Repainting a kitchen in Geneva: paint, steps and finishes

Why a kitchen calls for special paintwork

A kitchen brings together demands you will not find in a bedroom. Three factors quickly degrade unsuitable paint:

• Splashes: grease, sauce or water splashing around the sink and worktop, which stains and works its way in.
• Grease deposits: cooking leaves a greasy film on walls and ceiling, even away from the hob. This film prevents fresh paint from bonding properly unless it is removed.
• Steam and heat: cooking generates moisture and condensation, especially above the hob and the extractor hood.

A matt paint that is hard to wipe clean marks and develops water stains under these conditions. A kitchen therefore calls for a closed, washable finish that resists moisture, applied to a properly prepared surface. It is this combination — suitable product and preparation — that determines how the work holds up over time.

Which paint to choose: washable and satin finishes

The right instinct in a kitchen is a finish that cleans easily. The more satin or enamel a paint is, the more closed and washable its film; the more matt it is, the more it hides flaws but the harder it is to clean. The choice depends on the area.

Element	Common finish	Why
Walls	Satin (washable)	Cleans with water and a mild detergent, resists moisture
Ceiling	Moisture-resistant matt or satin	Avoids reflections while withstanding condensation
Woodwork, doors, skirting boards	Enamel	Hard, washable film, resists knocks and steam
Area near the hob	Enamel or closed satin	Better tolerates heat, splashes and frequent cleaning

Colours are managed using generic market colour charts (such as NCS or RAL), which lets you pair the desired colour with the chosen level of sheen. To understand each finish, see the guide on matt, velvet, satin, enamel.

Preparing a greasy surface: the step that makes all the difference

In a kitchen, preparation matters more than in any other room, because no paint will bond to a greasy wall. Degreasing is the key operation: an invisible film of grease is enough to cause peeling or marbling a few months later. The method applied by Renovhome SA:

• Thorough degreasing of walls and ceiling, with particular care around the hob, the extractor hood and the sink.
• Identifying marked areas: steam stains, cooking traces, old splashes.
• Filling and sanding of holes, cracks and old joints, followed by dust removal.
• A suitable bonding primer wherever the surface requires it, to set the base before the finish.

A satin or enamel finish reveals the slightest flaw: the base must therefore be smooth and sound. See also how to prepare your home before the painter arrives.

The steps for repainting a kitchen

A kitchen is repainted in a precise order, from top to bottom and from protection through to finishing. The typical sequence:

1. Protection: furniture, worktop, floors and appliances covered; sockets and switches removed or masked.
2. Degreasing and cleaning of all surfaces.
3. Preparation: filling, sanding, dust removal, bonding primer where needed.
4. Ceiling first, in a moisture-resistant matt or satin finish.
5. Walls in a washable satin finish, in several coats.
6. Woodwork, doors and skirting boards in enamel.
7. Touch-ups and inspection under raking light, removal of protection, putting everything back in place.

Between two coats, drying generally takes a few hours depending on the product and the ventilation. A residual smell may linger for a day or two, reduced by low-VOC paints and good ventilation.

Areas near the hob and long-term maintenance

The wall behind the hob and around the extractor hood is the most demanding area: heat, greasy splashes and repeated cleaning. Paint remains possible here with a closed, washable finish (satin or enamel), provided you keep a safe distance from the flame and favour, right next to the hob, a splashback (glass, tile, stainless steel) rather than paint alone.

For routine maintenance: wipe up splashes promptly, using lukewarm water and a mild detergent, without abrasive products or scouring sponges that would dull the film. A satin or enamel finish copes well with this regular cleaning. For woodwork and heavily exposed areas, see enamel finishes for damp rooms.

How Renovhome SA works on kitchens in Geneva

In Geneva, renovating a kitchen is often part of a wider repaint of a flat or of a between-tenancy repaint. Renovhome SA provides a free quote, with no commitment and detailed room by room, after an on-site visit that makes it possible to assess the actual condition of the surfaces: level of grease, steam traces, condition of the woodwork and of the areas near the hob.

A dedicated point of contact follows the project from measuring to handover, with the same protocol from one kitchen to the next: degreasing, preparation, a washable finish suited to each surface, final inspection under raking light. The work is covered by the Swiss two-year legal warranty (Art. 371 CO, Swiss Code of Obligations). Renovhome SA is a member of the GGE and works throughout the canton of Geneva. For repainting walls, see interior painting.