Kitchens are the most demanding environment for paint in any home. Steam rises from pots, grease coats the air near the cooktop, and surfaces get wiped down with cleaning products week after week. Standard wall paint that works perfectly in a bedroom or lounge room will blister, yellow and peel in a kitchen within a year. Getting the right finish starts with understanding what the room actually throws at the walls.
Why kitchens are different from every other room
Heat is the first problem. Areas close to the oven and cooktop regularly reach temperatures that soften low-quality paint films, causing them to bubble and lift. Grease compounds the issue: it settles on walls as an invisible film that prevents new paint from bonding properly if the surface isn't cleaned thoroughly before painting. Add moisture from boiling and dishwashers, and you have a room that actively tries to destroy its own finish.
The proximity of steam to the splashback area creates conditions similar to a bathroom. If you've already read about how to paint a bathroom that resists moisture and mould, you'll recognise some of the same principles: vapour-resistant primers, higher-sheen finishes and thorough surface prep. In a kitchen, those rules apply over a wider area and with the added challenge of grease contamination.
Choosing the right paint for kitchen walls
Sheen level is the most important decision you'll make. Flat and low-sheen paints are non-starters in a kitchen: they absorb grease, won't tolerate scrubbing and show every splash. At minimum, use a satin finish. Semi-gloss is worth considering for walls within a metre of the cooktop, splashback surrounds and anywhere that gets wiped regularly.
The binder matters too. Water-based acrylic paints with a high-quality resin are the standard choice for kitchen walls in Australia. They dry hard, resist moisture, and most can be scrubbed without the surface degrading. Avoid cheap trade paints in this room. The cost difference between a budget and a premium kitchen-rated acrylic is small compared to the cost of repainting in eighteen months.
For cabinetry, the requirements are stricter. Cabinet doors take direct hand contact hundreds of times a week, and they flex slightly each time they're opened. A dedicated cabinet enamel or a two-pack water-based polyurethane gives a harder film than standard wall paint and resists chipping far better. Dulux produces a kitchen-specific coating that's worth considering for both walls and cabinetry if you want a single-brand solution.