Stained or Painted Cabinets: Which One Fits Your Kitchen Design?

July 29, 2024

A kitchen remodel may seem overwhelming since there are so many decisions to make, from choosing a layout to selecting a color scheme and materials. It helps to work with an experienced design and remodeling professional who can guide you through this process and help you get the most out of your investment.

One of the key decisions when planning a kitchen design is your cabinet selection. From the layout to storage features, door style, color, and finish, deciding on your cabinets is a good starting point for creating the kitchen of your dreams.

Importance of Choosing Your Cabinet Finish

Kitchen cabinets form the foundation of your kitchen design layout, storage, and workspaces. They also provide the starting point for creating your ideal kitchen style. Cabinets are a natural focal point in any size or style kitchen, so they are the perfect place to begin when selecting fixtures and finishes for your kitchen remodel.

Cabinetry affects your design’s style and functionality with the door style, construction techniques, material, color scheme, finish, and accessories like storage inserts and cabinet hardware. Your kitchen design professional will work with you to determine the ideal layout for your new kitchen and to find the best cabinet choice that balances your design style, functional needs, and budget.

Once you have selected your cabinetry it’s time to choose a color and finish that fits your design style. A key part of this decision is whether to select painted or stained cabinets. Which one best fits your kitchen depends on a number of factors, so let’s explore some of the differences to help you make the perfect choice for your remodel.

Understanding Stained Cabinets

What do we mean when we refer to stained kitchen cabinets? This simply means cabinetry with a stain applied to the wood, which is a finish that treats the wood and enhances the natural grain and color. Stains provide a rich tone for the wood that can vary from a light, natural shade to dark stains. They also serve to protect the wood from moisture and damage, which is essential in a busy kitchen design.

Stain must be applied to natural wood, so medium-density fiberboard (MDF) will not work with a stained finish. This is because stain soaks into the wood rather than being a layer applied on top of the wood. There are a variety of wood types that work well with stained finishes, including oak, cherry, and walnut. White oak, in particular rift cut white oak, is a very popular choice for stained cabinets due to its unique grain pattern and high-quality look. Your choice of wood type will affect the final look of your cabinet finish, as the same stain can look different when applied to different types of wood.

The process of producing stained cabinetry includes applying stain color to the wood, followed by a sealer and a topcoat. The stain soaks into the wood, creating your desired color but still allowing the natural wood grain to show through. The extent to which the natural wood shows depends on the shade of stain you select. The result is a beautiful finish that brings natural warmth and richness to your kitchen cabinet design.

Understanding Painted Cabinets

Painted kitchen cabinets are coated in layers of paint, which give the cabinet surface a smooth, opaque finish. The paint alters the appearance and color of the wood or other cabinet material completely. With a painted finish, you have an almost endless array of possibilities for color to set the tone for your kitchen design. Paint also gives you the option of either a matte or glossy finish, making it the ultimate versatile solution for creating a one-of-a-kind look for kitchen cabinets.

Painted cabinets typically use maple, MDF, or a combination of both since the surface will be covered up completely with paint and a lighter surface lets the paint color be the star of the show. The process for painting cabinetry typically involves a primer coat followed by a base coat, multiple coats of the paint color, and then a topcoat. Since there are so many layers required and they are applied on top of the cabinet surface (as opposed to stain that soaks into the wood), the finish of painted cabinets is thicker than stained cabinets.

Painted cabinets offer a wide range of color choices to get the precise style you want to achieve. They also have the added benefit of providing a smooth, uniform finish for cabinetry. White is a classic choice for kitchen cabinets, along with gray, cream, beige, and other neutrals. Black, blue, green tones, and even red have become popular options for painted cabinets. Black gives your kitchen a sophisticated vibe, paired with white or gray countertops for contrast. Blues and greens in nature-inspired tones add color while giving your kitchen a soothing, grounded feel.

Differences in Durability and Maintenance

Both have pros and cons when it comes to durability and maintenance, but there are key differences to consider when choosing your preferred cabinet finish. Since this is a major consideration in a busy, high-traffic space like a kitchen, it helps to examine these factors for each cabinet finish.

Stained wood is more prone to being scratched since there are no layers protecting the surface of the wood like there are with painted cabinets. The plus side is that these scratches often don’t show up as readily as they do on painted cabinets, since stained wood has natural color and texture variations. When stained wood is scratched or damaged in any way, it tends to be easier to touch it up than with painted cabinets. It’s important to properly seal stained cabinet surfaces because they can otherwise absorb liquid and become damaged.

Painted cabinets protect the cabinet material with layers of paint, ensuring it does not damage as easily. The painted surface itself is susceptible to chipping, scratches, and dents. This wear and tear tend to show up more on painted cabinets than on stained surfaces and when it does, it is more difficult to match painted finishes to touch it up. Many painted finishes also show dirt and smudges more readily, meaning you have to be careful to follow a regular cleaning routine.

Comparing Costs

The main factors in determining cost when choosing new kitchen cabinets are your kitchen’s layout and size, the quality of wood or other material you select, and the construction techniques used to create the cabinetry. If all of these factors are the same, there is a cost difference between stained and painted cabinets, mainly due to the materials and process involved in the two cabinet finishes. Paint requires more layers and a specialized technique to get the right finish, making painted cabinets slightly more expensive.

Making the Right Choice for Your Kitchen Design

A kitchen remodel is an exciting opportunity to reinvent your kitchen and, by extension, your home. We spend so much time in the kitchen between cooking, dining, entertaining, and more, so you must create a space that is both efficient and stylish to enhance your home life.

A visit to our Gainesville, Florida showroom is an ideal place to start when planning a kitchen remodel. Our full-service design and remodeling showroom is packed with design ideas and product displays to inspire your style, product selections, and functional features. Talk to our design experts and browse our wide range of cabinet samples to get a better understanding of the options available.

While shopping for cabinets, be sure to consider how your cabinet style and finish work together with other materials in your kitchen design. Kitchen cabinets must complement surrounding features like your countertop, backsplash, cabinet hardware, and flooring. If you plan to sell your home during the lifespan of this remodel, you should also take into account the local real estate market and the tastes of local homebuyers when selecting your kitchen cabinet finish.

Once you know the design aesthetic you want to achieve for your new kitchen, you can find the perfect cabinet selection that will set the tone for your kitchen’s style. Think about your home, who uses the kitchen, and your lifestyle.

After considering these and other factors, which option is the best fit for your new kitchen? You may already have a clear preference before the first meeting with your kitchen design expert. Maybe you have had stained cabinets in your kitchen for years and want a fresh start with a sleek-painted finish. Perhaps you just bought your forever home and want to imbue it with the warmth of stained cabinets for a cozy, family-friendly kitchen design.

If you aren’t sure, then browsing a cabinet comparison wall in our Gainesville showroom will help you get a clear view of the options available. Your final selection must fit your home’s design aesthetic and your lifestyle since you must live with and maintain your choice for years to come. Consider your remodeling budget and decide what portion of that budget you can commit to your cabinetry.

These factors will help you narrow down the options. Your kitchen design expert can help guide you through this process and assist you in making your final decision. Contact our team to learn more about kitchen cabinet options and to get started on planning your ideal kitchen design!