Painting kitchens or bathrooms: make sure you use the right paint

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Okay, you decided to paint your kitchen or bathroom. Whether it is an upcycling project (you want an old-style kitchen or bathroom repaint to make it look as new) or you want to start from scratch (you bought a plain MDF kitchen/bathroom that needs finishing) or have different reasons to begin painting.....

You should ask yourself a couple of questions:

• What kind of finish would you like? In terms of sheen, our scope of products offers the popular matt finish, a distinct eggshell or a more pronounced semi-gloss.
• How much time can you spend on your project? We have all-in-one solutions and products that require a bit more preparation.
• Do you love the visibility of artisan brushstrokes or want a smooth finish? It is essential to know that the application technique determines the finish. The grain and viscosity of the paint and the brush you use are also part of the result.

But it all starts with preparation.

No prep, no glory. Painting a kitchen or a bathroom is different from upcycling a small piece of furniture that only plays a display role. You are using your kitchen or bathroom every day, and the products you are using must be capable of withstanding all this. Without proper preparation, your project will fail. Paint doesn't like greasy surfaces. Painting on unstable surfaces, such as over old layers of paint flaking off, is also not a good idea.
Always start with cleaning the surface thoroughly. Remove dust, grease and all other elements that will prevent a good adherence. Use our Omnicean. It will remove everything that will stand in your way and prepares the surface for good adherence. 

When you have cleaned your surface, a good sand will also help. Unless the surface is in a deplorable state, removing old coats isn't needed. If you nevertheless feel a complete removal would be better, use Bio-Strip. This biodegradable paint remover doesn't contain dangerous chlorides and is safe to use. Sanding creates a honeycomb effect and quadruples the total surface area. You don't need a heavy-duty machinery for sanding. A good handheld sanding machine will help, but there is nothing wrong with sanding manually. Start by using 80-grid sandpaper and work your way up to 240-grid. If you are happy, clean again with Omniclean.

Do you need to prime? Not necessarily, but it certainly helps. In some cases, you definitely need to. Many types of wood contain tannins that will react with water-based paint and cause unwanted yellow to purple stains that will remain visible. Painting on MDF without primer will cause the fibres of MDF to rise, and it will take many coats of paint to cover. To prevent all this, use Stainblocking Primer to avoid bleeding through and uneven suction. Just one coat is needed, and your finishing products will love it. 

  

You did your prep work, now choose your style.

All-in-one

When time is not on your side, and you want an all-in-one solution, go for Versante. This all-in-one paint offers excellent coverage and a professional but artisan result. Versante can be used on kitchen and bathroom cupboards but also on walls. Versante doesn't need extra protection and comes in a matt or eggshell finish. You can even paint over ceramic tiles after applying a coat of stainblocking primer. Versante certainly will transform your kitchen or bathroom. Versante is washable and has excellent UV resistance.

Maximum performance

For maximum performance and a very smooth finish, Vivace will be your paint of choice. When applied with a very soft brush, your finish will be that of a professional painter. Without visible brush strokes, your kitchen or bathroom will look like it just came from the factory. Vivace is for wood only and comes in a matt, eggshell or semi-gloss finish. For best results, sanding between coats of paint is recommended. It takes a bit more time, but it will be worth it. Just like Versante, Vivace is washable and withstands UV.

Artistic

Are you more into artistic painting? Go for Vintage chalk paint. This porous genuine chalk paint combined with decorative techniques delivers something unique. Something done by yourself, to your style. On top of Vintage, you can use methods such as sanding through, crackling and glazing. The sky is the limit. To make sure your finish can withstand the needs of everyday use, protect your precious work with heavy-duty varnish.