If you're looking for ways to increase your home's value, one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to do that is by painting your cabinets. A full kitchen or bath remodel can cost thousands of dollars and take months to complete. Why go through those headaches when paint can boost value for far less time and money?
But you need to pay careful attention to choosing a color that will make your cabinets look elevated and current. Avoid bright colors or style-specific color combinations and go with light neutrals that will make your space look airy, bigger, and lighter. Also, the quality of the paint job will affect the valuation.
You're curious to know – does painting cabinets increase home value? In this article, we share all the information you need to know. You'll learn how painting cabinets benefits home value and the things you need to consider before you make your decision.
The Impact of Cabinet Painting on Home Value
Painting cabinets and updating hardware can boost your home's value by an average $2,000. Kitchen cabinets immediately grab potential buyers' attention when the cabinets are freshly painted in neutral tones that enhance the kitchen's style.
Clean updated paint makes a positive first impression and registers in buyers' minds that the home is cared for and updated. But as with everything in life, there are pros and cons that you should be aware of before you decide if cabinet painting is the best option to increase the value of your home.
Pros and Cons of Cabinet Painting
Advantages
Economic Benefits – Newly painted cabinets will increase your home's value. Painting costs significantly less than replacing cabinets. New cabinets can cost from $8,000 to $25,000. Painting costs range from $2,000 to $7,000 depending on the size of your kitchen.
Eco-friendly – Painting cabinets are environmentally friendly. Rather than taking perfectly good cabinets to the landfill and buying new ones, painting your cabinets saves from consuming new raw materials and reduces landfill impact.
More Color Options – You have many more choices when it comes to color options. With paint, you can match your personal taste and aesthetic to your kitchen style.
Option to Update with Color Trends – Painted cabinets can last from 6 to 12 years, depending on their use and the quality of the paint job. That means the paint will probably last longer than your chosen paint color is still fashionable. With paint, you can update the color to keep up with design trends.
Drawbacks
Can't Hide Damage – Paint can't hide badly damaged, warped, cracked, or heavily chipped cabinets. It will only highlight the problems. If the cabinet boxes are in good shape but the door and drawer faces are in bad shape, refacing is a good option. If the entire cabinet assembly is warped or damaged, you'll need to replace the cabinets.
Poor Color Choice – If you choose outdated colors, bright or bold colors, you can actually reduce home value because the colors won't appeal to buyers.
Poor Paint Job – It takes skill and experience to paint kitchen cabinets. Poor prep or technique will show. If your cabinets look unprofessionally painted, you won't see the increased home value that you would with professionally painted cabinets.
Current Real Estate Market Trends
Comprehensive real estate platforms like Zillow.com, trulia.com, and realtor.com feature a range of articles that offer guidance on improvements that add value to your home. With little up-front investment, painting kitchen cabinets is one of the most popular improvements to increase home value.
When buyers walk into a kitchen, the cabinets are the first thing they notice. Dumpy tired cabinets are a turn-off to buyers while freshly painted cabinets actually inspire buyers to imagine living in your house.
Whether you decide to paint or stain kitchen cabinets, you'll reap a positive return on investment and your house will likely sell faster than an equivalent home with worn cabinets that haven't been painted.
Comparing the Costs and Returns of Cabinet Painting
Cabinet Painting Return on Investment (ROI)
If you use high-quality paint in a neutral light color, painting your kitchen cabinets can garner a 50% to 100% return on investment. But the return also depends on your location, market demand, and how your cabinets are painted.
When you use professional cabinet painting services, the cost to paint kitchen cabinets will provide a higher ROI than with a DIY paint job. This is because pro painters have the tools and experience to make your cabinets look their very best. DIY paint jobs can look amateurish and therefore don't necessarily create a worthwhile ROI.
Cabinet Painting vs. Replacement
Cabinet painting is definitely more cost-effective than replacing cabinets. It can cost between $2,000 to $5,500 to professionally paint cabinets in an average-sized kitchen. Replacing cabinets in that same kitchen can cost between $4,500 and $15,000. When comparing averages, it costs far more to replace than it does to paint. Better Homes and Gardens reports that painting kitchen cabinets usually gives the best return on investment over replacement.
Does Painting Kitchen Cabinets Add Value to Your Home?
Yes! The experts agree – that painting kitchen cabinets will add value to your home.
Home Appraisal Considerations
It isn't just potential buyers who are attracted to homes with freshly painted kitchen cabinets. When establishing value for a home loan, home appraisers measure the condition and appearance of kitchen cabinets. There's a direct correlation between the condition of the cabinets and the home's appraisal.
Buyer Perceptions
Buyers pay close attention to kitchens. A clean, bright kitchen with freshly painted cabinets gives buyers the impression that your home has been well cared for. Buyers are often willing to pay more for a well-maintained home that's move-in ready.
Some of the most popular shades that attract buyers are soft tones of white, gray, and greige. Get inspired with these beautiful Sherwin-Williams kitchen paint colors.
Real-Life Examples
Painting your cabinets results in a tangible impact on the value of your home. The cost to paint your cabinets is minuscule compared to the high amount your house will sell for. This kitchen cabinet case study shows actual examples of a kitchen that has been transformed by cabinet painting. If you're ready for more real-life inspiration, review these beautiful kitchen cabinet examples from thespruce.com.
Add Value to Your Home with a Kitchen Cabinet Refresh
It's clear that high-quality painted kitchen cabinets in neutral colors can increase your return on investment, boost your home's value, and attract a buyer more quickly. Add value to your home and contact Singletrack Painting to paint your kitchen cabinets.
Singletrack Painting can provide expert advice and ensure a top quality finish on your kitchen cabinets. We focus on skilled workmanship and satisfied customers. For more information and a quote, contact us today.
