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.
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.
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.
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.
Satin is the best finish for painting kitchen cabinets if you want to play with color but you want to keep a sense of elegance and liveliness to the space.
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 kitchens are such a busy part of a home and often need extra cleaning, a satin or semi-gloss finish is the best options. Satin and eggshell finishes are commonly believed to be the same, but in fact, satin is a bit shinier. Satin finishes are easy to clean and good at standing up to mildew, stains and dirt.
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!
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.
Durability. If you desire the most durable cabinet finish, then stain is the best option. Stained cabinets are easy to touch-up and don't show marks or scuffs as easily as painted cabinets. It's easy to find touch-up tools that closely match your cabinet stain.
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.
Most kitchen cabinets require three to four coats of polyurethane to achieve a durable, long lasting finish. Sand, wipe and apply polyurethane until the desired coating is achieved.
So, to recap the answer to this question: You should always use a clear coat on painted cabinets unless you feel like doing a lot of repainting.
For your cabinet doors, they will need to be finished in some manner to protect them from damage. Paint can be a great choice, especially if you have a color in mind. If you are a person who loves a natural look, then a clear coat finish would be perfect for you!
If your photos will be handled often, a matte finish would be a better option since they will not absorb the fingerprints of users. Because matte finishes are designed to refract as much light as possible, this comes at the cost of colors not appearing as vibrant as they do in glossy photos.
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.
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.
Kitchen walls also require a durable, washable paint. Unless you want a shiny, glossy finish on the walls, opt for either eggshell or satin paint. Use eggshell paint in the kitchen for walls farthest away from the stove. Eggshell is durable and washable without showing many imperfections.
Semi-gloss is often most compared to a satin finish, but has much more sheen than the latter. That means light from windows and lamps will bounce off semi-gloss paint more easily than than a flatter finish, like eggshell or satin.
Eggshell has a lower duller sheen than satin and is close to a matt or flat finish that you find in a lot of emulsions. It is reminiscent of the shell of an egg — hence its name. Satin has a glossier finish than eggshell and reflects more light, so is more likely to show up any imperfections.
High gloss cabinets are more suited for contemporary or transitional kitchens and bathrooms, especially if they have flat cabinet fronts. High-gloss finishes reflect light and are great for bringing light into a smaller space, making the space feel bigger. This is especially true of white glossy cabinets.
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.
You don't need a polyurethane finish if you've chosen a durable paint. You do not need to apply a polyurethane finish to painted kitchen cabinets if you've used a durable paint. If you chose a less durable paint, a clear polyurethane topcoat can help prolong its life by protecting it from premature wear.
The best topcoats for kitchen cabinets are polyurethane semi-gloss. These finishes are made to seal in your paint underneath so that it does not affect the outcome of your clear coat. High gloss and medium gloss finishes are also widely used.
Kitchen cabinet varnish is a protective, sealing layer that protects the cabinet surface from stains, nicks, heat damage, and other types of common kitchen wear-and-tear. All cabinets should have some type of varnish added to them to keep them looking great for the long haul.