This ultra sleek finish is trending now and most households are opting for matte finish for their kitchen cabinets. They do not reflect any light and are perfect for traditional-style kitchens. Designers consider matte cabinets to be chic and a good choice for people who are looking for a stark change.
Since glossy finishes are the quickest to show scratches and stains, matte finishes are ideal for those who want to hide their furniture's imperfections. On the other hand, cabinets with a matte finish absorb light instead of reflecting it. As a result, this finish will not help your space feel bigger.
Matte finishes are a little harder to clean
Cleaning greasy fingerprints or smears is tricky on matte surfaces because it's hard to do without leaving streaks or other evidence behind. The matte finish may even seem to absorb the stain, making it difficult to eliminate completely.
Matt is perfect for contemporary living and comes in a wide variety of colours that can easily be designed according to your space. One huge advantage matt has over a high gloss kitchen finish is that the surface of the cabinets will not as easily show any imperfections, smudges, stains or fingerprints.
While there are many types of paint to choose from, the best paint for kitchen cabinets is typically semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Matte is not practical in kitchens and baths where you will need durable paint you can easily clean.
While satin finishes tend to be fairly durable in high traffic areas, they're not as durable and versatile as semi-gloss against mildew and mold. Kitchen cabinets in high moisture environments can, therefore, do better with semi-gloss paints.
On average, semi-gloss oil-based paint is the most durable finish for kitchen cabinets. Because of its sheen, semi-gloss paint can reflect light and remain durable for a long time.
Matt Finish
So, using soap and water is perfectly fine for everyday messes like food splatters and fingerprints. Just be sure to rinse and dry afterwards with warm water and a soft cloth to avoid soapy build-up. Oily fingerprints and bigger splatter marks from some serious cooking can be much more stubborn to lift off.
Gloss cabinets are certainly easier to clean than matte as they can be wiped down with a cloth, but they're also more prone to scratches. You have to be prepared to put in a bit of extra effort to avoid this from happening, so the care level for both is around the same.
If you stripped and sanded the cabinets down to bare wood, apply primer to your cabinets before applying paint. If you used a deglosser, you can skip priming. Apply paint using a quality brush, working in the direction of the wood grain. Leave the doors and drawers to dry overnight and apply a second coat of paint.
The primary difference between satin and matte finish paint is the sheen. With satin, you get a velvety finish with a hint of shine. Satin can reflect just a bit of light, creating a gentle glow. Matte paint doesn't have a noticeable sheen, leading to a truer color since it isn't as impacted by light.
In addition, matte paints are the least durable and are the hardest to clean. However, in rooms that see little traffic and areas such as ceilings, matte finishes not only offer an elegant, smooth sheen, they are also more economical than high-gloss paints.
Make a paste of vinegar and baking soda and soak a clean cloth into it. Next, dab the soaked cloth on the cupboard surface. Let the paste sit for a few minutes, and then rub it lightly on the surface. Using the textured side of your cloth afterwards, lift off the grime.
Fingerprints: The oily residue on fingers can leave behind unsightly marks on cabinet doors and hardware. Cleaning kitchen cabinets with vinegar will easily remove fingerprints. Dampen a cloth in a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar, apply to the prints, and buff clean with a polishing cloth.
For a streak-free finish, use a solution of 50% distilled white vinegar and 50% water, or a commercial glass cleaner with ammonia.
Many professionals now use latex paint, citing the improvements to the formula and the as-good-as finish they can get on most surfaces. We actually prefer a third type of paint for cabinets, the hybrid enamel.
A polyurethane varnish finish can cut down on the wear and tear of kitchen cabinets, help keep them looking new and extend the life of the cabinets. Polyurethane works best on unfinished wood but can also be painted directly onto painted surfaces.
In terms of cost, pine is the cheapest cabinet wood you can use while mahogany is one of the most expensive, with oak and maple falling in the mid-range in terms of price. Durability of the various types of wood is also important to consider.
While glossy cabinets might seem like a good choice, let us tell you, in this case it is quite the opposite. Glossy finish reflects a lot of light, thus fingerprints and dust particles are easily visible on this surface. Opt for matte finish cabinets if you plan to let your help work in it more than you would.
If you're looking for a luxurious finish that makes your kitchen feel cozy, then eggshell finish is the best. It is also easier to clean and can better hide scratches and dirt. However, if you want a safe finish which makes the kitchen space seem larger, then semi-gloss is your friend.
Hand wash with a soft wash mitt and mild cleaning product safe for low-gloss or matte finishes. Use microfiber cleaning cloths with alcohol-based window cleaner for basic surface cleanup.
Wash the doors with a gentle detergent and water, then dry thoroughly with a soft cloth, towel or kitchen paper. If you find that soapy water leaves streaks on the doors, perhaps try using a glass cleaning spray - or even just some vinegar diluted in water.
Wash the laminate with a soft cloth and a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean soft cloth. For minor repair of burns or other stubborn marks, apply a nonabrasive liquid kitchen cleanser with a soft cloth soaked in warm water.
Why Does Matte Paint Scratch Easily? Unlike shiny paint, matt paint lacks little or no scratches, because it's hard. You won't need to polish a matte paint.
Matte paint usually has very low-gloss, but it has more shine than a flat paint finish. As these types of paints have a low-gloss, they are the best to cover the imperfections of your wall.