They're also quite difficult to clean without damaging the effect of the paint, so this paint finish is certainly not ideal if you're looking for low-maintenance kitchen cabinet designs. Oil based paint or polyurethane is crystal-clear, incredibly tough, and is brilliant for protecting wood paint that may be on the weaker side. Although gloss cabinets are very popular in kitchens, that's also to their detriment. Imperfections and scratches will be very visible on gloss painted cabinets, whether you used water-based or oil-based gloss paint. As high gloss paint can be extremely expensive, you should always do a bit of research and find out how paint do you need for any kitchen or cabinet related project. We will also compare satin vs semi gloss cabinets, as well as matte finish and which suits your kitchen cabinets the best. Is oil based paint more long lasting compared to latex based paint? Sometimes called 100% gloss, high gloss is sleek and shiny, designed to reflect light around the room and turn your kitchen cabinets into statement pieces of their own. By Bob Vila | Updated Feb 11, 2020 11:33 AM. A: A fresh coat of paint will not only transform your cabinets, it can give your whole kitchen a clean, fresh lookand it sure will save you money over an entire cabinet replacement. Matte paint, also called flat paint, has many excellent qualities that make it quite appealing to many homeowners. Youll want to use paint on your kitchen cabinets that can stand up to wear and tear while also remaining easy to clean. Weve covered all five of the primary paint finishes youre likely to encounter when choosing paint for your kitchen cabinets. Once youve chosen your primer and paint and picked up a few accessories like paint trays, drop cloths, an angled sash brush (greatfor cabinet grooves), and perhaps a small roller to ease your way across broad, flat surfaces, check out this tutorial on how to paint kitchen cabinets and youll be on your way to a brighter, fresher kitchen in the span of a single weekend. Unfortunately, matte finishes only partly fulfill one of these requirements: withstanding wear and tear effectively. Picking the right paint finish for your kitchen cabinets is often an afterthought when renovating or installing a kitchen. However, oil-based paints have some flaws that become especially hard to ignore when painting cabinets. If you'll be replacing the hardware with a new style and not using the same holes, fill them in before sanding and painting. And once you need to touch up some areas on your cabinets, it often means a complete repaint because repairing small areas are usually quite visible. Wondering whether you should reach for old-school oil paint or widely available latex paint for your kitchen cabinets? If you open a cabinet with sticky or greasy hands, you can easily scrub away any residue without worrying about wearing away the paint or dulling the surface. This is no obligation form and doesnt require you to purchase any service. You'll notice it as soon as the first coat is dry! Higher-gloss finishes stand up better to daily use and are far easier to clean without dulling the color over time. It will show dirt and imperfections quite easily, so it's not the easiest to clean and maintain out of the bunch. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. Anything paint with a flatter sheen needs a lot of upkeep and is difficult to clean in such a high-traffic area of the home. However, if you've got children or you can't afford a professional painter, you're best going with a natural wood finish or something else. If you dont know what type of paint is already on your cabinets, a water-based latex formula is the safest option. However, there are some other important considerations to factor into your decision. Its not too shiny, but it has enough sheen to enable easy cleaning, resistance to wear and tear, and many other benefits that youd miss out on with a flatter paint finish. This half-shiny half-flat paint is a brilliant middle-ground paint that reflects light and makes the space feel bigger without being overly shiny and tacky-looking. Sanding the surface helps to prep it for paint and results in a better bond and smoother finish. Make sure to look at the pros and cons of each paint finish, consider the other factors at play, and consult a professional if youre still unsure. One of the biggest appeals to high gloss paint is how easy and quick it is to clean. If you really want your kitchen to stand out as a shiny, impressive room which feels large, light, and airy, then high gloss is the best options for your painted cabinets. If you're not careful, matte finishes can look really dull and boring. Satin paint reflects a small amount of light, so it helps to give the kitchen cabinets a slight feel of dimension without making it obvious or going OTT. If you want to make the space feel warm and cozy, these paint finishes can be used to great effect, especially in larger kitchens. Touch-ups on semi-gloss finish paint are easier than matte paints, but its hard to make them blend in perfectly. He enjoys bringing cutting-edge information