Painting cabinets is one of the most common questions homeowners ask when preparing to sell. It feels like a simple, affordable way to update a kitchen and improve first impressions. But the real question is not whether painted cabinets look better. It is whether they actually help you build more equity.

While painted cabinets can refresh a kitchen for a brighter first impression, some people see this fix as a temporary solution that's a bigger hassle than it's worth. Before spending money, it is worth understanding when painting cabinets helps, when it does nothing, and when it can work against your return.

The Impact of Painted Cabinets on Home Value

Painted cabinets can make a kitchen appear brighter, newer, and more modern. If done right, painted cabinets can make the rest of the kitchen feel newer or more cohesive. How does that affect your home value? Cabinets can make a difference for appraisal. However, having painted cabinets won't generally provide a huge bump. The truth is that the equity boost from painted cabinets can depend a whole lot on what's happening in the rest of the neighborhood.

When you go to sell your home, your appraiser will use comparable properties to determine your home's value. This typically includes properties within your neighborhood that have sold within the past 60 days that have the same size, layout, number of bathrooms, and number of bedrooms. If those homes sold with similar cabinets of the same age in as-is condition, repainting yours could provide a modest boost. If those homes have newer cabinetry than yours, painting your cabinets provides an even more modest boost. If your cabinets are in disrepair, painting them and fixing any dings and dents could help to avoid having your cabinets count against your home value.

Using paint to cover a fully outdated kitchen rarely adds real value because buyers and appraisers still factor in the need for larger updates. Your appraiser is factoring in the need for updates or a renovation once the majority of your kitchen is outdated. If you're curious to see if new cabinets or a complete kitchen renovation can add more equity compared to painting your cabinets, Revive can help you crunch the numbers to see how much value you're left with after funding an update.

Paint Color and Resale Value

Neutral, classic cabinet colors tend to appeal to the widest range of buyers. Taste is so subjective. The mint-green cabinets that are charming to one buyer could break the deal for another. Don't chase trends. The truth is that "trendy" colors like teal, red, bright blue, or glossy black can alienate too many buyers.

For the most universal appeal, choose classic stark white that instantly creates a crisp, open look that can make your kitchen appear bigger. For cozier, think warm grays or buttery beiges. If you absolutely love darker cabinets, choose a rich brown paint instead of black that can shrink the room and overwhelm the space.

While paint color doesn't technically add or detract from a home's value, it can affect perceived value for buyers. Whites and creams are best when you want to create a timeless, high-end kitchen. The lack of visual clutter with cabinets can make a home seem more luxurious.

Economic Benefits and ROI

The reason painting cabinets is so attractive to homeowners is that it's significantly less expensive than replacing them. On average, cabinet painting can range from as little as $200 for DIY to around $10,000 for professionals. Depending on the quality of the cabinets you choose, new cabinets can cost between $7,000 and $36,000 on average. Cost-effectiveness isn't the only way to look at this. You also have to factor in return on investment.

If you're spending just $200 to $500 on painting your cabinets with DIY, it's very possible to recoup 100% of the costs by impressing buyers enough. It's not just about asking price. Refreshed cabinets could get you offers sooner that shorten time on the market and reduce costs that go into maintaining a home while it's listed. If you're spending up to $10,000 to have your cabinets professionally painted, the answer on ROI comes down to what your home's value range is. For a $200,000 home, a $10,000 cabinet refresh would need to get your home sold 5% above comparable properties to break even.

If you're talking about a home that's closer to the average current listing price of $411,000, you'd need to sell your home for around 2.4% above comparable properties to break even. Higher-priced homes tend to absorb upgrade costs more easily, which can improve return on investment.

This same principle applies to getting new cabinets. For homes in the lower end, the equity boost from new cabinets might not be enough to cover the project's cost. This becomes a strategic decision about whether a short-term cost meaningfully improves your sale outcome. Before you start painting, Revive can help you assess your home to determine which upgrades will deliver the best ROI. 

Pros and Cons of Painting Cabinets

Homeowners have a million different reasons why they opt for painting versus replacement. When you use Revive, you can weigh perks and drawbacks in context of actual project quotes and financing options to see where you'd come out ahead.

Advantages

There's no denying that painting your cabinets satisfies the need for a budget-friendly and time-friendly makeover. If you're trying to get your home listed in time for the upcoming season, trying to replace cabinets may take too long. While painting won't always be the right choice, it can be a great refresher when the goal is to get an outdated kitchen looking better or customizing a generic kitchen.

Drawbacks

The biggest drawback to painting cabinets is that it doesn't last—and buyers who have been busy doing their research know this. This makes painting less than ideal if your goal is building longer-term equity in a property versus just touching things up enough to get it listed.

Professionally or properly painted cabinets can be expected to last around eight to 10 years. DIY painting might need reapplications or touch-ups every two to three years. Once you add a layer of paint to cabinets, maintenance also becomes more difficult. Buyers considering your house might know that painted cabinets need to be wiped down regularly because they are prone to showing wear and staining from grease and moisture. Painted cabinets are also more vulnerable to visible chipping and scratching.

Professional vs. DIY Painting

DIY painting can be ideal when the goal is squeezing a few more years out of older cabinets that may not be worth getting professional painting. However, DIY cabinet painting can be a labor-intensive project.

Depending on the type of paint or refinishing kit you select, it could take up to three weeks to complete all coats and allow for cabinet paint to fully dry. The project requires you remove all hardware, clean cabinets, sand cabinets, and make sure the rest of your kitchen is protected. Most cabinet paints also require a bonding primer to ensure your color sticks.

Doing a neat job when painting cabinets can be difficult. Pros generally have professional techniques or sprayers that allow them to get smooth, even coats that dry without streaks. Additionally, pros can generally get this project done much quicker compared to doing without a fully functional kitchen while you attempt DIY.

Maintenance and Longevity

Painted cabinets don't necessarily build strong long-term equity because they are only meant to last a few years before they need to be redone or touched up. Of course, longevity can vary based on how heavily a kitchen is used. Expect to get anywhere from two to 10 years for most painted cabinets. Using gentle cleansers and not allowing cabinets to remain moist can help to keep paint intact. Consider repainting whenever you see scratches or stripping happen to ensure that paint does not begin to peel off.

When Not to Paint Cabinets

Painting cabinets isn't worth it if the cabinets undeniably need to be replaced. This includes if cabinets are broken, sagging, or in general poor condition. If cabinets have structural issues, it's better to invest money into full cabinet replacement or credits for buyers instead. Additionally, it can be worth replacing cabinets if you're going to be updating features like backsplash or countertops because attaching new or high-quality stone to old cabinets can put potential buyers in a bind about remodeling.

Conclusion

Painting cabinets can improve appeal, but it rarely creates meaningful equity on its own. In most cases, value is driven by overall condition, layout, and how your home compares to recent sales nearby.

At the end of the day, it's important to look at comparable properties to see if your cabinets will give you the strongest return on investment in as-is condition, painted, or fully replaced.

Not sure if painting is worth it? Revive can show you what your home could sell for as-is, with light updates, or after renovation.

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