So yes — our refrigerator is white now.
It’s not a new appliance; it’s the same almond-colored fridge we’ve had for years, refreshed with appliance epoxy so it would coordinate better with our white cabinets. After dozens of readers praised appliance paint in a previous post, we decided to test it ourselves.
I was skeptical at first, but the overwhelmingly positive feedback convinced us it was worth a try. At best, it would help the old fridge blend in until we can afford a replacement during Phase 2 of our kitchen update. At worst, we’d share the results and spare anyone else from making the same mistake.
After researching long-lasting options, we chose a Specialty Appliance Epoxy from Home Depot in gloss white. It cost about $15 and happened to be available in the exact shade we needed. Chalkboard or other trendy finishes were tempting, but I was nervous about dust and maintenance around food, and a standard white would be more resale-friendly down the line.
The refinishing itself was straightforward — the prep was the hard part. We moved the fridge into our sunroom to paint in a ventilated area because the epoxy smells strong (like rubber cement) and requires good ventilation and a mask. I turned off and disconnected the water line, and with my dad’s help and a dolly we got it toward the door — until we realized the handles kept it from fitting through. So we removed the handles (and one door) to barely squeeze it outside. We even left most of the food inside to avoid unloading everything, only removing heavy or spill-prone items. Surprisingly, that worked.
We moved the fridge on a Friday night so it would be ready when temperatures rose on Saturday; the epoxy needs at least 50°F to cure properly. We left it plugged in outside to keep the food cold, which made for some amusing mornings fetching milk from the sunroom.
On Saturday, once it was warm enough, we prepped the surface by lightly sanding the entire fridge with 150-grit sanding blocks just to dull the gloss. A power sander felt like overkill. After sanding, we wiped everything down with a damp cloth to remove dust and then dried it thoroughly.
I used a foam roller to apply the epoxy while wearing a mask; the instructions advised this and we kept everyone else indoors to avoid exposure. The epoxy has a paint-like consistency, goes on slightly bubbly, and levels out as it dries. I used a brush to reach tight spots such as around the doors and the ice dispenser. We painted directly over the front trim, covering the old brand logo to create a seamless white appearance. The paint doesn’t contact the internal water or ice delivery components, so there was no risk to food safety.
We painted the front, sides, and top but left the back unpainted where cords, tubing, and vents made painting impractical. Sherry arranged smaller parts — handles, hinge covers, and the bottom grille — on cardboard so I could coat them separately and avoid drips.
The can recommended a one-hour recoat time at 70°F, but because Saturday was only around 55°F we let it cure overnight and applied a second coat the next morning when temperatures rose. The second coat evened the finish and improved coverage. We rolled everything back inside Sunday night, so the final photos had to wait for better light.
The color isn’t an exact match to our cabinets, but it’s only a shade off — a vast improvement over the original cream tone that clashed with the rest of the kitchen. The gloss white finish mirrors the sheen of factory-finished appliances, keeping the subtle, lightly marbled texture of the original surface. Up close it feels smooth and hard, and visually it’s convincing enough that you likely wouldn’t notice it was painted unless told.
According to reviews we read, this epoxy can hold up for five years or more. We’ll monitor how well it resists chips and nicks, but since we hope to replace the fridge sooner rather than later, any wear won’t be a major concern. For a $15 update that transformed the look of the corner and helped the room feel more current, it already feels like a worthwhile, budget-friendly upgrade.
Has anyone else used appliance paint? We’ve heard stoves require high-heat coatings that generally come in spray form, and we considered painting handles an accent color but ultimately wanted the fridge to blend in so other design elements — succulent artwork, a rope chandelier, and our rough-wood dining table — could stand out instead.