on home renovation and remodeling to Kitchen Infinity. Oil-based polyurethane is one of the most popular clear base coat for kitchen cabinet work. Grime and dirt tend to gather on matte paint more than on other sheens, and cleaning it can be very time-consuming. The high sheen means you can wipe off most splatter and grime with just a towel and some water. Use an oil-based primer for the first coat, then paint the kitchen cabinets with water-based latex paint without worrying about moisture absorption. In this article, we're going to take a look at the 3most common finishes when painting a kitchen cabinet gloss, matte, and satin. Because it has a somewhat matte surface, nicks and scratches arent too visible, but they tend to build up quickly and become an eyesore in a highly trafficked area like the kitchen. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Remove any hardware before painting. Satin is the best finish for painting kitchen cabinets if you want to play with color but you want to keep a sense of elegance and liveliness to the space. Find and compare quotes from top-rated professionals near you. Additionally, surfaces covered in oil-based paint can take on a yellow tint over time (especially in low-light conditions), so your cabinets may start to look dingy. Primers fall into two main categorieslight and darkso generally speaking, youll choose your primer based on your paint color. With all the choices you must make when painting or redoing your kitchen, the paint sheen you choose might seem pretty insignificant. However, it is not ideal for kitchen cabinets in most situations. If your cabinets are only half done, you learn how to paint unfinished cabinets in easy steps. However, know that they will absorb a lot of paint, especially if you go with water-based latex paint. If you want your kitchen to look bright, spacious, and impressive, then gloss can be a brilliant choice. The key to mattes is playing around with different colors and styles to find the right balance. She's contributed to Forbes and smart home blogs like Smart Home Solver and TechDigg. Kitchen Infinity offers expert advice, inspiration and style tips to help you create the home you deserve. The glossy sheen creates a very reflective surface and any mark that interrupts that reflection immediately draws the eye. You have two priorities when prepping MDF cabinets for painting: seal the edge and use an oil-based primer. Adheres to surfaces previously painted with oil or latex paint, Some formulas arent durable enough for scrubbing, Requires more prep work for an even finish. After all, you wouldn't risk having brush marks on your cabinet! Hopefully this has given you some pointers on the best clear coat for your kitchen cabinets! I've been conducting home inspections for 17 years. Cabinet doors and drawers are subject to touching, pulling, slamming, and more, while shelves routinely have objects being slid in and out. 100% gloss paint finishes are very common in contemporary designs, having almost futuristic quality to them depending on the design. If you've got children or pets, gloss cabinets could still be used on higher-up cabinets away from their prying hands and paws. It has been a popular kitchen cabinet coat for decades and shows no signs of slowing down. One way around this is to use matt paint on Shaker-style cabinets with recesses in the wooden surface that create natural lights and shadows on the cabinet door. In other words, your custom kitchen cabinets aren't reflecting light sources in very different ways (which could make the space seem off-putting). Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade. It's undoubtedly the most striking and impressive-looking finish for kitchen cabinets if done correctly with nice lighting and colors. The main downside to high gloss finish paint is the visibility of imperfections on the surface. The flatness of matte paint makes it easy to have a colorful kitchen without assaulting your eyeballs! So far, all of this sounds pretty great, but there are some cons to high gloss paint. Youll also regularly see satin and high gloss finish paints used in kitchens, but less frequently. Glossy and shiny kitchen cabinet paint show their imperfections and dirt very easily, while matte and satin finishes don't draw attention to grime and scratches because they don't reflect as much light. If your kitchen cabinets are already painted (instead of natural wood), then you have an additional reason to use latex paint. It all comes down to cabinet color, cabinet style, utility and your personal preferences! You can also learn how to paint your kitchen cabinet hardware yourself to save money! Whether you're going for lasting durability, an appealing aesthetic, or somewhere between the two, your painted kitchen cabinet can dramatically affect the design of a kitchen and how big the space feels. