Is It Worth Painting Cabinets vs Replacing? Bay Area Cost Guide

You're tired of your outdated kitchen cabinets. The dark oak feels heavy and dated. The scratched laminate looks cheap. Or maybe the existing paint is peeling and dingy after years of cooking grease and hard use. You want a fresh, modern kitchen—but is painting your cabinets worth it, or should you replace them entirely?

This is the question we hear most often from Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Orinda homeowners planning kitchen updates. The answer depends on your budget, your timeline, the condition of your existing cabinets, and how long you plan to stay in your home.

After painting hundreds of kitchens across the Bay Area over the past 22 years, we've seen every scenario: cabinets that looked brand-new after professional painting, boxes so damaged they needed replacement, and plenty of situations where a hybrid approach—painting some cabinets and replacing others—made the most sense.

This guide breaks down the real costs, benefits, and trade-offs so you can make the right decision for your home and budget.

If you're considering cabinet painting, contact us today for a free estimate. We'll assess your cabinets, discuss your goals, and give you an honest recommendation about whether painting or replacement makes more sense.

The Real Cost Difference: Painting vs Replacing

Let's start with numbers. Kitchen renovations are expensive in the Bay Area, and cabinets represent the largest single expense in most remodels.

What Cabinet Painting Costs in the Bay Area

Professional cabinet painting typically runs $3,000-$8,000 for an average-sized kitchen, depending on the number of doors and drawers, the condition of the cabinets, and whether you're doing a simple refresh or a complete color change.

Smaller galley kitchens in Lafayette condos or older Orinda bungalows might cost $2,500-$4,000. Larger kitchens with islands, pantries, and floor-to-ceiling cabinets in Danville or Alamo can run $7,000-$12,000.

What affects the price? The number of doors and drawers (more pieces = more labor), the complexity of door profiles (flat-panel doors paint faster than raised-panel or shaker styles), the current finish (stripping old paint or working over glossy factory finishes takes longer), and whether you want a sprayed finish (smoother but requires more masking and prep) or brushed-and-rolled (more affordable but slightly more texture).

What Cabinet Replacement Costs in the Bay Area

Full cabinet replacement ranges from $15,000 to $50,000+ for a typical Bay Area kitchen. Stock cabinets from big-box stores start around $10,000-$20,000 for materials alone. Semi-custom cabinets from mid-range manufacturers run $20,000-$35,000 installed. Custom cabinets built to your exact specifications can exceed $50,000-$80,000 in high-end Lamorinda homes.

Those figures include cabinet boxes, doors, drawers, hardware, and installation labor. They don't include countertop replacement (often necessary when swapping cabinets), flooring repairs, plumbing or electrical work, backsplash removal and reinstallation, or the weeks of construction mess.

What Cabinet Refacing Costs

Refacing sits between painting and full replacement. A refacing company removes your existing doors and drawer fronts, applies new veneer to the cabinet boxes, and installs new doors, drawers, and hardware. Costs typically range from $8,000-$18,000 for an average kitchen.

Refacing works if your cabinet boxes are solid but the doors are damaged or outdated. It's faster than full replacement and less disruptive. But it's also more expensive than painting and still limits you to the existing cabinet layout.

The Bottom Line on Cost

Painting costs roughly 20-40% of full replacement and 40-60% of refacing. If your cabinets are structurally sound, painting delivers dramatic visual impact for a fraction of the cost. That savings can fund new countertops, backsplash, appliances, or flooring to complete your kitchen transformation.

When Painting Cabinets Makes Sense

Painting isn't always the answer, but in many situations it's the smartest choice. Here's when to paint instead of replace.

Your Cabinets Are Structurally Solid

If your cabinet boxes are well-built, doors hang straight, drawers slide smoothly, and hinges work properly, you have good bones to work with. Wood or plywood cabinets from quality manufacturers can last decades with proper care.

We've painted 30-year-old cabinets that looked factory-fresh after a professional prep and paint job. Solid wood, plywood, and even high-quality MDF cabinets all paint beautifully when handled correctly.

You Want a Modern Look Without Changing the Layout

Painting lets you update style and color without tearing out walls, moving plumbing, or redesigning your entire kitchen. You keep the same layout, storage capacity, and functionality—just with a fresh, modern appearance.

This is ideal if you like your current kitchen workflow but hate the dated color or finish.

You're Painting to Sell or Stage Your Home

Bay Area home sellers often paint cabinets white, gray, or soft greige to appeal to buyers. Fresh, neutral cabinets make kitchens feel larger, brighter, and more move-in ready.

At $4,000-$7,000, cabinet painting is one of the highest-ROI updates you can make before listing your home. Buyers see a "new" kitchen without the six-figure remodel price tag.

