Overall, the best finish for painting cabinets is semi-gloss. It ensures maximum durability and is ideal for high moisture areas like bathrooms and basements. I have painted all the natural oak cabinets in my home in a variety of colors using semi-gloss.
Gloss is highly durable, easy to clean, and suitable for high-traffic areas as scratches and fingerprints are less visible. The glossy effect also helps to reflect light, which opens up space visually and can make any kitchen feel larger. Semi-gloss is another top option to use in kitchen cabinets.
For kitchens, we recommend semi-gloss or satin paints. Satin is a great choice as long as you have a backsplash surrounding surfaces that may be splattered by water or grease. If you don't have a backsplash in these areas, we recommend a semi-gloss for better durability and easier cleaning.
There are many types of paint to choose from, but the best paint for kitchen cabinets is semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Matte is not practical in kitchens and baths where you will need durable paint you can easily clean. No matter the types of paint you choose, prepping is an important step in the process.
Advantages of high gloss kitchens
The primary selling point of high gloss cabinets is that they reflect more light than other finishes. This has the effect of making the space look and feel larger and more open, which is ideal for smaller kitchens. Nobody wants to spend hours meticulously scrubbing on a kitchen door.
While high gloss cabinets have many benefits, they do come with a few trade-offs. High-gloss cabinets are more prone to showing fingerprints and smudges. However, if you're willing to put in the extra effort to maintain them, they can be a great choice for your kitchen.
If you're looking for a finish that will shine and reflect light once it hits it, opt for a semi-gloss finish. As the most popular sheen, semi-gloss provides your kitchen cabinets with a nice shine that is not overbearing.
SEMI-GLOSS
Glossy and sleek, this sheen shines, but does not compete, allowing other colors near it to have their moment. Ideal for: Cabinets.
Paint is the most popular finish for kitchen cabinets because it's easy to clean and maintain. It also has a wide variety of colors to choose from, so you can easily find a shade that matches your décor.
Semi-gloss or glossy paint is typically used on kitchen cabinets or on woodwork such as door and window casings. The higher the gloss of paint, the more visible the paint brush marks. Try adding water or linseed oil, as appropriate, or use an oil-based paint.
Generally, the shinier the finish, the more durable and cleanable it will be. Conversely, the flatter the finish, the more porous and more challenging to clean it will be. But there are trade-offs: Higher sheen finishes emphasize imperfections and don't accept touch-ups as well as lower sheen finishes do.
High gloss cabinets have been one of those outdated kitchen trends for a long time. Though some people believe that it will come back, it seems not very likely in the near future. Unfortunately, it is still typical of outdated kitchens.
One of gloss' many advantages is that it's easy to clean thanks to its shiny surface. All you need is a non-abrasive cloth and some water for those common everyday kitchen stains and smudges. However, for tougher stains, avoid the use of bleach as this could damage the glossy surface.
The larger the space, the more likely it is that a glossy finish will help reflect light and provide an overall brighter feel to the room. On the other hand, if your kitchen is on the smaller side, then matte paint can be a great choice to add some texture and depth to your cabinets.
Like any cabinetry, high gloss kitchen cabinets can easily scratch if you're not careful. This is why it is best to clean with a microfibre cloth and be cautious about furniture and other objects coming in contact with your cabinets.
Tip: Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel, Gloss, Semi-Gloss or Satin Sheen is among the best paint for kitchen cabinet top coats because it has excellent flow and leveling characteristics, which means a smooth and durable finish on cabinets, doors and trim.
CONVERSION VARNISH vs LACQUER
For the best custom cabinet finish, our choice is Conversion Varnish (CV) over Lacquer, and here's why… The CV topcoat is extremely durable and easy to clean. It is resistant to heat, water, wear, solvents, acids, and alkalis.
White is still the most popular kitchen cabinet color in 2023 and beyond. However, we are seeing a shift towards warmer and more natural tones. We cover the best colors for cabinets from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams like Simply White, Dove White, and Chantilly Lace.
What they see (and we all drool over in kitchen envy) are pre-finished, ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets… …the kinds of cabinets iCabinets supplies nationwide. What you may not know is the reason why RTA cabinets are the preferred choice for HGTV and DIY shows on TV (and probably for your kitchen renovation too).
RTA cabinets answer the call when time is of the essence. With a tight production schedule, HGTV doesn't have the time to wait for custom cabinetmakers. They use RTA cabinets like ours!
Joanna loves using grays in her homes for the main living spaces. Some of her favorites are Sherwin Williams Mindful gray, Oyster Pearl, and Passive Gray. Repose Gray is one shade lighter than Mindful and would look fabulous for an open living space.
Natural light: Gloss cabinetry will magnify the natural light in your kitchen. Matte finishes soften the appearance of the cabinetry while adding depth and dimension. High-gloss cabinetry can make the room feel brighter and larger than it really is; in rooms that don't have great natural light, this can be a plus.
Use lighter colors.
A light color on the walls and cabinets instantly brightens a space making it look larger and in turn, more expensive. Light colors reflect light and hide a multitude of sins, including those scratches, dings and dents in your old cabinets.
The Cons of a Gloss Finish
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.