Are you looking to give your wood kitchen a quick and easy makeover? Painting your kitchen cabinets is a low-effort, affordable way to elevate the appearance of your kitchen. But what is the best cabinet paint for the job?
Take a few factors into consideration before determining the best paint for your kitchen cabinets. Explore this in-depth guide on the best paint for kitchen cabinets, and get ready to transform your space.
How to Choose the Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets
There is more to choosing the best paint for kitchen cabinets than going to the store and selecting a color. More than likely, you use your cabinets frequently—possibly multiple times per day. With that in mind, it’s important to choose a durable paint that won’t start chipping in a few weeks. To ensure that doesn’t happen, you need to consider the type of wood your cabinets are made of.
Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets: Softwood Cabinets
Softwood cabinets are usually made of wood from evergreen trees, including spruce, fir, cedar, and pine. These woods are structurally sound and tend to be more budget-friendly than hardwoods. However, softwoods are more likely to warp over time without proper care.
The following are some of the best paint types for softwood cabinets:
- Acrylic paint: This paint is easy to work and dries quickly. It is excellent for softwood because it is durable and offers good adhesion and elasticity, and results in less chipping or cracking. In addition to yielding a sleek, modern finish, making the wood resistant to mold, mildew, and water damage, acrylic paint is a prime choice for surfaces that need to be wiped down often. However, some acrylic paints can discolor over time and may require multiple coats for an even finish. This is an excellent option of paint for kitchen cabinets.
- Oil-based paint: Providing good adhesion and durability, oil-based paint works well when applied to sanded softwood cabinets. The finish is smooth and resistant to wear and tear. Keep in mind that oil-based paints take longer to dry and have a strong odor. Oil-based paint typically only requires two coats for an even finish but are still a prime paint for kitchen cabinets.
- Latex paint: This water-based paint is easy to clean and low on odor emissions. Latex paint goes on easily, dries fast, emits less odor than acrylic or oil-based paint, and adheres well to cabinets made of softwood. However, it’s not always as durable as other paints. It may also be more prone to scratches, chipping, or flaking.
- Water-based alkyd paint: Alkyd paint bridges the gap between acrylic and oil-based paint. If you’re considering this paint for kitchen cabinets, it's important to know that it’s easy to apply, flexible enough to withstand scratches or dents, and protects porous softwoods from moisture damage, mold, and mildew. It also adheres well to softwoods and can even be applied over existing latex paint, which means you can refresh your cabinets without sanding or stripping.
If you’re struggling to choose between the various options, you may consider acrylic paint. Its durability and elasticity prevent cracking, chipping, and peeling, making it one of the best paints for kitchen cabinets and high-traffic areas.
Before embarking on a softwood painting project, be sure to clean, sand, and prime the cabinets for better paint adhesion.
Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets: Hardwood Cabinets
Hardwood cabinets—those made of oak, hickory, maple, or cherry—generally require paints that contain higher levels of resins than traditional wall paint. This helps prevent dirt, scratching, and staining on high-touch areas.
Take a look at some of the best paints for kitchen cabinets made of hardwood:
- Latex paint: As mentioned above, latex paint is generally easy to apply, dries quickly, and cleans well after drying, making it a great fit for busy kitchens. However, while it adheres well to softwood, you’ll need to prime hardwood before applying a latex paint. The primer helps ensure better adhesion and prevents blotchy, uneven absorption.
- Acrylic paint: Hardworking, durable, and easy to apply, acrylic paint is another excellent choice for hardwood cabinets. It adheres to the wood surface easily, and applying a primer before painting can provide an even stronger bond and reduce the risk of chipping.
- Oil-based paint: Oil-based paint works well with hardwood cabinets, specifically due to its ability to adhere smoothly and evenly to the surface of your cabinets. It also dries slowly, allowing you to correct any mistakes made during the application process. Keep in mind that oil-based paints emit strong odors, though, and may be less flexible than alternatives like alkyd paints.
- Water-based alkyd paint: Alkyd paint is essentially a cross between oil-based and acrylic paint. It goes on easily like oil-based paint but without the strong odors and long drying time. It’s also extremely durable, drying harder than other types of paint and resisting chips, scratches, stains, and other damage. This paint won’t fade over time, either, making it one of the best paints for kitchen cabinets.
Not sure which paint to choose? While each has its benefits, durable options like oil-based paint, acrylic, and alkyd paints may require less maintenance and ensure your kitchen cabinets look freshly painted for years to come.
Choosing the Right Paint Finish for Kitchen Cabinets
Once you’ve chosen your preferred paint type, it’s time to consider the best paint finish for your kitchen cabinets. Paint comes in four finishes: matte, semi-gloss, gloss, and satin. Each has its pros and cons, but no matter which option you choose, you can count on a stunning finish for your hard- or softwood cabinets.
Matte
Satin and eggshell paints, like matte paint, are great options for low-traffic spaces, like a home office or an accent wall in your dining room. The dense, velvety appearance gives off a luxurious vibe. It’s also easy to touch up and hides imperfections like dents or knots in wood due to the depth of color and its ability to absorb light instead of reflecting. However, while well-suited to quiet corners of your home, matte paint is notoriously challenging to maintain in busy areas. Dust and debris often cling to it, and stains can be difficult to clean.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss is one of the most popular choices for paint finish on kitchen cabinets because it offers durability and resistance to fading from sunlight exposure. Its versatility and easy-to-clean surface also make semi-gloss a popular choice for many rooms in the house. Semi-gloss paint enriches the color you choose to paint your cabinet, making it a perfect choice for lighter colors.
Gloss
Gloss paints are bold and visually appealing, immediately catching your eye when you walk into a room. The highly reflective surface is often chosen to brighten a darker kitchen. The finish is also durable and water-resistant. However, fingerprints, dust, and debris are highly visible on gloss finishes, so you may find yourself cleaning your cabinets more often.
Satin
Satin paint is another popular choice for kitchen cabinets, offering a smooth, understated finish that works with a variety of interior design styles. It’s durable, easy to clean, and does a good job hiding dirt and fingerprints. Still, it may show wear over time in busy kitchens, and it won’t hide scratches or divots as easily as a semi-gloss.
After Choosing Paint for Your Kitchen Cabinets: Custom Pull-Out Shelves
Once you’ve finished painting, the next step is to look into enhancing your existing cabinets with custom kitchen storage solutions from ShelfGenie®. Our tailored designs work with your existing cabinets and can increase storage space by up to 50%. Schedule a consultation with your local ShelfGenie team, and our designers will come to your residence and work with you on a real-time 3D rendering of your custom shelves. You’ll get to keep your design and adjust it at any time before installation. Our experts will arrive at your door to install high-quality and long-lasting shelves. Since most of the work is done prior to the installation appointment, about 98% of installations only take one day.
Leave It to the Pros at ShelfGenie
Ready to transform your kitchen? Count on our experienced design and installation team at ShelfGenie for a collaborative experience that will transform your kitchen into an organized space with more storage and better accessibility.
Our three-step design process makes it easy to turn cluttered countertops and crowded cabinets into attractive, organized spaces you can enjoy on a daily basis. What’s more, we back every job with the Neighborly Done Right Promise™, which ensures your satisfaction.
Book a free consultation with one of our expert designers to get started.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. Shelf Genie is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact your local Shelf Genie location for a comprehensive, on-site assessment
