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What color should i paint my cabinets


What Color Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets?

What Color Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets?

By now you have probably realized that one of the most popular ways to dramatically change your kitchen (and in many ways your home) for a reasonable price is by painting your kitchen cabinets. It was only about 10 years ago that maple and oak stained cabinets were the most popular choice but painting cabinets has quickly become the norm.

We refinish a lot of kitchen cabinets (and bath cabinets, etc) in the Cleveland, OH area and one of the most common questions we get is what color to choose. Here are some of our favorite examples (all from our own work) along with an explanation to help you decide what is best for your home. Please remember, when choosing any paint color that all of the other colors in the room affect what looks best. One color may look great in someone else’s kitchen but not in yours.

White Kitchen Cabinets

White is still the most popular color as it has been for at least five years or so. One of the reasons white is such a popular color is because it makes all of the other colors in the kitchen pop (such as the walls and counters). White painted cabinets can make a smaller kitchen appear larger just like painting the walls a lighter color can do.

We love to use White Dove (OC-17) from Benjamin Moore for when painting kitchen cabinets white. Below are three examples of kitchen that we recently painted white using White Dove.

The kitchen above is in Avon Lake and we helped their kitchen go from a dark brown (almost black) stained cabinet to a bright white. This really transformed the space and made the entire kitchen look bigger. The kitchen below was a very similar ‘before and after’ but in a different style of kitchen.

Above is a galley-style kitchen that we painted white in Ohio City. Below you can see a “before” picture showing how dark the cabinets were.

 

Here is a kitchen we painted white in Westlake. This is a large kitchen but painting the cabinets white made for a much more modern look.

Below is a “before” picture.

Finally, one more kitchen that we recently painted white (we have a lot to choose from since white is so popular). This one is in Avon and the transformation was awesome because of the recently re-finished hardwood floors as well as the new countertops. You can see that we used a gray / sage green color on the island as an accent piece. The best part…. no more golden oak!!

Off-White / Cream Painted Cabinets

The second most popular cabinet color is an off-white or cream. In many homes a bright white color on the kitchen cabinets can be too bright. This is often the case if the rest of the trim in the house is off-white or if the counters or flooring in the kitchen are on the warm side of the color spectrum. For example, if your counters have a lot of brown or yellow tones then an off-white color can be a great compliment.

It may be hard to tell in the picture below, but this is an example of an off-white color. We painted this kitchen in Brecksville with the color Bauhaus Buff (SW 7552) from Sherwin Williams. 

The color works well (and even looks brighter) in this kitchen because of the other colors. Because the walls are a green shade and the backsplash has a lot of brown tones, this off-white color compliments them well.

Here is a before picture of this kitchen:

Painting Kitchen Cabinets Gray

Gray is the most popular color family for a wall color, but is it the best color for your kitchen cabinets? It is definitely a popular choice but it is probably a little more ‘trendy’ than white and off-white. As with any color it really depends on the rest of your decorating as well as the floors and counter tops. Light gray and dark gray are both popular for cabinets. A dark gray can be especially sharp on just a portion of the cabinets such as painting the island or just the lower cabinets that color.

Below is a kitchen in Avon Lake that we painted the cabinets in a light gray color. Our interior designer helped this home owner select the color “Bone Black CW-715” from Benjamin Moore. We also painted the thin piece of wood near the top in black to give it an accent piece. This really tied in well with the black counters.

Here is a ‘before’ photo of the kitchen we painted gray…

Blue Painted Kitchen Cabinets

If you already have a lot of gray and white in your kitchen, a great option to paint your cabinets could be a dark navy blue. This may be best used on only some of the cabinets instead of all of them but can be a fun accent and focal point. This is definitely not for everyone and is more likely to not be as popular in 5 years or so but right now it is a fairly popular option.

We love the way this kitchen in Avon turned out with this bright blue island. It really provides a great focal point and works really well with the white counters and backsplash. The blue and white also look really sharp with these dark brown floors.

