Paint your cabinets if the boxes and doors are solid and the layout works, and replace them if the boxes are damaged or the layout is the real problem. Painting changes the color at far less cost than a kitchen remodel, but it cannot fix failing drawers, water damage or poor storage.
Good candidates for painting are solid wood or sturdy cabinets with doors that close true and drawers that still run well. The prep does most of the work. Surfaces are cleaned, sanded and primed with a bonding primer, then finished with a hard-curing cabinet enamel, and hinges or pulls can be replaced at the same time. The paint feels dry within hours but takes several weeks to fully cure, so treat doors and drawers gently at first.
Replacement makes more sense when paint would only cover a deeper problem. Warning signs include swollen boxes near the sink, peeling laminate or thermofoil, sagging shelves, and drawers that have failed. It also makes sense if your frustration is with the storage itself, since paint will not add pull-outs or change where the cabinets sit. New cabinets usually come as part of a kitchen remodel, which typically costs $35,000 to $75,000+ and takes 3 to 4 weeks on site.
Age matters too. Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint under newer coats, so tell us the age of your home before any sanding is planned. Painted surfaces may need to be tested first, and we walk you through the options before work starts. If you are unsure which way to go, we can look at the cabinets during a free in-home consultation, open the doors and drawers, and tell you honestly whether they are worth painting. You get a written estimate before work begins.
Answered by Legacy Construction & Design · CA License #790442 · October 2026