Painting a kitchen isn’t quite like painting a bedroom or living room. Between the grease, the steam, and the constant traffic, kitchen walls take a beating — and the wrong paint job will show it within months. Whether you’re refreshing a galley kitchen in a Walworth flat or updating a family kitchen in Camberwell, here’s how to do it properly.
Choose the Right Paint for Kitchens
Kitchens need paint that handles moisture, resists stains, and can be wiped clean. Standard matt emulsion won’t cut it — it absorbs grease like a sponge and can’t be scrubbed without leaving shiny patches.
Go for a durable matt or eggshell finish — both are washable and far more practical than flat matt. If your kitchen is particularly steamy (no extractor fan, or you cook curries regularly), consider a kitchen-specific paint like Dulux EasyCare or Zinsser Perma-White. These are formulated with mould inhibitors and can handle the humidity of a busy South London kitchen.
In older SE17 properties — think Victorian conversions near Burgess Park — ventilation can be limited, making moisture-resistant paint even more important.
Prep: The Step Most People Skip
Kitchen walls collect grease, especially around the hob and splashback areas. If you paint straight over it, the paint won’t adhere properly and will peel within months.
Wash every wall with sugar soap and warm water. For stubborn grease spots, use a degreaser. Rinse with clean water and let the walls dry completely — at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. Fill any cracks or screw holes with filler, sand smooth, and wipe away the dust. Apply a stain-blocking primer on any water marks or nicotine stains (common in older rental properties around Elephant and Castle).
Colour Choices That Work in London Kitchens
London kitchens tend to be on the smaller side, so lighter colours help the space feel bigger. Soft whites, warm greiges, and pale sage greens are on trend for 2026 and bounce light around nicely. If you want a bolder look, consider a feature wall in a deep navy or forest green — but keep the other walls light to balance it out.
Whatever colour you choose, test a sample patch first. Natural light varies enormously between north-facing kitchens (cool, grey light) and south-facing ones (warm, yellow light), and the colour on the tin lid rarely matches what you’ll see on the wall.
Get It Done With Minimal Disruption
A professional decorator can paint an average kitchen in one to two days, including prep. If you’re doing it yourself, budget a full weekend — day one for washing, filling, sanding, and priming; day two for two coats of topcoat.
Either way, plan around mealtimes. Paint on a Friday so it’s dry by Sunday evening, and you’ll barely notice the disruption.
If you’d rather skip the hassle, I cover kitchens, bathrooms, and full-house repaints across South London — from SE17 and Walworth to Peckham, Kennington, and beyond. Get a free quote here.