How to Paint Wainscotting in Kitchens

Easily and inexpensively add an architectural detail and interest in a room with wainscotting. Many types of wainscotting are delivered as a finished product in ready-to-install white or cream panels that need no painting. If you desire to change the look of your wainscotting with an accent or updated color, or you have unfinished wainscotting, you can simply paint the panels on the wall, because wainscotting panels are made from wood. With the right tools and a little time, anyone who is comfortable painting a wall can paint wainscotting panels.

Things You'll Need

• Wood putty
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Primer
• Paintbrush
• Paint

Instructions

1. Fill in any nail holes visible from the wainscotting installation with wood putty and a putty knife. Slide the putty knife over the hole several times to remove any excess putty from the surface.

2. Sand the entire surface of the wainscotting with fine-grit sandpaper.

3. Clean the wainscotting with a tack cloth, removing all the dust particles.

4. Line the wall above the wainscotting with painter's tape. Press the tape firmly against the wall. The bottom of the tape should touch, but not overlap, the top edge of the wainscotting.

5. Apply a coat of primer to the wainscotting surface with a paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry 24 hours.

6. Apply a coat of paint to the wainscotting over the primer with a paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry overnight, and repeat with a second coat if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Satin and high-gloss paint finishes handle the humidity and spills common in a kitchen better than flat finish paints.

• If the paint drips and runs while you are painting, you have loaded the paintbrush with too much paint. Stroke the area again with the paintbrush to catch the drips. If you miss a drip and the paint has dried, simply sand the dried paint drip and repaint.

References

• The Painted Surface: How to Paint New Wainscoting