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.
Most manufacturers of modern assembled kitchen cabinets use a polyurethane catalyzed varnish as a topcoat. Varnish provides cabinetry with extra durability and heat resistance. All-natural cabinets will require a varnish, at a minimum, as a finish.
Textured Melamine (also known as Thermally Fused Laminate) is one of the most durable cabinet materials on the market today, noted for its strong resistance to excessive moisture, heat, and stains.
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.
Stain is the best finish for kitchen cabinet doors if you want to preserve the wood's appearance — knots, grains, discolorations and all. Some stains add subtle coloring or darkening to wood, but never as opaque as paint. Stains protect the wood from moisture, pests, and scratches.
The Best Finish for Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchens are heavy-use areas. They require a finish that can hold up to spills, are durable, and are easy to clean. Therefore, you may choose something like a gloss finish as the perfect option for your kitchen cabinets compared to matte and satin.
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.
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.
Each of these has its advantages and benefits. The two most common types of paint sheen are semi-gloss and satin. A standard scheme uses satin paint for the cabinets and matte for the walls. All of the products we use at The Picky Painters in Cleveland, OH, are incredibly durable and washable.
Shaker Doors
The most timeless kitchen cabinet door style is also a staple in transitional kitchen design: the shaker door.
The 5 best and most popular woods for kitchen cabinets are pine, oak, hickory, cherry, and maple. Pine, oak, and hickory are cheaper and easier to get. Cherry and maple look luxurious and cost more than the others.
What is the most durable finish for wood? If you want to prevent damage to fine furniture, cabinets, or hardwood floors, oil-based polyurethane is the most durable wood finish available. This product is also water-resistant and UV-resistant.
White oak is one of the most expensive cabinet materials on the market and can be roughly 40% more expensive than its red-oak counterpart. There are two key reasons for such a stark contrast in pricing. First, there are simply more red oak trees than there are white oak trees, making them readily available.
IKEA cabinet boxes are made of fiberboard and melamine foil. Cabinet doors and drawer fronts are made of fiberboard. They are covered in melamine foil, paint, wood, or glass.
Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors. It's also a good choice for highly trafficked area that gets lots of wear and tear such as a mudroom.
We usually use professional-grade lacquer because it has a lovely, silky-smooth feel to it, and is what cabinet manufacturers use. We think it's the best paint for cabinets, hands-down (although there are some great pro-level water-based options as well).
SEMI-GLOSS
Glossy and sleek, this sheen shines, but does not compete, allowing other colors near it to have their moment. Ideal for: 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.
Semi-gloss paint enriches the color you choose to paint your cabinet, making it a perfect choice for lighter colors. Satin or eggshell paints, like matte, are typically not the best choice for kitchen cabinets. The flat finish makes the paint harder to clean and maintain.
Before your final coat of paint, gently sand your cabinets using 300-400 grit sandpaper. This super-fine sandpaper will knock down any brush strokes and roller marks to give you a super smooth surface to work with. Be sure your paint brush is clean and the bristles are smooth.
They were used in modern kitchens with a space-age aesthetic – but it was a style that fell out of fashion for the flattest, most-matte cabinetry styles which are, by in large, still in fashion today. However, we're now starting to see high gloss return to kitchen design, albeit in a different form.
High gloss cabinets are popular in contemporary kitchen design due to their modern and sleek appearance. Their stylish appearance, paired with vast customization options, allows homeowners to achieve a personalized and sophisticated kitchen décor.
Requires Frequent Cleaning
So that their kids don't smear dirt and leave fingerprints all over the house, some homeowners only apply high-gloss to higher cabinets. These high-gloss doors are more expensive than conventional doors due to their popularity among homeowners.