You Have a Limited Budget or Timeline

Full kitchen remodels take 6-12 weeks minimum. Cabinet painting takes 4-7 days. If you need results quickly—before hosting family, putting your home on the market, or simply regaining kitchen sanity—painting is the faster, more affordable option.

Painting also preserves your budget for other upgrades: new countertops, appliances, lighting, or flooring. You can spread out improvements over time instead of financing a complete remodel all at once.

You Love the Existing Door Style

If your cabinets feature shaker doors, raised panels, or custom detailing you can't easily replicate with stock replacements, painting preserves that character while updating the finish.

Many older Bay Area homes have solid wood cabinets with craftsmanship you won't find in modern budget-tier replacements. Painting honors that quality while bringing the look into the 21st century.

When Replacing Cabinets Makes More Sense

Sometimes painting isn't enough. Here's when replacement is the better investment.

The Cabinet Boxes Are Damaged or Poorly Built

Particle board cabinets that are sagging, water-damaged, or falling apart won't improve with paint. If shelves are bowing, boxes are separating at the joints, or you see signs of termite damage or severe water intrusion, replacement is the only lasting solution.

Paint can't fix structural problems. Investing thousands in painting cabinets that will fail in two years wastes money.

You Need to Change the Layout or Add Storage

Painting works with your existing configuration. If you want to add an island, move the sink, install a pantry, or reconfigure workspace, you need new cabinets.

Layout changes require new boxes, doors, and installation. At that point, painting the old cabinets doesn't make sense—you're better off starting fresh with a design that meets your needs.

The Doors or Drawer Fronts Are Beyond Repair

Severely warped, split, or damaged doors won't paint well. Deep gouges, missing veneer, or broken corner joints show through paint. While a skilled painter can repair minor damage, some doors are too far gone.

Replacing doors and drawer fronts while keeping the existing boxes (refacing) or replacing everything might be your best option.

You Want Modern Features Like Soft-Close Drawers or Pull-Outs

Painting doesn't upgrade functionality. If you want soft-close hinges, full-extension drawer glides, pull-out trash bins, lazy Susans, or other modern conveniences, you'll need new hardware and possibly new cabinet boxes.

Some upgrades can be retrofitted, but often it's easier and more cost-effective to replace cabinets entirely when you're overhauling function along with appearance.

You're Doing a Full Gut Remodel

If you're tearing out flooring, moving walls, replacing countertops, and upgrading all appliances, the incremental cost of new cabinets makes more sense than painting old ones. At that scale of investment, starting with new cabinets ensures everything is cohesive, modern, and built to last.

The Hybrid Approach: Paint Some, Replace Some

Not every decision is all-or-nothing. Many Bay Area homeowners combine painting with selective replacement to maximize value.

Paint the Uppers, Replace the Lowers

If your base cabinets are damaged from years of foot traffic, spills, and kicked toe kicks but your upper cabinets are pristine, replace the lowers and paint the uppers. This gives you fresh storage where it matters most while saving thousands on cabinetry you don't need to replace.

Add an Island While Painting Existing Cabinets

Install a new kitchen island with built-in storage and seating, then paint your existing wall cabinets to match. This adds function, workspace, and visual interest without the cost of a full cabinet replacement.

Replace Doors, Paint the Boxes

Order new shaker or flat-panel doors in a modern style, then paint the existing cabinet boxes to match. This approach combines the fresh look of new doors with the cost savings of keeping your boxes.

Refacing companies do this at premium prices. A skilled carpenter can source doors and install them for less, especially if you're painting everything afterward anyway.

What Professional Cabinet Painting Includes

Understanding the process helps you evaluate whether painting makes sense for your cabinets.

Cleaning and Degreasing

Kitchen cabinets accumulate cooking grease, hand oils, and food residue. We start by deep-cleaning every surface with degreasers formulated to break down oils without damaging wood or existing finishes. Proper cleaning ensures paint bonds correctly.

Sanding and Scuffing

We lightly sand all surfaces to remove gloss and create tooth for primer adhesion. This doesn't mean stripping to bare wood—it means scuffing the existing finish so primer can grip. We use 120-220 grit sandpaper and vacuum thoroughly to remove all dust.

Repairing Damage

We fill nail holes, dents, scratches, and edge chips with high-quality wood filler. After drying, we sand repairs smooth so they disappear under paint. Minor damage repairs are included in standard pricing; extensive damage may require additional charges or indicate that replacement makes more sense.

Priming for Adhesion and Stain Blocking

We apply bonding primer to glossy factory finishes or laminate surfaces and stain-blocking primer to bare wood or oak cabinets prone to tannin bleed-through. Primer is the foundation of a durable cabinet paint job—it seals the surface, prevents stains, and ensures topcoats bond permanently.

