Looking for the best kitchen paint? Well, we have you and your kitchen covered. It actually isn't always as simple as picking a pretty color and taking to every surface. Obviously, the pretty color still matters, but in a room that sees the level of action a kitchen does, it’s important that any paint you use can withstand a lot of wear and tear.
For bigger kitchens, where not every wall is in close proximity to the hob or the sink, this can mean something as simple as a wipe-clean kitchen paint – but if you’re in close quarters, you might want to find something engineered to resist heat and moisture as well as staining. After all, there's often a paint for every need – the best furniture paint can also be great for any signature pieces you might have in your kitchen.
Find the best kitchen paint below and then head over to our kitchen ideas page for loads more practical advice and inspiration.
Light-colored walls in the kitchen are the easiest way to a light, bright space, but the trade-off is that they show up food stains and other marks far too easily. That’s where our best kitchen paint from Dulux Easycare comes in. Even in Pure Brilliant White, it’s engineered to stay pristine, with a greaseproof formula that resists stains and makes any marks that do appear easier to wipe off. Reviewers found it dried to a brilliantly gleaming but brilliantly tough finish, that was washable without color fading, too. In our opinion, this is the best kitchen paint, bar none.
Updating kitchen tiles along with the paintwork can be a costly endeavor, so if you’d rather not rip out that splashback just because it’s slightly too warm-toned for comfort, why not paint tiles with this refreshing satin tile paint from Ronseal? It takes a while to dry, but reviewers found their patience was amply rewarded with a smooth, even, streak-free finish that looked just like tile, and a waterproof and mold-resistant one, at that. The best paint for kitchen tiles, we think! Also – update your splash back for less with our guide on how to paint tiles.
Suitable for use on walls and ceilings, this Colors Kitchen Matt Emulsion Paint is available in a whopping 84 shades, and with everything from sweet pastels to cheerful brights, elegant neutrals to heritage shades, there’s no limitation except your creativity. The modern matt finish doesn’t reflect light, so it’s set to look good no matter the aspect, and it is moisture, grease and stain resistant to stand up to the rigors of a busy kitchen. Reviewers attested to its winning formula, saying it had excellent coverage and kept its color after washing down, too. The best kitchen paint if you're looking for a wide range of colors to choose from – and also one of our best washable paint options.
This Ronseal Anti-Mould Paint paint adds a layer of defence against mold in high-humidity areas like kitchens and bathrooms, and is said to last up to six years, so you won’t have to worry about it again for a while. Reviewers found the formula easy to work with, and said that it gave good even coverage on walls and ceilings, with some long-time users coming back to report that it does the job keeping mold at bay too. Overall, this is certainly a case of doing exactly what it says on the tin, making it our pick of the best kitchen paint for kitchens that often deal with mold.
Even more costly than replacing kitchen tiles, by quite a wide margin, is replacing worktops – so if yours need a bit of an update, it might interest you to know that that needn’t mean ripping them out and starting again. Rust-Oleum’s Kitchen Worktop Transformation Kit gives you the option to overhaul laminate worktops for under $70/£70, and while reviewers have noted that you absolutely need to follow the instructions to the letter and work quickly, if you do, you’ll be left with a very impressive finish. So, if you're looking to revamp your surfaces, this is the best kitchen paint for worktops.
Love the clean, bright look of white cabinets but not a fan of gloss? Dulux have you covered with this satinwood paint that’s suitable for use on wood and metal. Its low VOC content makes it a little friendlier to work with in small spaces than some more potent paints, and it has a user-friendly formula too: self-undercoating, non-yellowing and wipeable, for when you shake the frying pan with just a little too much. Our pick of the best kitchen paint if you're looking for something family-friendly and durable for your cupboards.
Revamping your kitchen? Find out how to paint kitchen cabinets and don't miss our best kitchen cabinet paint buys.
This low-odor, water-based Johnstone's Kitchen & Bathroom Emulsion Paint has a formula that’s not just eco-friendly and pleasant to work with – it’s optimized for kitchen and bathroom use too, offering protection against condensation in high-moisture areas. Reviewers loved the consistency, finding it to be creamy rather than watery or sticky, and rated it for how easily it applied and washed out of brushes after use. Its other big hit with users was its unique mid-sheen finish, a subtly lustrous alternative to satin or matt that resists moisture, stains and even greasy marks. The best kitchen paint if you're after something washable, we think.
Have a plain wall in your kitchen that you don't know how to decorate? Grab a pot of this Rust-Oleum Black Matt Chalkboard paint and you can create a chalkboard wall. Whether you need a place to write your shopping list, or your kids like to get creative on your walls, the opportunities are endless. Not only does the paint dry in just 30 to 60 minutes, meaning you can paint in the morning and draw in the afternoon, but it's also tough, scratch resistant and can be applied to walls, metal, wood, plastic, hardboard and more. It's also wipeable with soap and water, so it's the perfect place to write meal plans one week, and the next week, your family calendar.
How to buy the best kitchen paint
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WHERE TO BUY THE BEST KITCHEN PAINT
What do you need it for?
Ensure you choose a kitchen paint that is designed specifically to do the job you want it to. Kitchen wall paints, for example, will be better than living room wall paints at coping with damp conditions, but kitchen wall paints won't be up to the job of coating kitchen cabinets – and looking good long-term.
Finish
Matt finishes don't have the wipe-ability that anything with a sheen does, so bear this in mind when choosing where to put which finish. You could, for example, pick a matt color (if that's a finish you like) on three walls, and one with a mid-sheen on the wall behind the sink/cooking area that's likely to be splashed and need wiping.
Washable?
If you're a messy cook or have children running around with food-covered hands, it's best to opt for a wipeable paint to keep the room looking smart.
More ideas for updating your kitchen:
- Storage ideas for small kitchens will keep your space looking neat
- 25 kitchen cabinet design ideas will give you tons of inspiration
- Want to go bold with your paint choice? Check out these 10 colorful kitchen design ideas