WANT TO PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS?
Read This Crash Course First
Have you stepped into your kitchen in the last few weeks and thought it could use more color? If so, you’re not alone. Colorfully painted kitchen cabinets are a hot trend right now in home decor, to the point that HGTV released a step-by-step guide to the painting process this winter! However, just because you want to paint your kitchen cabinets doesn’t mean you should — at least not before reading the argument for each side and getting painting tips from the pros. 2 Reasons to Paint Your Cabinets — And 2 Reasons Not To
How to Introduce Your Dog and Cat Help Your Fur Babies Find Harmony!
Everyone knows that cats and dogs don’t get along ... or do they? There are a few ways you can help encourage your pets to get along, but it starts during the early, crucial moments of your pets’ introduction. For a gentle start, try desensitization. Let’s face it: Your dog is way more excited to meet your cat than vice versa! However, your dog may react dangerously to your cat, especially if it is still a kitten. The dog’s prey drive may kick in, causing overexcitement, and even seemingly harmless playtime can lead to fatal injury. One way to solve this is to “desensitize” your dog and get it accustomed to your cat’s presence. To do this, separate your cat and dog and only allow them to view each other at specific times. You could set up a room for your dog or cat (which includes food, toys, and, if a cat, litter box), and a tall gate that your pets cannot climb or get past. Allowing them to view each other without direct interaction can help them become accustomed to one another. For a quick start, try a face-to-face introduction. Many people will try a face-to-face introduction first, but you can do this after desensitization as well. Before the introduction proceeds, both animals must be calm. One person should hold your dog on a loose lead, and pay attention to the dog’s body language while approaching the cat. If your dog has been taught commands, have it sit or lie down. Dogs that are too fixated on the cat — such as staring at the cat, displaying stiff body language, and not listening when its name is called — may try to lunge and chase your cat. In that case, a desensitizing introduction will be needed. However, if the dog is relaxed, try to allow the cat to approach. Another person should watch your cat’s body language. If the cat is calm — isn’t raising its back or hissing at the dog — it can be allowed to approach the dog. A dog training technique known as Look at That (LAT) can be viewed on YouTube, which may aid in teaching your dog to remain calm when meeting new animals and people. No matter the method, we hope this guide provides important starter tips to turn your furry housemates into best buddies for years to come!
The Pros:
• You could increase your home’s value. Painted cabinets are hot, so buyers may be willing to pay a premium for them (unless they hate your color choice). Plus, light- colored cabinets may make your kitchen seem bigger.
• If you hate your cabinets, you’ll save money. Painting cabinets yourself is time-consuming, but it’s much cheaper than springing for brand-new wood.
The Cons:
• It’s a pain in the butt. Painting your cabinets yourself means disassembling them, making your kitchen unusable for days, and doing hours of manual labor. You can avoid some of this hassle by hiring a professional, but the price of the job will increase. • Your mistakes might haunt you. Maybe you’ll regret your color choice, maybe your paint job will be uneven, or maybe that primer spill just won’t come out of your grout. These are risks you’ll need to take if you choose to paint. Painting Tips and Tricks 1. Deep-clean before you paint. According to HGTV, it’s NOT a waste of effort to clean your cabinets before you sand them. In fact, it’s a vital step to remove grease that could ruin your paint job. 2. Label every panel and draw a cabinet map. Trust us — numbering all of your drawers and doors makes reassembly easy. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up crying on the kitchen floor in the middle of a cabinet puzzle. 3. Get scientific about your finishes. According to Remodelista, you should “forget matte and eggshell finishes and opt for semi-gloss, gloss, or satin instead — hardy finishes that are easy to clean.”
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