Applying Cabinet-Grade Paint

We use premium cabinet paints formulated for durability, smooth finish, and resistance to moisture, grease, and daily wear. Products like Sherwin-Williams ProClassic, Benjamin Moore Advance, and Dunn-Edwards AristoCrat are designed specifically for cabinets, trim, and doors.

We apply multiple thin coats by spray or brush-and-roll, allowing proper dry time between coats. Rushing this step causes tackiness, brush marks, and poor durability.

Curing Time and Reassembly

Paint needs time to cure fully before cabinets can handle daily use. We recommend waiting at least 3-5 days before closing doors firmly or stacking dishes. Full cure can take 2-4 weeks depending on humidity and temperature.

We reinstall doors, drawers, and hardware carefully, label everything so you know where it goes, and leave touch-up paint for future maintenance.

How Long Does Painted Cabinets Last?

With proper prep, quality products, and professional application, painted cabinets last 7-12 years before needing refinishing. High-traffic areas like doors near the sink or stove may show wear sooner, but touch-ups extend life significantly.

Cabinet longevity depends on use, cleaning habits, and maintenance. Wiping spills immediately, avoiding harsh cleaners, and using soft cloths instead of abrasive scrubbers all help painted cabinets stay beautiful longer.

New cabinets last 15-25 years depending on quality. High-end custom cabinets can last a lifetime. But if you're comparing a $5,000 paint job that lasts 10 years to a $30,000 replacement that lasts 20 years, painting still offers better value—you can repaint twice for half the cost of one replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets? Yes. Laminate and thermofoil require bonding primers formulated for slick surfaces, but they paint beautifully when prepped correctly. We've painted hundreds of laminate kitchens in Bay Area condos and apartments with excellent results.

Will the wood grain show through paint? On oak or other open-grain woods, yes—grain texture is visible under paint. You can minimize this with grain filler before priming, but most homeowners accept subtle texture as part of the painted wood aesthetic. Solid colors hide grain better than stains.

How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets white? White is the most popular cabinet color and costs the same as any other color. Expect to pay $3,000-$8,000 for professional white cabinet painting in a typical Bay Area kitchen, depending on size and condition.

Should I paint cabinets before or after replacing countertops? Ideally, paint cabinets first, then install countertops. This prevents paint overspray or drips on new counters. If you're replacing countertops, coordinate timing so painting finishes before countertop installation begins.

Can I live in my home during cabinet painting? Yes. We work in phases so you always have access to the kitchen. We move appliances, cover counters and floors, and use low-VOC paints to minimize odor. Most families cook simple meals or order takeout for a few days while we work.

What's the best color for resale value? White, soft gray, and warm greige are the safest choices for resale. These neutrals appeal to the widest range of buyers and make kitchens feel bright and spacious.

Why Choose Lamorinda Painting for Cabinet Painting

We've painted kitchens throughout Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Orinda, and the greater Bay Area for more than two decades. We know how to assess cabinet condition, recommend the best approach for your budget, and deliver factory-smooth finishes that last.

Honest Assessments and Transparent Pricing

We'll never pressure you to paint cabinets that should be replaced. If your boxes are damaged or your layout needs changing, we'll tell you upfront. Our free estimates include clear pricing, timeline, and product recommendations so you can make an informed decision.

High-Quality Materials and Proven Process

We use only premium cabinet paints from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Dunn-Edwards. We move appliances and furniture carefully, protect countertops and floors, and clean up thoroughly each day. All surfaces are sanded, primed, and painted with multiple coats for maximum durability.

We're fully licensed and insured, and your satisfaction is our top priority.

Local Expertise with Bay Area Homes

We understand the mix of cabinet types in Bay Area homes: solid wood in older Craftsman bungalows, laminate in 1980s condos, builder-grade oak in tract homes. We've painted them all and know how to handle each material for lasting results.

Final Thoughts

Painting vs replacing kitchen cabinets isn't a one-size-fits-all decision. If your cabinets are structurally sound and you want a fresh look without the cost and disruption of a full remodel, professional painting delivers incredible value. If your boxes are damaged, you need layout changes, or you're doing a comprehensive renovation, replacement makes more sense.

The key is honest assessment, quality workmanship, and realistic expectations. Painted cabinets won't look identical to brand-new custom cabinetry, but they can transform your kitchen for a fraction of the cost and make your home feel new again.

Ready to discuss your kitchen? Contact Lamorinda Painting today for a free estimate. We'll assess your cabinets, talk through your goals and budget, and recommend the best path forward—whether that's painting, replacing, or a hybrid approach. Call us at (925) 890-0361 or email lamorindapainting@gmail.com. We proudly serve Lafayette, Lamorinda, and the greater Bay Area.