#True Value Paint - Kitchen Painting Ideas

Choosing a new color scheme for your kitchen is possible with just some paint. Not sure where to start with your color selection? Visit our color selection tool. Once you’ve settled on a color scheme, simply add a few pops of color here and there with accessories such as vases, bowls, wall hangings or colorful kitchen gadgets set around the room.

Step 2: Prepare the Walls

Now that you’ve settled on your kitchen color, it’s time to prepare the walls for painting. If you can’t move your furniture to another room, cover it with tarps and protect the floor with drop cloths. Using a damp cloth, wash the wall’s surface with mild detergent and water. Patch any holes and wall damage with spackling compound. Scrape off flaky areas of old paint using a putty knife. Remove switch and outlet plates, ceiling fixtures, cover plates and other hardware with a screwdriver. Cover edges and trim with painter’s tape.

Even though it’s not necessary to apply a coat of primer before you paint, it’s a good idea. Doing so will give you better coverage and help the paint withstand wear. If your walls are stained, be sure to use a stain-killing primer prior to painting. When painting a light color over a dark color, you will get better results with fewer coats by applying a primer first. Also, if you are planning on painting a very dark color you will get truer color by using a tinted primer coat first.

Priming doesn’t require as much care as painting, but you’ll use the same technique. Apply EasyCare® Ultra Premium latex primer/sealer, moving in 6'-square sections, use a series of overlapping “W” strokes from right to left, then back from left to right. Spread the primer evenly using horizontal strokes. Continue in 6'-square sections until the entire surface is primed. You can skip priming by using True Value EasyCare® PLATINUM latex stain-blocking paint and primer in-one.

Helpful Tip

Put a window fan (set to “exhaust”) in your work area and open a nearby window. This helps to minimize dust and fumes in your house by exhausting much of it outdoors.

Step 3: Apply Ceiling Brushwork

Mask the perimeter of the ceiling with painter’s tape. Next, “cut in” — or outline — the entire room with True Value EasyCare® Ultra Premium Paint and Primer-in-One and a brush to reach the areas a roller can’t. An angled sash brush or edging pad works well for cutting into corners. Get as close to the area as you can and apply the paint about a ¼" away from the edge of the surface. On the second pass, apply more pressure to carefully push the paint into place.

To roll closer to edges without making a smeary mess, put your hand inside a plastic bag and slide the paint-soaked roller so it extends about 1" past the end of the roller handle cage. This allows you to roll right up to edges and cover any brush stroke messes.

When doing ceiling brushwork, it’s easier to pour paint into a smaller container, like a coffee can. That way you don’t have to lug a heavy paint can up the ladder with you.

Step 4: Paint the Ceiling and Walls

Start with the ceiling before painting your walls. Use True Value EasyCare® Ultra Premium Ceiling Paint. Always use a quality latex paint on walls such as True Value EasyCare® PLATINUM paint and primer in-one. Use the same technique as priming your ceiling and walls, moving in 6'-square sections across the ceiling and walls. Be sure to feather the edges of the squares, using less pressure when applying paint at the edges of the square. This will keep the finish even and prevent any lines where the paint overlaps from another section. Keep working with the squares until the surface is completely painted. Without adding paint to the roller, use light strokes to re-roll from the bottom of the wall to the top (or across the ceiling) to ensure everything is even.

If your paint is any finish other than flat, you should go over the entire surface (for very large areas, do two square sections at a time) once again with one-directional, overlapping, non-diagonal strokes to blend the paint.

Be sure to choose a roller cover that suits the surface texture. If you have a “popcorn” or textured ceiling, use a roller with thicker pile. A True Value Hardwarian can help you find the right roller cover for your paint project.

Step 5: Apply Wall Brushwork

Use a good commercial bathroom tile-and-grout cleaner to remove all grease, dirt and grime. If there is any mildew, be sure to use a product designed to kill the mildew and remove any stains. Use a non-metallic abrasive pad to clean. Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of cleaner.