condition, you might be surprised just how much of an impact giving them a new coat of paint has on the overall look and feel of your kitchen.

But with so many brands and types of paint to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Choosing the wrong paint could leave you with drip marks, uneven coverage and a finish that is easily scratched.

Fortunately, we’ve got years of experience in painting and decorating and have combined that with feedback from hundreds of customers to come up with this helpful guide to the best kitchen cabinet paint as well as tips on colour schemes and getting the best finish. Read on to learn more.

Best Kitchen Cabinet Paint Overall: Johnstone’s Cupboard Paint

When looking for the best kitchen cabinet paint overall, it’s hard to look past Johnstone’s durable Cupboard Paint. Made specifically for kitchen cabinets, this paint is a simple solution to giving your kitchen a fresh new look.

As it’s been specifically formulated for use on kitchen cupboards, you can use this to restore your cupboards, whether the surface is melamine or MDF.

The advanced water based formula has a nice consistency which makes it easy to apply by brush and still get a smooth, satin finish. It’s also handy that you won’t need to use a separate primer or undercoat – simply prepare the surface as you would for any other paint job and start applying.

The paint is water based which means you won’t need to put up with any strong odours, making it convenient to use in your kitchen without having to take all the doors off for exterior application. Of course, make sure your kitchen is well ventilated before, during and after painting.

Johnstone’s Cupboard Paint is very durable once set, however you will need to be careful around it during the drying process. Whilst wet it can be scratched very easily so due care and diligence is needed to ensure you don’t spoil the finish.

Colours include pale grey, white and antique cream, all of which have the ability to totally transform your kitchen. Our personal favourite is pale grey which has a modern chic look.

Pros

• Is durable and can be cleaned
• Incredibly quick drying allowing you to complete the job in half a day
• Low odour and low VOC making it more eco-friendly
• It doesn’t yellow over time

Cons

• Scratches off easily when wet so keep that in mind

Runner up: Ronseal Cupboard Paint

Our runner up for the best kitchen cupboard paint is Ronseal’s Cupboard and Melamine paint. Whilst not quite up to the standard of Johnstone’s, this paint trades high quality for a little bit more convenience, requiring just one coat for most cupboards.

This paint, like Johnstone’s, has been formulated specifically for kitchen cabinets and is suitable for application on anything including melamine, MDF, plywood and chipboard.

The creamy, satin paint is solvent based and is very easy to apply and easy to achieve a smooth finish when brushed vertically. Being solvent based does mean that you’ll need to take the relevant safety measures as it has a high VOC content and odour.

If painting on bare wood or a lighter shade of paint, one coat should be enough. When painting over bold colours you may need an additional coat. We recommend leaving 24 hours between coats as it will give you a good idea as to whether you’ll need another coat or not.

Perhaps the best attribute of this paint is its durability. The formula ensures it can withstand scratches and scuffs whilst also being water resistant which means you can wash and scrub it without worrying about chipping the paint.

The colour selection from Ronseal is impressive and includes modern colours such as Granite Grey, Ivory, Magnolia and Mocha Brown. Having 10 colours to choose from ensures you can find something that fits in with your overall decor style.

Pros

• Is durable and can be scrubbed clean
• One coat is usually enough when applied to lighter surfaces
• Stands up well to scuffs and scratches
• Suitable for use on all interior wood and melamine surfaces

Cons

• High VOCs

Best White Kitchen Cabinet Paint: Dulux Trade Diamond

If you’re looking for the best white kitchen cabinet paint you’ll want something that is durable, easy to clean and better yet, stain resistant. In this instant, we’d go with Dulux trade Diamond Satinwood and more specifically, the Pure Brilliant White option.

Whilst not a specific kitchen cupboard paint, the Diamond Satinwood is suitable for application across a variety of surfaces including wood, MDF and even metals. This makes it the perfect choice for kitchen cabinets whilst you’re free to use the leftovers on any other projects you have lined up.

Despite being a water based formula, the consistency of the paint is nice and thick which makes application a breeze especially when using a good quality synthetic brush. You can also get good results when using a short pile mohair roller assuming it’s been manufactured for use with water based paints. The paint is quick drying with a re-coat time of around 6 hours and can safely be applied indoors due to its low odour and VOC content.

The advanced water based formula ensures the finished product is immune from scratches, scuffs, stains and grease. This means that cleaning your cabinets will not only be easy but will avoid any damage during the cleaning process too.

Of course, the colour is white but it’s important to note here that unlike solvent based paints, this one doesn’t yellow over time.