Here is a kitchen in Lakewood were you can see what a navy blue looks like on the bottom section of cabinets with white on the top. You can see that the rest of the colors in the kitchen are in the gray and white family (cooler colors) so the blue provides a great contrast. It also works well with the stainless steel appliances.

Green Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

One final color option to show is a shade of green. Similar to navy blue, this is a more trendy option that only works in certain homes. This color can work in homes with more warm tones such as shades of beige or “greige”. It also probably works best with a slightly creamy off-white instead of a stark white.

Here is an example of a kitchen in Lakewood that we painted the cabinets with an off-white and a green shade. The bottom cabinets are painted with Sherwin Williams’ color Cascade Green (SW 0066). You can see that the walls were also painted with a “greige” color (a warm gray-taupe combination). Please note, the customer was having a back splash installed. We didn’t just ‘miss a spot’. haha!

 

Here is the ‘before’ picture of these Lakewood cabinets…

 

Hopefully this article helps you to plan your kitchen cabinet painting project. There are a lot of great options available and the best one for you really depends on your personal taste and the other colors in your kitchen. If you live in the Cleveland area, we would love the opportunity to speak with you about painting your kitchen cabinets. You can learn more about our process on our Cabinet Painting page.

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Popular Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors

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What are the most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors?

This is a question I see quite often. It’s no surprise though, kitchen cabinets are a major part of a kitchen and you of course want them to look the best they can. I get it! I’ve been there.

Painting your outdated kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to give them a new life. If they are in good shape, why not? Painting your cabinets is the best way to update your kitchen without taking on a full renovation.

So you know you want to paint your kitchen cabinets, but what paint color should you choose?

Who better to ask about the most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors than non-other than the cabinet painting experts? At WOW 1 Day Painting, we do paint our fair share of cabinets and I am going to share the most popular paint colors customers go for. However, I wanted to talk with someone who exclusively paints kitchen cabinets, a true expert in the matter.

I decided to reach out to the very talented, expert cabinet painter, Bethany from My Reclaimed Cottage to find out what paint colors are most popular among her clients.

As expected, white paint colors topped the list, however, there were a handful of non-white paint colors that also made it. It’s a true mixed bag of paint colors.

Before I dive into the actual paint colors there are a few tips to remember when you are choosing a kitchen cabinet paint color.

Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLOR

So when you start thinking about a paint color make sure you take into account your walls, counters, backsplash, floor, and appliances. You want everything to be in balance and play nicely with one another.

Consider the following:

Do your paint color research.

All that being said it’s a good idea to do some research before diving right in with a paint color for your kitchen cabinets. You want to make sure it’s the best choice and you’ll enjoy it for years to come.

Here are some helpful tips:

I have a ton of in-depth posts about all different paint colors. For example, a few of my most recent paint color posts were the ever so popular Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray, Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray, BM Caldwell Green, and Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist.

I am browsing and posting on Pinterest all the time. Check out my Pinterest page for some inspiration.

This is something I do all the time for clients. A lot of the time people know what they want but they just need a little help making the final decision.

Want to paint like a true professional?

Check out this must-have painting tool used by our painting crew
BUY THIS PAINTING TOOL

Sure, painting your cabinets is much cheaper than replacing them but, if you choose the wrong color you’ll end up repainting them. Not only is this more time but, it’s also more money.

13 MOST POPULAR KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS

Choosing a paint color for interior walls is undoubtedly difficult, we know it’s no easy task. And choosing a paint color for kitchen cabinets is no different. No one wants to deal with the frustration and headache that can come from picking the wrong paint color.

Some of the most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors are whites and grays. But as of lately some cabinet colors that have been trending are darker colors and blues.

So, today I’m sharing with you the 13 best and most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors.

