Refresh Kitchen by Organizing and Painting Inside Cabinets

This is a tutorial about how I transformed my dingy, under kitchen cabinet sink by painting the inside of the cabinets, tile and organiztion.

So when I started this project, one of the first questions I got from family and friends was “Can you paint inside cabinets?” My answer is ABSOLUTELY!

Do you have to paint them…Um No.

Does it look pretty when you paint them…Um Yes!!

But we’ll come back to that later

Chaos can birth creativity

For lots of people the cabinet under the kitchen sink can be crazy place. It’s dark and dingy. You throw everything you don’t want to look at in there. It’s almost as bad as the junk drawer.

Well, mine was the same way. Kinda damp and musty smelling. It had warped and scratched wood from previous water drips. At the end of the day, it just wasn’t clean and pretty like the rest of the kitchen.

It’s these chaotic times in our life that cause us, well, push us to be our most creative self.

As a creativity coach, I’m gonna say “Thank God for choas.” We may hate it, but it makes us stronger and more creative. (Read more about me and my creative services HERE.)

The Garbage Disposal Got Me

Then one day, my garbage disposal broke and water was everywhere. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Everything had to be pulled out from the cabinet and several things had to be thrown away. I was just done. Done Done! Like, shut the kitchen down done. LOL

I called my brother, thank God for brothers by the way, and he came and installed a brand new disposal for free!

When he finished, I looked around and said, well, everything is already pulled out, why not just do a little makeover.

Time to Refresh

I started the little remodel by washing the entire cabinet down with some bleach water and soap. That method gives it a clean surface to build up and the bleach kills any mold or anything that might have been growing.

Next, I sanded all the surfaces with a very fine, 220 grit sandpaper to prep for painting. Make sure to wipe down the surface with a damp cloth to remove any dust and allow everything to completely dry.

Before moving on, I caulked all the edges to make sure I had a tight seal all around. This step is optional though.

Can you Paint Inside Cabinets

There’s something about a fresh coat of white paint that makes everything look fresh and clean. So I gave the entire inside of the cabinet two coats of white, satin wall paint.

I used a 4″ foam roller specifically for cabinets. It gives is a smooth finish with less fuzz.

Just like with outside of kitchen cabinets, you have to make sure the paint adheres well to the inside too. Kitchen cabinets get a lot of wear and tear and need to several coats of good quality paint.

Now it’s time to tile.

Easy peel and stick tile can make a BIG impact.

For the bottom of the cabinet you can do many things. You can keep it simple and place shelf liner paper down. Stores have tons of colors and choices these days like this one.

You can also get really nice shelf liners that are washable and help trap water from getting to the wood. Here’s an example I saw in the store: Lowe’s cabinet drip tray

I wanted a polished tile look for my bottom cabinet. So I went with peel and stick tiles which give you the look with less hassle and lower cost.

They come in a variety of styles and are readily available at many stores. Here tiles very similar to the ones I used: Lowe’s Armstrong Artic White Peel and Stick Tile

The tiles came in 12×24 rectangles, but I choose to cut them down to 12×12 squares, which seemed more manageable for this small space.

When laying the tile, there really aren’t any rules. Just do any pattern that looks best to you. I do have some tips that helped my process go faster.

Peel and Stick Tile laying tips:

• Layout the tiles in place before you peel off the backing. Once those tiles are down THEY ARE DOWN!
• Measure twice, no three times before cutting odd shaped corners
• Use cardboard or newspaper to cut templates of awkward shaped cutout.
• Use a sharp utility knife to cute tiles. The adhesive will ruin scissors.
• Peel the paper backing off slowly and evenly to prevent having to take it off in strips (which was a pain)

Once I had my layout done, and my templates created and cut for around the pipes I started laying them done. I stated in the center and worked my way to the corners.

Another optional step: after tiling, I caulked in between each tile, kinda like “grouting” it. It looked more polished to me this way. But this step is optional if you don’t feel you need it.

Organization is Essential

The last step in this project was for to organize all the things going back inside.

Now, the Home Edit show has everyone buying beautiful clear storage containers. I have to admit, it’s beautiful, but they are also expensive. LOL. So my budget friendly self went right to the dollar tree and Walmart and bought storage items for $15 total!

Out with the old basket I found in my Mom’s basement and in with brand new organization pieces.

I organized everything by how I would use them and it has made life so much easier. If you are looking for other organization ideas, check out this blog:

All the things go back in the cabinet and I’m officially done!!!

If you’ve been following along with this kitchen cabinet refresh in your own home, step back and appreciate your work. Pat yourself on the back. You deserve it!!

Tutorial Video

Here’s a video showing the whole process:

So if someone asks you, “Do you paint inside cabinets?” respond with a resounding YES. The Purple Craft Diva did it, so can you.

Until next time, Stay crafty!

Angie