Pros

• Is durable and can be cleaned without causing any damage
• Quick drying formula means you can finish up in under half a day
• Low odour and low VOC making it more eco-friendly
• It doesn’t yellow over time

Cons

• Somewhat expensive

Great Paint for Laminate Cupboards: Rust Oleum

If you’re looking for a great paint for laminate cupboards, you don’t have to look much further than Rust Oleum. If you’re familiar with chalk paint, you might know that many interior design enthusiasts across social media love this flat matt chalk paint by Rust Oleum. It’s especially great at bringing a new lease of life to tired, worn-out looking kitchen cabinets.

While branded as a furniture paint, Rust Oleum’s chalk paint is suitable for use on a variety of interior surfaces including melamine and MDF. This means that anything from old kitchen cabinets to yellowing stone fireplaces can all be revived and refreshed using this paint.

The coverage of this paint is exceptional while being easy to apply. As a water-based paint, it has just the right amount of thickness to ensure you’re getting an even spread when using a brush and in most cases will only need a single coat.

The only thing we would say it be extra careful with chalk paint when painting protruding areas as they can be particularly prone to paint build ups. Like most chalk paints, this one has minimal VOCs and as such little to no odour.

It’s also been known to be very durable which is ideal for use on kitchen cabinets as they often get touched a lot.

In terms of colour, our test showed that the colour (duck egg) was the same as shown on the tin. It’s also helpful to know that this paint comes in a variety of over 15 elegant colours, giving you more than enough choice to match your cupboards to your existing kitchen decor.

Pros

• Is highly durable even on surfaces that are touched frequently
• Comes in a variety of different elegant colours
• Low odour and low VOC making it more eco-friendly
• Overall fantastic value for money

Cons

• None

Good Budget Option: Johnstone’s Quick Dry Satin

Unlike Johnstone’s specific Cupboard Paint, their Interior Wood & Metal Satin is a bit of an all rounder but don’t let that put you off. It’s been proven to have fantastic results for kitchen cabinets and that’s been backed up by hundreds of great online reviews.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this paint is suitable for interior woods and metals but crucially, this includes plywood, MDF and plywood which are commonly used throughout kitchens across the UK.

Being a water based paint, it’s got a consistency that isn’t too thick and is easy to apply when using a synthetic brush. It’s easy to spread across wooden surfaces and overall, a little goes a long way. It’s also useful that this paint has minimal dripping so you shouldn’t be left with any drip marks assuming you take care during application. Low VOCs and odour make it friendlier on the environment and also means you can apply it safely indoors.

The paint sets in an attractive mid-sheen finish and it’s handy to know that the formula is non-yellowing in case you were thinking of painting your kitchen cupboards white. Durability is as expected with a satin finish – it’s tough, long lasting and can easily be washed.

The paint comes in a variety of chic colours including Frosted Silver, Pink Cadillac and Seashell, giving you ample choice to make your kitchen look unique.

Pros

• Is durable and can be cleaned without causing any damage to the paint
• Touch dry in around 1 – 2 hours
• Low odour and low VOC makes it more environmentally friendly
• It doesn’t yellow over time
• Incredibly cheap despite its quality

Cons

• None

Best Kitchen Cupboard Spray Paint: Rust Oleum Painter’s Touch

Whilst we’d personally stick to using a liquid paint that can be applied by brush, there are some spray paints that have recently come to the market that do a good job – most notably, Rust Oleum’s Painter’s Touch.

Rust Oleum’s Painter’s Touch is a 400ml spray paint that can be applied to interior surfaces such as wood and metal and can be used on a variety of objects such as kitchen cabinets as well as other pieces of furniture.

The spray can is incredibly easy to use, it’s a case of simply shaking vigorously before and during application. The nozzle is focused which means you can get a precise finish and doesn’t clog which is a common problem with some spray paints. If you went with something different, just be aware of the clogging issue. This frequently results in spurts of the paint coming out and gives you an uneven coverage.

Rust Oleum’s Painter’s Touch is also incredibly quick drying – it takes just 20 minutes to become touch dry with a further coat applicable after just 1 hour.

You can choose from over 40 different types and colours but it’s usually best to stick to a satin finish which provides adequate protection as well as an attractive mid-sheen finish. We’re aware that some other blogs have mentioned using the gloss version of this paint but unless you want light bouncing off all your surfaces, it’s best to stick to satin.

Pros

• Is one of the quickest ways to paint your kitchen cabinets
• Provides a smooth and durable finish
• Can be used on a variety of different surfaces
• Comes in so many colours it can be tough to choose

Cons

• Low coverage – you might need a few cans if you have a lot of cabinets to paint

Summary

If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen and are going to replace your kitchen cabinets, you might be able to save yourself time, money and effort by giving them a new paint job.

For the sake of £20 – £30 it’s definitely worth a try and if you don’t like the finish at least you gave yourself a chance! Stick to our guide above and you won’t go too far wrong.

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Want to learn more about different paints? Feel free to take a look at our recent “best exterior wood paint” article!