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'homeinspectioninsider_com-box-3','ezslot_2',800,'0','0']));When painting a kitchen, many choices you make during the design stage can dramatically impact the final look and functionality of the space. Most manufacturers clearly state each primers paint color suitability on the label, so it should be easy to find what you need. As for cabinet interiors, you can skip painting them altogether if you line them with contact paperan inexpensive, attractive option that can protect and extend the life ofyour shelving. These finishes are great for homes that have children and animals, kitchens which get messy easily, or kitchens which have a lot of foot traffic all the time. Laminate is a printed plastic that is adhered on top of a base layer (usually a composite material). The material is slick, so youll have to make sure you put in the prep work for a quality finish. While it takes a long time to dry, oil based paint or polyurethane is relatively cheap and protects the painted wood cabinets for years and years to come. There is no need to worry about the substance seeping into the paint and staining your cabinets in most cases. However, once the surface breaks down to wear and tear, the high sheen makes every mark and scratch visible. However, it won't ever be very dramatic and eye-catching, so keep that in mind and find other ways to pull focus with your home. Do you want to use oil based paint or latex based paint? Youll want the new cabinet color to complement your countertops, flooring, and overall color scheme but by no means feel pressured to make everything matchcontrast can be interesting. Don't dismiss a coat of this versatile paint! Oil-based paints release volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, in higher numbers than other paint options. The first thing to consider when deciding to paint your kitchen cabinets is the type of material your cabinets are made from. This style of kitchen finish became very popular in the 1970s and continues to be featured in modern kitchens today and is considered as one of the best paint finish for kitchen cabinets. The slight sheen of satin paint makes wiping down surfaces quickly and easy. Kitchens naturally receive quite a bit of foot traffic and must withstand a significant amount of wear and tear compared to the rest of the house. While oil-based paint goes on smooth, even over wood surfaces, latex paint is more likely to show variances in the grain or texture. If you choose to paint the interiors, use an eggshell finish, which stands up well to the weight of heavy dishes. It's a good choice if you want to make a space feel bigger but you also want to experiment with vibrant color palettes that might look gaudy and tacky in 100% gloss. 10 Things You Need To Know. Doing touch-ups to eggshell finish paint is nearly impossible, so it will usually require a complete repaint to remove wear and tear marks. If your wood cabinets are bare, natural wood, they probably need little-to-no sanding. These cabinets are a very safe style, so if you want your home to stand out when you come to sell it, these probably won't blow anyone's socks off. It will leave the best sheen for kitchen cabinets! 14 Instant Fixes for a Total Pantry Makeover, 10 Clever DIY Ways to Store Kitchen Spices. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Because of the elegant nature of these paint finishes, they're also not ideal if your kitchen is messy or you have small children and pets to deal with. Choosing the right paint finish for kitchen cabinets is important since it affects how durable your cabinets will be in the long run. Paint adheres best over a scuffed surface, making true wood cabinets a great candidate for painting. As long as you choose the right paint for your kitchen cabinet style, you can transform the look of your space while covering up dull, dingy surfaces. If maple cabinets and wood colors aren't your thing, try mixing together pastel blues with pastel pinks for a vibrant look that doesn't feel too over-the-top. Generally speaking, the finish of the paint does not affect the durability of the paint. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. Learn more about each option, plus the pros and cons of each technique. Each sheen comes with its own sets of pros, cons, and qualities, so its essential to look at your best options before making a final decision. Your email will be used only to confirm your request and to provide free kitchen information. It handles humidity very well and has a long lifespan due to its extreme durability. Eggshell finish paint is easier to wipe down when dirty, helps hide surface imperfections and tends to have a slightly longer lifespan due to its increased durability. We may receive commissions from other affiliates when you click our links and make purchases. If youre painting wood cabinets, you'll need to properly prep the surface before using latex paint. When choosing an interior paint for your homes kitchen cabinets, there are five different primary paint finishes to consider: Paint finishes range from flat (matte finish) to extremely glossy (high gloss finish), with many options in between. But oil-based paint can take up to a full day to dry, as opposed to a couple of hours for latex. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. It can be especially dangerous to use paint high in VOCs near enclosed food, spices, and eating utensils. With all that opening, closing, cleaning, and other handling, kitchen cabinets endure a good deal more wear and tear than other surfacessomething to keep in mind when choosing a paint finish. While satin paint has a very durable finish, the markings are often visible once it succumbs to wear and tear. If you've got pets, small children, or messy spouses to contest with, you should maybe use an oil paint with a finish that isn't too glossy or shiny. Eggshell finishes are slightly more glossy than matte paint. Advances in water-based paint formulas have made it much easier to use latex paint for kitchen cabinets. Each of these materials will impact which type of paint you select. But while high-gloss finish paint has many things that make it great, you must also consider a few downsides that come with glossy paint. There are so many different types of clear coat, but the most common are usually polyurethane, lacquer, and clear coat paint. Paneled kitchen cabinets require a little more work; use a. Dino is a lifelong writer and home improvement specialist. However, if you have wood veneer and cleaning and maintenance are an issue for you, trying something with a much flatter finish to be on the safe side. How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets? Below-average paint jobs can often by saved by a decent polyurethane topcoat. What will your kitchen cabinets look like? Many latex paints are now produced with greater durability for cleaning and can stand up to a good scrubbing. Subject to yellowing, especially in low light. You will need to get through this finishing layer first, either with sandpaper or a liquid deglosser. Matte cabinet painting can be used to great effect if you know what you're doing. Keeping cabinets empty for days as the paint dries between coats is a nuisance that many people arent willing to deal with. Though you may be going for a cozy feel, making your kitchen look tiny isn't a great way to advertise your home when it comes time to sell in the future. But which paint finish is the most popular for kitchen cabinets? 7 Best Cabinet Paint Brands for a Flawless Finish, 5 Best Paint Types for Furniture: Pros and Cons, Here's How to Find the Best Paint for Your Bathroom, Best Type of Paint for Each Room in Your Home, The Best Paints for Interior Walls to Give Any Room a Makeover, How to Pick the Best Paint for Wainscoting and Other Wood Paneling, The 10 Best Paint Brushes for a Perfectly Smooth Finish, The 9 Best Exterior Paints of 2022 for Your Home. how to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding. Also, dont sand too muchyoure just looking to make the surface rough enough to give the primer and paint something to adhere to. So kudos to you for extending the life of your wood cabinetry by sprucing it up yourself! Repair these first with wood glue before sanding the surface. Nonetheless, I hope that this guide has helped you choose which paint to use between Glossy, Matte, Satin, and Semi-Glossy finishes so you can find the perfect aesthetic for your brand new (or old) kitchen cabinet set. Choose a synthetic bristle brush if youre using latex paint, since the water-based formula will swell the bristles of a natural paintbrush. If you have flat doors on your kitchen cabinets, you can make quick work of paint application by using a roller with a 1/4-inch nap (for the evenest application and smooth finish). Even if you apply top coat! When painting kitchen cabinets, satin finish paint is typically the most matte finish you should choose. If you want to create a well-balanced, safe aesthetic that will withstand changing trends, then it is a great best of both worlds finish for wood cabinets. When choosing colors, also consider your climate: If you live somewhere warm and have lots of natural light streaming into the kitchen, you may want to stay away from dark paint, which can act as a magnet for the suns heat. If you're looking for a luxurious finish that makes your kitchen feel cozy, then eggshell finish is the best paint finish for kitchen cabinets. Erica Puisis writes about home products for The Spruce and specializes in interior design and plant care. You can learn more about the difference between cabinet refinishing and cabinet refacing on our blog! Before you break out the sandpaper or paint, inspect the veneer for loose edges, chips, or cracks. However, if you want a safe finish which makes the kitchen space seem larger, then semi-gloss is your friend. Johnathan Brewer is a home improvement expert with over two decades of professional experience as a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen and bath. Semi-gloss finish paint is the most popular sheen for kitchen cabinets. In well-put-together homes with good lighting and color coordination, matte kitchen cabinets can be an excellent design element. It has enough sheen where grime doesnt stick to the surface, and you dont have to worry about staining. By submitting your info on this form, you are agreeing to be contacted regarding your service request by means of email.