As mentioned in our previous kitchen update, we decided to embrace the existing countertops and pursue a tone-on-tone refresh for phase one. With mauve counters already in place, it felt like the right move to lean into that color rather than gut the space immediately. You can read more about why we prefer smaller updates and living with a kitchen for a long time before major renovations in our earlier post.
After completing five quick, easy updates that made a noticeable difference a few weeks earlier, we knew painting the chipping cabinets would significantly reduce the worn-out look. We tested two mauve hues on a couple of doors and both liked the darker shade that matched the counters almost exactly.
The winning color was Sherwin-Williams Artsy Pink applied in their Emerald satin finish. Below is a summary of how the cabinet painting unfolded plus a few additional updates we tackled at the same time, including installing hidden hinges which made a big difference for a modest cost.
Here’s the kitchen now—yes, we also painted the dishwasher to match the cabinets and it worked nicely. Painting the dishwasher helped the run of lower cabinets read as a cohesive unit rather than being interrupted by a starkly different appliance color.
For context, here’s how the kitchen looked when we bought the house. The space feels much more open and personal now, which has made daily use more pleasant—especially since the kitchen sits in the center of the home and gets a lot of traffic during virtual learning and mealtimes.
Fun fact: while removing soffits and patching the floor during earlier work, we discovered the walls had once been painted a mauve shade. Even the cabinet toekicks were mauve at one point—so this color feels oddly destined for the room. Artsy Pink also sits on the same swatch card as the White Truffle we used elsewhere, so the palette ties together across the house.
How We Painted The Cabinets
We have a full cabinet-painting tutorial available, but here’s the condensed version of our process. First, we removed all doors and drawers, taking off hardware and old hinges so we could install new hidden hinges later. With everything off the frames, we cleaned the pieces thoroughly with a liquid deglosser to remove grease and grime, which improves paint adhesion.
We lightly sanded each door with an electric sander to check the underlying paint adhesion and remove any drips or poor spots. This step revealed areas where the original finish was failing, so sanding was worth the effort. We also removed an old exterminator sticker from one door—proof that some surfaces had sat untouched for decades.
Next we primed both sides of each door with a stain-blocking primer and used a 4″ foam roller for a smooth finish without brush marks. Our kitchen only has seven doors and five drawers total, so although the process required time for drying and curing, the scope of work was small and manageable. After the primer dried, we applied two coats of Artsy Pink to each side and let the doors cure for about four days before reinstalling.
While the doors cured, we prepped the cabinet frames by sanding and filling old hinge holes with wood filler, then primed and painted the frames. With the doors off, we also painted the insides of the cabinets, which instantly made the space feel fresher and more finished. Two coats of semi-gloss Pure White brightened the interiors and gave everything a clean, durable surface.
Because our kitchen is compact, repainting the insides of the cabinets felt especially worthwhile. We also added clear shelf liners to protect the painted surfaces and prevent wear. Overall, the entire update—including a quart of paint, some rollers, wood filler, and new hidden hinges—cost about $96 total, so the transformation was budget-friendly.
Up close, the difference is striking. The cabinets were previously scuffed and worn; now they look smooth and refreshed, inside and out.
Painting The Dishwasher Mauve
We also painted the dishwasher to match the cabinets. After lightly sanding the appliance and rolling on the same Artsy Pink, the paint adhered well and has held up through regular use and steam cycles. This small change prevented the appliance from visually interrupting the lower-cabinet run and created a more cohesive look.
Because this kitchen has far fewer cabinets than our previous home, we’ve had to be intentional about organization. If you’re curious how we make the most of limited storage, check out our post on small-kitchen organization where we share storage strategies and what we keep in each cabinet.
UPDATE: We’ve since completed a full renovation of this kitchen with new cabinets and painted them mauve as well. We’ll share a tour of the renovated space and the updated organization in a separate post.
If you’re planning paint updates, we also wrote about our favorite neutral wall color, Edgecomb Gray, which we’ve used in other rooms. It’s a great option if you want a soft, warm neutral to pair with bolder cabinet choices.
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.