Selecting the right color and finish for your kitchen cabinets is one of the most important decor decisions when remodeling or replacing your kitchen. The color and finish of your cabinets will set the tone for your whole kitchen design. Should you paint or stain your new kitchen cabinets? There are pros and cons to both options that you’ll want to consider carefully before making a decision.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Cabinet Color
When selecting a cabinet color, there are a few key factors to take into account:
Your Personal Style
Consider your own personal style and taste when selecting cabinet color. Are you drawn to light and airy colors or deeper dramatic hues? Cool undertones or warm earth tones? If your personal style tends toward the casual and laidback, you might consider a painted finish in a light neutral color. For a more formal traditional style, a wood stain in a darker richer tone may appeal more.
Color Scheme
Think about the overall color scheme you want for your kitchen. Look at paint swatches and color samples to find hues that coordinate well with your cabinet color for walls, countertops, backsplash, and flooring. You want your cabinet color to integrate seamlessly into the whole kitchen palette.
Lighting
The amount and type of natural and ambient lighting in your kitchen also affects how cabinet colors are perceived. Lighter colors show off well in high light but can look dull and flat in dim lighting. Darker cabinet colors tend to look richer in lower light.
Pros and Cons of Painted Kitchen Cabinets
Painted kitchen cabinets provide a smooth, uniform look and enable the widest range of color options. Here are some benefits and downsides of painted cabinets:
Pros
- Virtually unlimited color selection for a custom look
- Can create bright, airy look with light neutral painted colors
- Easier to touch up if damaged
- Can change color schemes more easily by repainting
- Generally a less expensive option than wood stain
Cons
- Shows wear more readily than stained wood
- Requires more careful prep to avoid drips, brush marks, etc.
- Paint less durable than stain and needs occasional refreshing
- Wood grain and texture are concealed by painted finish
Pros and Cons of Stained Kitchen Cabinets
Stained wood cabinets highlight the natural pattern and beauty of the wood grain. Here are some of the pros and cons of stained kitchen cabinets:
Pros
- Enhances natural wood grain beauty
- More durable finish than painted cabinets
- Richer, deeper color tones possible with stains
- Doesn’t show minor scuffs as easily as paint
- Easier application process than painting
Cons
- Limited color palette to natural wood tones
- Matching new and existing cabinets can be tricky
- Touch-ups more obvious than paint
- Stains can look blotchy if applied improperly
- Prepping wood properly for stain takes skill
Key Considerations for Painted vs. Stained Cabinets
Here are a few other factors to weigh when deciding between painted or stained kitchen cabinets:
- Wood type – Soft woods like pine take paint best. Harder woods like oak or hickory are better for stain.
- Grain patterns – Paint downplays dramatic grains. Stains enhance burl wood, knots, etc.
- Distressed look – Achieve worn, cottage charm with painted cabinets.
- Resale value – Most buyers prefer wood tone stain over painted cabinets.
- DIY skills – Staining requires more prep and application skill. Painting is more novice friendly.
Recommendations for Painting or Staining
Based on the pros, cons and considerations discussed, here are my recommendations on when to paint or stain kitchen cabinets:
Best Candidates for Painting
- Contemporary, modern or minimalist kitchen styles
- Desire for light, bright, airy look
- Preference for glossy, uniform finish
- Wish to conceal unsightly wood flaws
- Pine, poplar or birch cabinets with unremarkable wood grain
Best Candidates for Staining
- Traditional, cottage or rustic kitchen styles
- Wanting to accentuate wood grain beauty
- Darker, richer color tones desired
- Oak, hickory, maple or exotic wood cabinets
- Distressed or aged look sought for antique appeal
Process for Painting Kitchen Cabinets
If you decide to paint your kitchen cabinets, follow this process for best results:
- Remove doors and hardware
- Clean with degreaser and sand lightly
- Fill any holes and imperfections
- Apply primer sealer coat first
- Paint with high quality cabinet enamel
- Apply multiple thin finish coats
- Reinstall doors and hardware
Be patient and take time with the prep work for a smooth professional painted finish.
Process for Staining Kitchen Cabinets
Follow this procedure carefully when staining kitchen cabinets:
- Remove doors, drawers and hardware
- Fill any holes or imperfections
- Sand wood thoroughly with increasingly finer grit
- Wipe away all dust with tack cloth
- Apply stain wearing gloves, using high quality natural bristle brush
- Allow to penetrated 10-15 minutes then wipe away excess
- Allow to dry fully per manufacturer instructions
- Apply protective sealer/topcoat for sheen and protection
- Reinstall cabinet doors, drawers and hardware
Proper prep and application are key to achieving an even, professional wood stained look.
Conclusion
There are excellent reasons for choosing either painted or stained cabinets. Consider your own taste, kitchen style, cabinet wood type, skill level and project budget. For a crisp, fresh contemporary look, opt for painted cabinets. To highlight beautiful wood grain in a classic way, choose wood stain. Whichever finish you select, use only high quality materials and take the proper preparation steps for stellar results. With your personalized kitchen cabinet color and finish, you’ll love spending time in your beautiful updated kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I paint or stain new kitchen cabinets?
If wanting a light, bright look and budget-friendly option, paint new cabinets. For showcasing wood grain texture in a richer palette, use stains on new cabinets.
Do painted cabinets go out of style?
Trends come and go, but crisp white or light grey painted cabinets have a timeless appeal. Darker painted cabinets may look more dated over time.
Is it cheaper to paint or stain cabinets?
Generally, painted cabinets are the less expensive option. Good quality stains and multiple coats of sealer and topcoat add cost to staining.
Should you paint or stain oak cabinets?
It’s best to stain natural oak cabinets to highlight the richness of oak grain. The exception would be if you want to cover flawed oak with paint.
What is the most popular kitchen cabinet color?
White or various shades of grey remain the most popular cabinet paint colors for a clean, classic look. For wood stains, mid-tone brown hues are common.
