DIY: How to update your melamine cupboards

Don’t like the colour of your kitchen cabinets and cupboards but they’re melamine? It’s a simple job to paint them

Photography by: Anna Briggs

Painting walls and timber is straightforward and much more commonplace. But, if you have melamine cupboards in the kitchen, you may not realise you can actually do the same. You will however need to use a special primer such as Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer before painting.

You will need

Paint tray, paint roller and brushes
Sandpaper 220 grit
Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer
Resene Lustacryl Semi-gloss waterborne enamel paint in Resene Kelp
Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom paint in Resene Spanish White for the walls and ceiling (to complement cabinetry)
Optional: Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path in Resene Spanish White for the curved wall

Step 1

If you can, it is easiest to remove all the doors and drawer fronts and set them up somewhere dry and free of dust. This is not completely necessary, but it makes it a lot easier. Most hinges can be removed without any tools; you may need a screwdriver to remove the drawer fronts. It is also best to remove all the hardware/handles using a screwdriver.

Clean the cupboards and drawer fronts and sand using 220 grit sandpaper

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Step 2

Once the cupboard and drawer fronts are removed, give them a good clean and sand using 220 grit sandpaper. This is only a light sand to take the shine off, we are not trying to take any layers or laminate off.

Step 3

Wipe everything again to ensure it is completely dust-free.

Wipe everything clean and apply a thin coat of Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer

Step 4

Apply a thin coat of Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer. This is not to achieve full opacity; you are aiming for a thin layer of the primer.

Step 5

Repeat on all the cabinet fronts, as well as any little areas of the kitchen that couldn’t be removed, like around the oven or end panels. Allow the primer to dry for at least 12 hours.

Once the primer is dry, paint the colour you want, we have used Resene Kelp, a green colour

Step 6

Once the primer is dry, it is time for the colour. I used Resene Lustacryl Semi-gloss waterborne enamel in Resene Kelp. Apply two coats of the colour using a number 4 roller, allowing at least two hours between coats.