PURE WHITE SW 7005 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 84

Sherwin Williams Pure White is such an all-around beautiful white paint color. What makes this particular white such a popular color for kitchen cabinets? It’s because Pure White has, in my opinion, the absolute perfect balance of undertones. Some whites can have a loud blue or yellow undertone that pushes them to the warmer or cooler side. Whereas Pure White is right smack in the middle not leaning one way or the other. It’s an amazing white kitchen cabinet color for sure.

READ MORE: SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE

ALABASTER SW 7008 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 82

It’s no surprise that Sherwin Williams Alabaster made it to the popular kitchen cabinet paint colors list. It’s a fantastic off-white paint color. It’s a great option for kitchen finishes that have some warm tones in them. Being that Alabaster isn’t a stark white, rather it’s more on the creamy side, it just works well.

READ MORE: SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALABASTER

REPOSE GRAY SW 7015 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 58

Surprise, surprise, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray made it to the popular list. Actually, no surprise at all! Repose Gray is my favorite gray paint color. I think it’s the best Sherwin Williams gray paint color for kitchen cabinets. It works well on cabinets because it has some depth to it. Repose is not too light of a gray, it’s just dark enough.

READ MORE: REPOSE GRAY-MY FAVORITE GRAY

ALPACA SW 7022 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 57

This one I was surprised about. Sherwin Williams Alpaca is a warm, greige/taupe paint color. It’s warmer than Repose Gray. I think Alpaca is a popular kitchen cabinet paint color for the fact that it is a warmer taupe-ish color. Taupe paint colors work well with fixed elements like tile, with pink undertones. So the slight taupish feel of Alpaca makes it an extremely useful color for kitchen cabinets.

IRON ORE SW 7069 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 6

Dark kitchen cabinets are making a comeback. I’m seeing them everywhere. Need proof? Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams made the popular list. Iron Ore is such a requested cabinet color because it’s dark and moody, yet it’s not quite a black color like SW Tricorn Black.

PEPPERCORN SW 7674 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 10

Sherwin Williams Peppercorn is a fantastic dark gray paint color. Just like Iron Ore, Peppercorn is a dark bold gray however it’s a bit lighter and grayer. Peppercorn is a great option for kitchen cabinets.

NEED AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER WHAT PAINT COLORS YOU USED IN YOUR HOME?

CHECK OUT THIS PRINTABLE PAINT COLOR TRACKER!

CHANTILLY LACE OC-65 BENJAMIN MOORE

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LRV 92.2

Chantilly Lace is the best Benjamin Moore white paint color for kitchen cabinets when you want a true white. There are no surprises with this gorgeous Benjamin Moore white. Chantilly Lace is a crisp and clean white. It’s a favorite among designers and homeowners alike. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular cabinet colors.

READ MORE: FULL REVIEW- BM CHANTILLY LACE

WATER’S EDGE 1635 BENJAMIN MOORE

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LRV 30.42. Also known as James River Gray AC-23

I am genuinely so happy to see Benjamin Moore Water’s Edge make it to the popular list. Why do you ask? Because blue kitchen cabinets are so beautiful! They make a bold statement without being too bold. Water’s Edge is the perfect blue-gray kitchen cabinet color. Blue-gray paint colors tend to be a bit more neutral than straight-up blues which makes them easier to use.

BLUE NOTE 2129-30 BENJAMIN MOORE

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LRV 7.14

Blue Note by Benjamin Moore is another fantastic kitchen cabinet paint color. Not only is it a darker color, but it’s also another blue on the popular list. This is a bold color that will make a statement in your kitchen. Whether you use Blue Note on all your cabinets or as an accent on your island, this color will truly shine. Try pairing it with brass cabinet pulls to complete the kitchen’s look.

WHITE DOVE OC-17 BENJAMIN MOORE

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LRV 85.38

Yet another beautiful off-white paint color to add to the popular list. Benjamin Moore White Dove is truly one of the best white paint colors for kitchen cabinets. Like SW Alabaster, it’s not a bright, stark white. There is a tiny bit of warmth to it that makes it easy to use with the fixed element in your kitchen.

