Look to Paint and Wallpaper to Complement Cabinet Refacing

by Allison Beatty
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

New paint or wallpaper can make a dramatic difference in the way your kitchen walls look. As you prepare for a cabinet refacing project, consider combining these projects to create a unified kitchen design.

Painting is a Versatile Home Improvement Project

The range of painting options has expanded greatly in recent years. Along with traditional paint applications, there are several texturized painting treatment that can update your kitchen design. Consider a home improvement project with:

• Italian yellows with rough edges that complement kitchen cabinets.
• French blues with glazes that make the tones sparkle.
• Southwestern oranges that can brighten any kitchen design.

Use Paint to Complement Cabinet Refacing

As you consider paint treatments, look for styles that complement your new cabinet refacing designs. If you are adding traditional raised panel cabinet doors, look for Colonial blues, hunter greens or subtle beiges, for example. If you want contemporary flat panel cabinet doors, look for bold red paint tones.

Try Wallpaper to Spice Up Kitchen Design

Decorative wallpaper also can make a big splash in your kitchen design. Look for colors that blend with your kitchen cabinet wood, wall tile and cabinet hardware. Wallpaper can be used alone or combined with paint to an interesting effect. Among the popular styles are:

• Traditional toile designs.
• Bold stripes ? in solid colors or tone on tone.
• Fruits and vegetables (for a more informal look).

Before buying wallpaper, remember to:

• Try a sample to check colors against your kitchen cabinets and wall tile.
• Look at the pattern in various light ? morning, mid-day, afternoon and evening.
• Double check your room dimensions before ordering.

Cabinet refacing can make a big difference in the overall look of your kitchen. By upgrading your paint and/or wallpaper at the same time, you can make an even bigger impact with your kitchen design.

About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer. She has been a writer of home improvement columns for 15 years. Her articles have appeared in numerous national newspapers and magazines, and on home improvement web sites.