Can You Paint A Kitchen Sink? (Find Out Now!)
The other day, I was looking at retro home furniture magazine clippings. As a fan of 60s and 70s decor, I love a gorgeous kitchen in retro colors. One thing that stuck out to me was being able to see gorgeous avocado green sinks. These days, seeing kitchen sinks in that kind of color is rare indeed. If you’re like me, the question of painting a kitchen sink has come into your mind more than once. Is it actually doable, though?
Steel and acrylic kitchen sinks are capable of being painted with ease, as long as you get the right paint. If the sink in question is ceramic, then it can be painted. Unfortunately, repainting ceramic sinks are not a DIY project by any means and should only be done by a professional.
Getting that sink to become a talking point in your home is going to be rough, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. We’ll give you the run-through of what you should do.
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Before You Begin: Should You Paint Your Kitchen Sink?
Honestly, it’s a lot of work. In most cases, painting your sink is a worthwhile endeavor if you are looking for a way to add a pop of color to your home. Most of the time, people do this when they want to breathe life into an old sink and don’t want to do a full sink replacement. When done correctly, it’s a totally safe project.
What Kind Of Paint Do You Need?
You will need to get a primer and a paint in most cases. The primer that you should choose should be appropriate for your sink’s material. For example, if you have a steel sink, then you can usually use a metal etching primer paint to get the job done. If you are painting an acrylic sink, you can skip primer if you want to.
The best paints for this include spray paint epoxy (especially for metal). If you want to go for a brush application, make sure that you choose an epoxy paint that’s been approved for stainless steel. Acrylic paints can also work with EP-acrylic if you want to get a more one-piece item.
It’s also worth noting that brands like Rustoleum often sell their own line of kitchen sink paints. It’s worth a shot if you want to get good results. Moreover, if you know that your sink will be near a major source of heat (like an oven or stovetop), you should look to get heat-treated and fire-rated paint.
How To Paint Your Kitchen Sink
Painting your sink is best done carefully, and while there are instructions out there that go into deeper detail, you can actually get a general idea of what to do with these tips.
- First, give your sink a thorough cleaning and remove it from the base. You need to remove all grit and grime before you start. Once you do that, you should give it a cleaning with rubbing alcohol or paint thinner to remove any existing lacquer. If you cannot remove your sink, protect your surroundings with painter’s tape.
- Then, buff your kitchen sink. You can use fine steel wool for steel sinks, or a palm sander with fine grit sand paper for acrylic. You want to scuff stuff up, but not leave deep scratches in the sink. Rinse all the buff bits off the sanding.
- Apply a primer. Your primer for metals should be a metal-etch option. If you are priming your acrylic, go for a primer that’s rate for acrylic. Note: You may want to do two coats of this. Buff the first coat for better adhesion if you do.
- Paint your kitchen sink. With aluminum or stainless steel, you will need to use an epoxy spray-on paint that’s graded for metal. Most shades will work. If you want to use acrylic, it’s best to use a brush application of an epoxy (or EP-acrylic) paint. When in doubt, try to
- Let the paint dry, then add a second coat. It’s always best to have two coats or more instead of one. A single coat of it may lead to uneven results.
- After the second coat of paint dries, you can apply a sealant. You should try to go for a sealant that is made to work with epoxy paint or the material that you painted on. A good sealant for this will be waterproof.
Is Painting A Kitchen Sink Safe?
Painting your kitchen sink should be perfectly safe as long as you use the right paint. Paints and sealants today are made to be waterproof, and that’s great news for people who want a nice color for their sink. If you are very concerned about the safety of your sink, adding a sealant and picking heat-rated paint is a smart choice.
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Related Questions
What are the best paints for kitchen sinks?
Most paints rated for appliances will work well with kitchen sinks. The same is true about paints that are literally labeled as “sink paint.” If you can’t find a paint that is rated for sinks that you like, epoxy tends to be the best option. If you have aluminum or metal, pick a paint that works well with metal.
What kind of paint do you use on a porcelain sink?
Porcelain sinks work best with acrylic urethane paint, which is meant to help bond to ceramics well. Though you can pick the right type of paint for this type of sink, we strongly suggest avoiding the actual painting project. Porcelain shows damage and missteps far more than other types of sinks.
Is it possible to paint a granite sink?
It’s not easy to do, but you can paint a granite sink. In order to paint it properly, you will need to do a full sanding of the granite in question. Otherwise, the paint will not stick to the granite. If you are not sure how to paint granite, we do not suggest doing it on your own. Like porcelain, it’s a hard thing to paint.
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Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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