If your cabinets don't need repairing but look dull or in need of a facelift then painting may be an option.
You may also like the design of the cabinets and the shape and layout of your kitchen, and don't want to change either.
Painting works well if your cabinets are made of pretty much any material, such as metal, fiberboard or pressboard, as well as wood (especially where you don't like the grainy look).
Also, painting can make dark cabinets lighter without having to go to the trouble and expense of refacing them. A kitchen painted white or off-white will brighten up a dark room, giving a cleaner and more spacious look.
Painting a kitchen has many advantages; major defects in the existing cabinets can be easily covered in the painting process, and handles or knobs can be moved to a new location which is not usually possible with stained cabinets.
If modern spray equipment is used it can be less expensive than staining and easier to touch-up the nicks and dings that occur with normal wear and tear.
Chemical stripping of all the existing finish is not usually necessary if the original finish is good. However, if this is not the case then the cabinets will have to stripped down to the bare wood before priming.
