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.
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.
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.
Hides Imperfections with Matte
Matte kitchens do have the benefit of being highly scratch resistant. This means it's far less noticeable when there are fingerprint marks or smudges left on the surface of your cupboards or drawers.
High-gloss, flat-front cabinets are an impressive addition to modern kitchen renovations and are better suited for contemporary style kitchens rather than traditional ones. Plus, glossy cabinets reflect light effectively and make a room feel brighter and larger. This could work great for small spaces!
The amount of light reflected, imperfections shown, and durability. The less light reflected, the less durable the finish; however, fewer imperfections are shown. Matte will reflect little to no light, satin retains a pearl-like sheen, whereas semi-gloss and gloss finishes reflect the most light.
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.
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.
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.
Like gloss surfaces, matt kitchens are easy to clean but they do come with the added benefit that they are much better hiding imperfections. Aside from being highly scratch resistant, it is also far less noticeable when there are fingerprint marks or smudges left on the surface.
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.
A mix of equal parts washing up liquid and warm water will do the trick for removing any recent food splatters and greasy fingerprints. For a much deeper clean, use a diluted mix of equal parts vinegar and warm water with a sponge to lift off any baked-in food and oil marks.
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.
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.
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.
Both finish types work great in any kitchen style, from the traditional to the contemporary to the minimalist. Timeless in appearance, they both form the basis of visually stunning designs. They're highly durable and easy to clean.
While gloss kitchens are easier to clean, they also need to be cleaned more often as those dirty marks and fingerprints will show up more easily. Another downside, particularly with acrylic gloss units, is that they're quite easy to scratch. While they will buff out, it takes time and effort to buff out scratches.
Satin. Satin finish is the most popular type of interior paint. Satin paint's velvety sheen makes it better suited to high-traffic kitchens than eggshell or matte finishes.
Using a paint sprayer is one of the easiest ways to get a super smooth finish on your cabinets. By their very nature, paint sprayers eliminate brush strokes and roller marks completely. And painting with a paint sprayer is almost always faster than using a paint roller and paint brush.
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.
A glossy finish will come with an ultra-smooth, shiny appearance. It's also very colour rich and vibrant. Whereas matte paper gives off a duller, more subtle finish. Therefore, the content and images on a glossy finish will strike the audience more effectively.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.