Kitchens are the heart of the home but keeping up with annual trends comes with a large price tag. Fortunately, kitchens are the best candidates for Tjhoko Paint makeovers, not only saving you the hefty bill of a costly refit but showing off endless opportunities to be creative and elevate your space. Tjhoko paint makes for a versatile, welcome addition to any kitchen. No matter if it’s a traditional or modern look with linear lines – our paint lends itself to all the classic looks. You don’t need to have a degree in DIY to rework your dated kitchen space.

While it is tempting to jump right in, there are a few important steps to check before you reach for the paintbrush, roller or spray gun. Co-ordinating your thoughts and planning a cohesive design are key to making sure your time is well-invested into creating a kitchen you’ll love. Once you’ve considered the elements, surrounding spaces and items (both loved and loathed), your colour options and ideas can take its shape. Whether it’s dark and moody, or colourful and whimsical, Tjhoko has a colour for every aesthetic.

Once all your creative planning process is nearing the end, don’t forget to incorporate your cleaning stage. Clean cabinets = longevity and a better finish. Sanding down cabinets prior to painting can be tedious but, thanks to Tjhoko’s built in sealer, you can happily put away that sandpaper.

See below a step-by-step guide on how to perfectly paint your cabinets:

Squeaky Clean Cabinets
Clean the surface well with lacquer thinners. When working in a kitchen it is especially important to remove greasy residue and dirt before painting. Wait about 40 minutes for the thinners to dry before you paint.

On or off?
Decide whether to remove the cabinet doors before painting, or to paint them in their fixed positions – each method has its own pros and cons. Removing the doors and hardware, and painting them on a flat horizontal surface allows for an easier and neater coat application – but removing the doors and reinstalling them in their correct positions can be time consuming. We advise numbering the doors and keeping all relevant hinges and hardware in a labelled container. This ensures the correct pairs of hardware and doors get reinstalled.

If you’re painting with the cabinets in position, it is important to keep an eye out for drips and ensure hard to reach corners are covered using a smaller brush or roller.

The right tools
Each surface requires its own painting equipment. Soft Ensign brushes are best for joins, edges and sections where a roller cannot reach. A 110mm or 160mm sponge roller is suitable for medium-sized cabinets and a 225mm mohair roller is perfect for larger flat surfaces.

Sponge rollers can be tricky. Here are some tips:

• Do not roll over the same spot too many times.
• Load the roller with enough paint evenly spread across it.
• Roll long, even strokes and make sure there is always enough paint on the roller.

Be Patient
Wait for each coat of paint to dry completely before applying the next. After applying the final coat, wait at least four hours – or preferably overnight – and then, with a damp microfibre cloth, apply two coats of Tjhoko paint Clear Glaze diluted 1:1 with cooled boiled water. The Clear Glaze adds an extra layer of protection in kitchens with high traffic but needs a waiting time of at least 30 minutes between coat applications.

It is crucial to work in a well-lit space. If you spot any streaks, simply apply another coat of paint over. All Tjhoko products are water based, allowing multiple cover-up applications should you want to change the colour at a later stage. We do not advise painting worktops or counters in a kitchen as they are high traffic areas.

Tjhoko paint has an international community that offers help, inspiration and endless creative ideas. Join our international family – follow us on social media or get in touch via support@tjhokopaint.co.za

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Colours used in Kitchen Images
Top Cabinets, Tiles, Island: Da’vid
Bottom cabinets & stencil detail on tiles – Sherif Stone.
Stencil: 2210-1