READ MORE: WHITE DOVE- BENJAMIN MOORE

DORIAN GRAY SW 7017 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 39

Are you still wondering if gray is a popular kitchen cabinet paint color? Wonder no more, it still is. Dorian Gray by Sherwin Williams is a darker, more mid-toned gray paint color. It works well on kitchen cabinets because it has greige undertones. The balance of undertones makes it effortless to pair with the fixed elements of a kitchen.

READ MORE: DORIAN GRAY COLOR REVIEW

NAVAL SW 6244 SHERWIN WILLIAMS

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LRV 4

Not only is Sherwin Willaims Naval an overall fan favorite but it’s also on the popular kitchen cabinet paint color list. Honestly, I knew Naval would make the list. It can be considered a navy blue but with a bit more saturation to it. In my experience, Naval is often used as an accent color, for with a two tones kitchen cabinet look or on an island.

SIMPLY WHITE 2143-70 BENJAMIN MOORE

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LRV 91.7

Guess white, I mean what? We have another popular white kitchen cabinet paint color on the list. You saw it coming, I did say that white paint colors topped the list. So, Benjamin Moore Simply White is a warm white with a touch of yellow in it. It’s a great update option for kitchens that have warmer tones in them.

Let’s take a quick break to talk about TESTING PAINT SAMPLES!

Quickly, let’s talk about testing paint colors.

Instead of physically going to your nearest paint store to grab your samples, you need to try  Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples.

Why should you try Samplize?

These peel & stick paint samples are super affordable and allow you to test a paint color in all different areas of a room without the mess of a traditional paint sample! 

 You know how I feel about testing paint colors, it’s a must! 

Don’t create more work for yourself. Order Samplize now and have them shipped directly to you.  No-fuss, no mess! Check them out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

TRY SAMPLIZE NOW

POPULAR KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS RECAP

Some of the most popular paint colors on this list are what you would expect. But I do think that people are exploring different options other than white and the proof is on this list. There are dark as well as light gray. Then there are also different shades of blue. It’s a well-rounded mix of colors and I believe they are all amazing paint color options for kitchen cabinets.

THE BEST SHERWIN WILLIAMS KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS

Wow 1 Day Painting Bergen CountyWow 1 Day Painting Bergen County

READ MORE: THE BEST SHERWIN WILLIAMS GRAY PAINT COLORS

THE BEST BENJAMIN MOORE KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS

Wow1Day Painting Bergen County

READ MORE: THE BEST BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY PAINT COLORS

Don’t start painting until you have the right tools!

SHOP MUST HAVE PAINTING TOOLS

FINAL THOUGHTS – POPULAR KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS

Painting your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen. Paint can truly transform the space. Not only is it a more budget-friendly way to renovate your kitchen, but it’s also a project you can DIY.

READ MORE: HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS

When it comes to choosing a kitchen cabinet paint color, don’t forget to take into account things like the lighting or design features in the room. You want to make sure the kitchen is well balanced.

Don’t forget to swatch the paint color you choose. If you read my paint color posts, you’ll see I’m adamant about this.

Be prepared to swatch! Grab yourself some chippy brushes.

Swatching the paint colors will allow you to get a real feel of how they look once they are up on the cabinets. 

Use Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples for a mess-free way to test paint colors!

Finally, take your time and go through the appropriate steps when choosing the perfect cabinet color.  Using this advice will save you time, money, and aggravation in the long run.

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How to update an old wardrobe, photos and ideas

Update an old wardrobe, give individuality to serial furniture, fill the house with mood - color can do a lot

Colored furniture in the house traditionally ends up in the children's room more often than in the living room. Nevertheless, we advise you to seriously think about "upgrading" pieces of furniture with the help of color - or to get ready-made colored ones. A well-painted wardrobe or chest of drawers often decorates and “holds” the interior. Here are some tricks on how to update an old wardrobe with your own hands, choosing the right color, as well as tips for painting multi-door furniture and storage systems.

