By: Jenny Cazares & Leah Dean
This blog will help educate you on the differences between stained and painted kitchen cabinets and the pros and cons of each.
A kitchen remodel is an exciting project, yet with so many choices to make, you can quickly become overwhelmed. Since cabinetry is a significant portion of the focus of your new kitchen, choosing your cabinet finish may be one of the most important decisions you make. Whether painted or stained, or a combination of both, you will be enjoying your cabinetry for years to come. You want to absolutely love whichever finish you choose.
If you are unsure of your cabinet finish, a great place to start is to begin gathering some photos of kitchens that are attractive to you. You can also check out what is currently trending in kitchens. Each of us are particular in some way, hence the old cliche, “we like what we like.” You may find while searching for your inspiration, that your eye is consistently drawn to a certain cabinet finish. It is a good idea to save and share these photos with your cabinet designer.
No matter whether you choose a painted or stained finish, it is wise to be well informed about the possibilities available, and why one choice may better suit your project over another.
Currently, the most popular finish in the market for kitchen cabinets is a painted finish. Just open any home design magazine and you’ll find beautiful color selections for cabinets. It’s no wonder why three out of four kitchens feature painted cabinets over stained cabinets. We love color, and with painted cabinets consumers are seeing a utopia of color options to create their dream kitchen. As of this writing, the most popular trending color choices for painted cabinets are white and cream. People also like shades of gray, blue & green.
Although stained cabinets are not currently as trendy as painted cabinets, stained cabinets are an excellent choice when you prefer a more natural look. Wood grained stained kitchen cabinets create an extremely warm, earthy feel to any home.
With stains, you will have many choices to choose from in a variety of colors and hues. Most stains are water-based, which absorb quickly and deeply into the wood grain, delivering the deepest color enhancement of the wood.
All cabinet details being equal, a painted cabinet can typically cost 10 to 20% more than a stained cabinet. The process required for the paint application is much more involved and begins with several coats of primer. The primer is followed by several layers of quality paint, with sanding in between each coat. It also requires a specific preparation and application area within the cabinet shop, void of dust and with minimal foot traffic. A painted surface requires a higher focus on its surface perfection throughout the entire process from start to finish.
For a perfect finish, attention to detail is imperative. Wrapping the product for safe travel to the project’s delivery location is vital, as well as careful and professional installation. Both painted and stained cabinetry must be handled with care, as to not scratch the wood grain or chip painted cabinet surfaces.
You can clean your painted & stained cabinets as needed, using only warm water with a drop of mild dish soap. For more in depth info on how to best tackle cleaning your cabinets, visit How to Clean My Cabinets.
Before you choose a painted or stained cabinet for your kitchen remodel, it’s always a good idea to talk with a cabinet professional before making your final decision. Your cabinet designer should be able to help you with all things cabinetry, including choosing the best finish for your project. Based on your inspiration photos and discussions with you, your designer should be able to help guide you in determining if painted, stained, or a combination of both, is the best direction for you.
If clients determine that the majority of their cabinetry will be either painted or stained, they often will add a different finish somewhere in the kitchen. For instance, it is very common for the perimeter of a kitchen to have a painted finish, with the island in a complementary stain. This creates a beautiful contrast and the island becomes a gorgeous focal point. Another common design element is for all the cabinetry to be one finish, with open shelving and perhaps a bench seat in a contrasting finish. The options are endless, so be sure to share your interest in mixing finishes with your cabinet designer.
If you need additional help with choosing finishes for other areas of your kitchen ie. your wall paint, backsplash, flooring, etc. (or even other adjoining spaces) it’s always helpful to speak with an interior designer. Although this will add cost to your project, a designer may help to turn your space into one that beautifully reflects your unique style.