Best paint for kitchen cabinets: 8 paints to transform your space instantly

Picking out the best paint for kitchen cabinets is the first step in totally changing the look of your space with just paint. Giving your cabinets a new lick of paint, even if it is just the same colour, can give your kitchen a lift. 

So if you have been blessed with an inherited kitchen that's not quite your style and don't want to invest in a whole new one just yet, now is a better time than ever to give your kitchen a whole new look using just paint! 

We’ve picked out the best paint for kitchen cupboards, so you can get your projects started ASAP.  If you are planning on painting the rest of your kitchen, check out our guide to the best kitchen paint.

The best kitchen cupboard paints

For anyone who wants to steer clear of a gloss finish, this Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood Paint available in 20 colours,  will prove a nice change. Its advanced water-based formula, a far cry from earlier experimentations, goes on in thin, but high-coverage coats, and reviewers loved its smooth, even, slightly lustrous finish with a tough coating that can stand up to the rigours of life in a busy kitchen. On that front, this Dulux cupboards paint's properly quick-dry formula is a blessing too, meaning you can get on with life as quickly as possible after painting your kitchen cupboards.

• Shop Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood Paint here

Want the best kitchen cupboard paint for a rustic, chalky finish? The unique look of chalk-based paint is more popular than ever, and while it may come as a surprise that our top pick comes from small supplier easichalk, Shabby Chic Chalk Based Furniture Paint has got the rave reviews to take on the big brands. Its vintage-look, almost velvety ultra-matte finish left reviewers impressed, and they found that despite initial reservations about the size of the tin, a little went a very long way. Plus, for anyone looking to hop on the black-on-black kitchen trend, reviewers recommend the shade Liquorice as the perfect black for the best paint for kitchen cupboards.

• Shop Shabby Chic Chalk Based Furniture Paint here

If white gloss appeals for an instant facelift and a clean and tidy look, this Ronseal One Coat Cupboard gloss looks to be the best kitchen cupboard paint around. As the name suggests, it’s specifically engineered for use on melamine and MDF cupboards, as well as drawers, furniture and doors, making it a handy one to keep in the garage, but the best bit is its practicality. Not needing a primer, this cupboard paint gives a full-coverage, smooth and glossy finish in just one coat, and once on, it’s said not to scuff or scratch. In our opinion, this is the best kitchen cupboard paint if you're after something white gloss, quick to apply which has a smooth finish.

• Shop Ronseal One Coat Cupboard gloss paint here 

Farrow & Ball’s Estate Eggshell is suitably stately, with a tough but beautiful finish that would look at home in most any kitchen. The water-based formula is eco-friendly with a low VOC content, meaning no nasties, less odour to contend with and peace of mind for those with children and pets. Once on, it’s washable and wipeable, a surprisingly practical touch to match its elegant silk finish. Best of all, you can choose from a whopping 132 colours to suit any scheme.

• Shop Farrow & Ball’s Estate Eggshell here

Somewhere between the shabby chic finish of upcycler’s favourite chalk paint, and the traditional finish of white gloss, there’s this not-quite-matt Johnstone's One Coat Quick Dry Satin Paint. Reviewers were impressed with its performance, saying that it covers evenly in just one coat, is touch-dry in two hours, and feels like silk. As luck would have it, it looks a little like silk too, with what DIYers said was a beautiful sheen and a great finish. Longer term users commended the wash-clean, non-smudging finish, too. If you're after a satin finish, this is the best kitchen cabinet paint that you can buy.

• Shop Johnstone's One Coat Quick Dry Satin Paint here 

Satin seems to be the finish du jour for paintwork right now, and this V33 Renovation Smooth Satin paint is proving especially popular among the contenders. Specially designed for use on kitchen cupboards and cabinets, reviewers found it applied beautifully with a foam roller, and provided opaque coverage that made cabinets look just like new after application. They also found a little went a long way, and that post-painting, any splashes or splatters could be easily wiped off without any detriment to the finish, proving this paint’s staying power.

• Shop V33 Renovation Smooth Satin paint here

Transform your kitchen cupboards with help from Wilko's furniture and cupboard paint. For use on interior wood, melamine, MDF cupboards and furniture, a little goes a long way, and because of its thick consistency you'll only need one coat for good coverage. Reviewers rave about the quality and the smooth satin finish, as well as the fact it's hard wearing. Use a gloss roller to get the best results, and be sure to open all windows as it does have a strong smell to it.

• Shop Wilko's furniture and cupboard paint here

Looking for the best paint for kitchen cabinets on a budget? GoodHome Flat Matt Furniture Paint will give your kitchen cupboards a velvety smooth, chalky finish. It's washable and and resistant to water and household cleaners so you can wash away any marks or stains, making it really easy to maintain. There are also load of shades to choose from, including metallics and glitter paints. 

For best results, at least two coats are recommended, applied using a brush or roller. To finish use a lacquer or wax to protect heavily used surfaces, and allow 10 days for paint to fully cure.

• Shop GoodHome Flat Matt Furniture Paint here

How to buy the best kitchen cupboard paint

Colour

Undoubtedly, the most exciting bit to decide on is the colour you’re going to paint your cupboards – is barely-there Scandi-inspired soft grey more your speed, or do you dare to go for one of the season’s deep inky shades? If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our kitchen paint ideas.

Formula

However, arguably the most important bit is the formula. Finish can have almost as big an effect on your overall kitchen aesthetic as colour, and eggshell and gloss have long been prized in tricky spaces like kitchens for their smooth sheen and wipe-clean finish, however even some of our satin picks are tougher than they look. Our top tip? A mid to soft sheen will look more contemporary than anything glossy, and will give your kitchen an instant update.

• Painting kitchen cupboards: top tips and ideas to makeover your kitchen fast

More DIY ideas:

• The best paintbrushes for all your DIY projects
• 27 kitchen cabinet design ideas
• Check out the Real Homes TV channel for more home improvement ideas