Melissa Hill Home Design

Traffic Light
Thinking about how to update your closet with your own hands - look at the photo. Bright saturated color is able to give a second life to any old furniture. The most stable interior accents are green, yellow, red. They are very good when the tones are bright, clean. But derived hues can also be wonderful; the main thing is that there should be a correspondence between them and the rest of the colors of the interior. If you decide to paint an old Soviet wardrobe in rich grassy green, then it is better to repeat it or its derivatives in the curtain pattern, but not green in cold shades.

Tip: Before painting a polished cabinet, carefully remove the old polish, otherwise the paint will not adhere evenly or not at all.

Michelle Hinckley

In order for a bright chest of drawers to fulfill its role as it should, use the rule: the walls of the room should be a neutral shade. Cream, gray (any shades) as a background for the colors of the "traffic light" is the most suitable solution.

Tip: If the shape of the chest of drawers is complex, choose bright yellow. Shadows that form curves will look graceful, not heavy.

Annie Thornton

Black and white are the perfect company for a red dresser. Of course, in this case, allusions with the avant-garde of the beginning of the last century cannot be avoided, but this is exactly what designers usually want to achieve by choosing scarlet storage systems. Enjoy it! The red chest of drawers is the best stand for black and white posters, paintings and photographs.

Daria Nazarenko

If the interior uses all the colors of the "traffic light" at the same time, you need to be careful. There is always a risk that the interior of the adult part of the house will get too childish. And this is exactly what I would like to avoid in the living room or bedroom.

Tip: Do not grind. Let the bright object be one of the largest in the room.

Olga Shangina | Photography

Before you update an old wardrobe with your own hands, decide what exactly you will paint. The bright color of the facades can be combined with another, deliberately neutral finish - for example, with wood. In this case, the emphasis will be on the contrast of artificial and natural. If the balance of both is right, then the thing will look like an expensive gallery object, even if it's just a "IKEA" pine cabinet painted in a complex shade.

Victoria Skorobogatko

Let blue be difficult!
Bright blue color for the interior is one of the most difficult. Blue furniture, if there is too much of it, creates a tangible effect of tension. About the same as the blue food in the plate. Historically, there was practically no blue color in the interior - except for the blue sky in the window and doorway.

Maria Turykina

Therefore, blue must be treated as an exception, a neat detail. And if possible, look for complex shades in the palettes. Believe me, there are a lot of acceptable derivatives of blue, and it's not always electric blue or azure. And if you choose blue with a touch of green, then there will be much more combination options.

La Rabota

Color stretching
The principle when one color is chosen and stretched from dark to light. The method is suitable for those who tend to perceive color as a visual vitamin and collect things of similar shades. To avoid piling up objects close in tone, you can repaint the same chest of drawers based on the next seasonal hobby.

SEE ALSO…
More than 800 photos of chests of drawers in the interior of an apartment and house

NCh-BUREAU

Color in historic furniture furniture
Not sure how to update an old inherited kitchen cabinet? - Feel free to paint in bright colors! Colored, I must say, the furniture was historically. And most manufacturers of ironic classics actively use bright colors for furniture "in styles" and do not hesitate to use many colors at the same time. If you doubt the coefficient of their compatibility - take the colors closer to the pastel or "dusty" range, but do not completely deprive them of their brightness.

Erika Bierman Photography

Advice: Paint yourself - paint by box! When each box will have its own color, which is quite convenient. You can always say: "Documents in the red box" - and it will be immediately clear where they are.

You can paint the chest of drawers not across, but along. You just need to understand why this is being done. If a French flag is made from a chest of drawers, as in this case, then this is a gesture with meaning. If this meaning is not enough, then it is better to prefer transverse stripes.

