#Repaint kitchen cupboards

Painting the cupboard doors and drawer fronts is a great way to rejuvenate a tired or dated kitchen without having an entirely new kitchen expensively installed. Plus, you get green brownie points for reusing rather than replacing.

Four days for one project may sound excessive, but it's no longer than the disruption of having your kitchen replaced. Each stage can be done in a couple of hours in a small kitchen (including drying times). Dedicate one day to cleaning and prep, one to priming and one to undercoating. For the topcoat, oil-based paints need a day per coat. After the final coat, allow at least a day for it to become touch-dry.

The right paint for the job

Gloss or eggshell are traditionally used to provide a hard-wearing, wipe-able finish. Gloss is good but it shows up any imperfections, and getting a good, even finish requires skill. Eggshell is easier to use and more forgiving of less‑than-perfect brushwork.

To remove or not to remove

It seems obvious to remove cupboard doors before painting them but, counterintuitively, painting them in situ is better. It means that you can do both sides and the top and bottom in one go – and you avoid the tricky business of rehanging them correctly. Do remove handles and knobs though: imagine the scene a few months later when you want to change the door furniture and your new knobs don't cover the bare, unpainted section left by the old pieces.

Give everything a good clean. Wash down thoroughly to remove all dirt and grease, making sure you get into all nooks and crannies – especially on panelling. Use a multi‑purpose liquid cleaner or sugar soap, which will get rid of grease and also helps prepare the surface. Allow to dry thoroughly. Rub down wooden and painted units with fine sandpaper and wipe them down with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust. If you have laminate cupboard doors, you don't need to do this.

First you must prime. For wooden doors, use a wood primer or multi-purpose primer/undercoat. For laminates or spray-coated finishes, use a melamine primer. One coat may be enough but, if you are covering a dark colour or very shiny surface, two is best.

Next comes the undercoat: one coat is usually enough but if it looks streaky apply two. Finally, add the top coats. Two coats is the norm but sometimes extra coats are necessary to get an even finish.

Good a good finish

Take your time. Don't overload the brush, and use the paint sparingly – if you put it on too thickly it will form drips. Ensure your strokes are even: up and down is best but sometimes you have to go side-to-side on areas such as moulded parts of panelled doors.

Kitchen handles

A good way to liven up an old kitchen is to change the knobs and handles. The choice of design will be dictated by the position of the existing fixing holes. New ones must either use the existing holes or cover them up.

Make a template marked with the position of the existing holes and take it when you shop for new fittings. Look for interesting old door furniture in antique markets or shops, salvage yards and online.