Planning a new kitchen design is an exciting opportunity to reinvent this space at the heart of your home. Since you typically spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you want it to be a place that is both comfortable and convenient. This starts with choosing a layout that fits your needs as well as fixtures that evoke your design aesthetic and provide practical space for storage, cooking, and dining.
Kitchen cabinets tend to be a focal point of planning any kitchen design. They form the foundation of your layout, create essential storage, and establish your kitchen’s workspace when paired with a durable countertop material. Cabinets also set the tone for your kitchen’s style, with the door style, material, color, and finish.
A key decision in determining your cabinet style is whether to go for a painted or stained finish. There are pros and cons to each option and several factors to consider when determining which one is right for your home. To help you make the best choice for your kitchen design, let’s explore some of the factors to think about when choosing your cabinet finish.
Which finish is right for your stunning kitchen transformation?
You may already know your preferred kitchen cabinet style before you even start planning your new design. For some people, replacing cabinetry is the incentive for updating your kitchen. Perhaps your cabinets are old, lacking in storage, and beyond repair. Or maybe you are sick of your outdated cabinet style and can’t wait to refresh your kitchen.
Kitchen cabinets dominate any kitchen’s layout and therefore significantly impact your room’s style. It pays to carefully consider your requirements and to look at different cabinet options before settling on your final choice. You can get inspired by looking at online showrooms and social media pages. You also can’t beat an in-person visit to a full-service kitchen design showroom. Find a design firm that offers cabinet comparison walls and full kitchen design displays, not to mention experienced professionals who can walk you through the different options. Seeing the various cabinet styles and finishes in person lets you experience the color and texture of each option, see how it reflects light, and look at how it pairs with different countertops, tile, and hardware selections.
Depending on your personal style preferences, how you like to clean and maintain your home, and other design features such as your flooring choice you will start to narrow down your cabinet preferences. Can’t choose just one finish? Many homeowners opt to install a two-tone cabinet design, where they mix stained wood and painted finishes or two different paint colors. This two-tone approach can be as subtle as two different shades of gray or as bold as a black-painted island with white perimeter cabinets. You can also mix a wood finish with a painted finish, giving you the best of both worlds!
What is the difference between stained and painted cabinets?
When choosing kitchen cabinets for your home, selecting the cabinet finish is one of the major choices that will influence your design. Your preferred option must fit together with the aesthetic of your home as well as with other materials and accessories you select for your kitchen design. It helps to understand some of the key differences between painted and stained cabinet finishes to help you make this decision.
One of the key differences is that stained cabinet finishes work with natural wood materials and often allow the wood grain to show (though this depends on the wood species and your stain color), Paint, on the other hand, covers up the material, so the focus is on the color you choose. When selecting a stained finish, it is important to consider the material you choose, as stain only works with natural wood that can absorb the stain. The higher the quality of wood, the better, especially if you plan to go for a lighter, more natural stain color. On the other hand, paint can be applied to wood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and does not rely on the quality of the material you choose.
Painting cabinets, whether on wood or MDF, typically require a primer coat of paint, followed by a base coat, multiple coats of your chosen color, and then a topcoat. Painted surfaces are thicker than stained, giving a smoother, more uniform finish. You also have a wider range of choices for cabinet color when going for a painted finish.
When staining cabinets, the stain color soaks into the wood, allowing the wood material with its knots and grains to show. The stain color is followed by a sealer and a topcoat. Stain ranges in shades from light to dark, and the final color is affected by the type of wood you choose.
What is your kitchen design style?
A kitchen design is an opportunity to create the style and functionality you always wanted for your home. Before choosing key fixtures like your kitchen cabinets, you should first examine your preferred design style. Look at your home’s design aesthetic and think about how your kitchen fits into this. If you are planning a first-floor remodel, you may decide to completely update your home’s style. If your remodel focuses on the kitchen, then choose a design aesthetic that fits with your home’s style. Your kitchen doesn’t have to exactly match the surrounding living spaces, but it should not be so different that it clashes. One alternative is to choose a transitional style that brings together the best of traditional and contemporary aesthetics.
Once you know your preferred kitchen design style, select a cabinet option that fits this aesthetic. A stained finish is ideal if you want a style that is grounded in nature, creating a warm, welcoming environment for your kitchen. It pairs well with a more traditional door style, particularly in a darker finish. It also works well with modern slab cabinetry or classic Shaker-style doors in a lighter stain color.
Painted cabinets are ideal if you want your cabinet color to be the focal point. Paint covers up the cabinet material and creates a smooth, uniform surface, resulting in a sleek look for your cabinetry. Choose from a range of classic paint tones or go for a unique color to establish a one-of-a-kind style. White, beige, cream, and gray are all top choices for kitchen cabinets that give your room a classic style. Bold shades like black, blue, and green are also top choices, often included as part of a two-tone color scheme. For example, you could pair a black island with white perimeter cabinets for a striking style.
How important is durability and easy maintenance to you?
Durability and maintenance depend in large part on the cabinet material and construction techniques. However, your chosen cabinet finish also impacts how well your cabinets will stand up to daily life in a busy kitchen. Here are a few things to remember when choosing painted vs. stained cabinets.
- Painted cabinets protect the cabinet material with multiple layers of paint and keep the cabinet surface from getting scratched or dented.
- The painted surface itself can get scratched, and scratches tend to be more obvious on painted surfaces than on stained ones.
- Painted surfaces can also crack or chip, which does not happen with stained cabinets.
- Stained wood cabinetry is more prone to scratching, but the scratches are not as obvious because they blend in with natural variations and textures.
- If your cabinets need to be touched up, this is easier with stain than with paint, since paint colors and finishing techniques can be difficult to match precisely.
- Painted surfaces tend to show dirt more easily, which means you need to be diligent about regular cleaning. On the other hand, this cleaning routine will help you maintain your cabinets for longer.
- Painted cabinets also show imperfections, chips, and scratches more than stained cabinets, and these can be harder to fix on painted surfaces.
- Painted cabinets may be susceptible to temperature changes and so may not be suitable in a home where you don’t maintain a relatively consistent temperature.
There are benefits and downsides to both options. Talk to your kitchen design expert about your lifestyle and style preferences to find the best option for you.
Is there a cost difference between stained and painted cabinets?
Similar to examining the differences in quality, the biggest factor affecting cost is the quality of the wood or other material you choose for your cabinets plus the construction techniques. If you compare the same quality cabinets, painted cabinets tend to be slightly more expensive than stained. This is due to the cost of materials, the process involved in painting cabinets, and the number of layers required to cover the cabinet surfaces. It helps to work with an experienced kitchen designer who can help you understand the differences in quality and pricing when selecting kitchen cabinets.
How to choose the perfect finish for your kitchen design!
Choosing a cabinet finish for your kitchen design is a key decision that affects your room’s style and functionality. Since cabinets establish your room’s layout and storage, they are essential to a well-functioning kitchen design. They also dominate a large area in your kitchen, so the style and finish you select will set the tone for your design aesthetic.
Choose a finish that fits your personal style as well as your lifestyle. Consider your budget and how much you can commit to cabinetry when making your final selection. Visit a full-service design showroom where you can see cabinet samples in person and speak to an experienced designer to help you understand the different options. Taking time to review the options will result in a kitchen cabinet design that transforms your home and lifestyle!