Ithaca Architecture

“Mondrian”
A somewhat hackneyed but still favorite trick of all storage system manufacturers is to paint their cabinets and chests of drawers with a large number of square drawers in such a way that some of the squares remain white and the rest turned out to be made in primary colors, plus white and black.

There are (as in the photo) more difficult options that are worth trying, if only for the fact that they make such obvious references to a well-known plot. In addition, for painting “under Mondrian”, a square facade is preferable.

Read also ...

Full wall
Built-in systems with compartment doors also benefit greatly from the bright color. Four expressive shades for glossy doors will make painting the walls superfluous.

YOUR TURN…
Are you ready to buy a colored chest of drawers or order bright wardrobe doors? Do you plan to repaint the wooden furniture yourself ? What color? Share your ideas with us in the comments section!

How can you paint a wardrobe in an interesting way? 30 creative ideas from Rusavtolac

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When furniture loses its former gloss and attractive appearance, it is customary to get rid of it. But if it is easy to replace a table or chair, then not everything is so simple with a wardrobe. After all, this furniture is often someone's gift, inheritance, or just a huge, scary, but extremely useful item in everyday life, which you really don't want to part with. What to do in such a situation when the old cabinet is tired, but you don’t want to buy or make a new one at all? There is only one answer - repaint the furniture yourself.

In fact, painting a closet is much easier than it might seem at first glance. Especially if you use aerosol cans. Indeed, in this case, neither rollers, nor solvents, nor brushes are needed. The repair kit will only include sandpaper, masking tape, polyethylene (or old newspapers) and spray paint. How to apply all this? Very simple: with the help of abrasives, the surface will be prepared for painting, masking tape and polyethylene will help to cover those places where the paint should not get, and aerosol cans will actually become the main tool for painting the cabinet.


An important point: surfaces coated with varnish are subject to mandatory sanding. It is also highly desirable to apply primer to the surface before painting and wait for it to dry completely. Before using aerosol cans, they should be shaken well for several minutes. And the spraying itself should be carried out in several thin layers from a distance of 30 cm.


If you decide to paint the cabinet, then do not be afraid to use bright colors, use stencils, unusual color combinations, and make drawings. Give free rein to your imagination! And you can stock up on a huge portion of creativity with the help of a special, thematic selection of photos from Rusavtolac .

It is easy to paint a wardrobe in a children's room - just choose the brightest colors and diversify the doors with additional elements.


The classic Soviet hill can be easily turned into an extremely interesting element of the interior.


Completely painting such an extremely common cabinet is a matter of several hours.


How much an ordinary wardrobe changes, one has only to repaint it with high quality and remove the doors


Drawing such stripes is extremely simple - for this you need to evenly glue the masking tape and press it firmly. After spraying the paint, it can be easily removed and get this effect.


If you are going to paint your closet again, then you should not forget about new hinges for its doors.


If you have always received “excellent” marks in drawing lessons, then you can paint the cabinet with the help of original drawings.


The back wall of the cabinet can be varied using ordinary colored and patterned oilcloths


Painting a closet like this is an extremely difficult task. But the result is worth it!


Strokes can be made with a regular marker with a thick pen, and then sprayed over with a protective colorless varnish. Or use an aerosol can, after covering nearby surfaces.


Nothing complicated, but looks very cool and fresh!


A great example of a real "girly" work. Why not?


You will never find furniture in such bold colors on sale. But to make it like this is a couple of trifles.


Want to paint your closet too? Ordinary homemade gauze will help you with this!


An extremely simple job. But minimalism is in vogue right now!


We should not forget that spray paints come with various special effects. For example, this is how a coating with a craquelure effect will look like.


Not a bad job, but the fasteners for the doors could have been chosen differently.


In order to paint a cabinet like this, you only need a few aerosol cans of paint.


The locker left from the old slide can be easily turned into a nice and independent element of the interior.


Very good coloring, which is ideal for decorating the room


Painting a closet in such a nice color and applying patterns in the form of lizards is much easier than it seems.

Learn more