Projects in Pandemic the Series: Painting Kitchen Cabinets & How Much Can You Save by DIY?!

With the amount of time I have had on weekends & evenings, I decided to tackle one of the biggest projects & one of my "first" to-do list projects in my head. When I first moved in, I got a quote that it would cost to paint my cabinets for about $4,0000 and being a first-time home buyer & having an empty house with no furniture, I decided to save and put the cabinet painting on a back burner. Then 2020 happened.... and some of us gained a ton of stay at home time... so after about a month into quarantine I found out that this is something I could do. After lots of research with YouTube videos, blogs, Pinterest before & afters... I decided to do it. I figured that this would be a great way to save on cost. Here is the detailed cost break-down for you all including links to all products I used (you're welcome)! My step by step painting tips & showing you details in what I did will come in a future post.

All of my painting supplies are from Home Depot!

Cabinet Paint Rollers these worked great for quick apply & a very smooth & even finish. They come in different sizes so you are able to choose the size that works best for you. I got the 4" ones & used about 3 packs. $10 x 3 = $30

Paint roller frame: I got a couple of these so I was prepared when my roommates offered to help ;) 4 paint frame x $5.50 = $22

Brushes: You will need the brushes to paint the corners and creases & touch up paint. You will need these to cut in at the walls too especially if you are not using tape to protect your walls. 3 packs X $16 = $48

Painters Tape: I honestly did not use a ton of tape. I taped the walls and the floors and the underside of the cabinets so I only needed one roll for this project 1 tape roll X $6.50 = $6.50

Protection & Tarps: I had 2 tarps already from a previous project, but for the sake of encompassing the total cost for a project like this...here are the tarps I used. I probably would have had invested in some plastic to lay down at the end of the day. Plastic is a bit easier to move around & less expensive & easier to clean up. The only downside of plastic is that it is not reusable. 2 tarps X $26 = $52

Paint Trays: Remember to get extras so it's "easy" to get your roommates/ friends to help you haha. I got about 6 of these little hand held ones and 6 of these longer ones. 6 hand held X $2 = $12 + 6 long trays X $3 = $18... $30 for trays total. Also, these trays are pretty cheap so if you didn't want to spray them down and clean them up after each use, you could totally buy one per use.

Paint: Behr Ultra Pure White Enamel Interior Paint and Primer In One & a Semi Gloss finish

Island Color: I wanted the darkest, forest green they possibly had so I chose the color Dark Everglade by Behr I did 2 coats on the island. 1 gallons X $32 = $32

Upper and Lower Cabinet Color: I chose this cabinet because it is an off-white like and I wanted a very sight green undertone.I used about 3 coats of this. Behr Ginger Sugar 4 gallons X $32 = $128

This total is about $348.50!! And you all KNOW I love a good SAVINGS/SALE/DISCOUNT. And obviously I'm not a professional & I did not do a perfect job but I will take this cost & a lot of DIY hard work, help & labor to save ~$3,650 any day! And I learned a new skill. So yes, I'm adding painter to my list of skillz. Hopefully this project cost breakdown inspires you to tackle your own large DIY. If I can do it, you for sure can too! & I'm here to cheer you on!!!

GO FORTH AND DIY!!

xCrys

*Quick disclaimer: I did not save my receipts & I completed this project almost 5 months ago now (ummm excuse me what..we have been in this pandemic for HOW LONG?!?) so the quantities of things I purchased are from my whacky memory & but the costs are rounded & taken from the Home Depot website...so it should be pretty close :)*