Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

When planning a new kitchen design, your cabinet selection is a key element that defines your room’s style and functionality. Kitchen cabinets establish your room’s layout, create essential storage and workspace, and set up your key work and entertainment zones. They also set the tone for your kitchen design style with the cabinet door style, material, color scheme, and finish, along with accessories such as cabinet hardware.

Once you have determined your layout with your kitchen design expert and chosen a style, it is time to select the color and finish that fits your design aesthetic. One of the key decisions in selecting a style for your kitchen cabinet design is whether to choose a painted or stained finish. Each has its pros and cons, and the right one for you will depend on several factors. Let’s explore some of the differences between painted and stained cabinetry and how to select the right one for your home.

Choosing the Right Cabinet Finish for your Kitchen Remodel

If you are starting a kitchen remodel, you may already have an idea of your preferred cabinet design style. If you don’t, it helps to explore styles online or in person by visiting a full-service kitchen and bath design showroom.

Seeing examples in person at your design appointment or by dropping into a showroom can really help, as you get to experience the look and feel of the options as you would see them in your own home. Many design showrooms have cabinet comparison walls as well as full kitchen design displays so you can even see how cabinet finishes interact with other design features like countertops, backsplash, hardware, and more.

You can also start by exploring the different cabinet styles available and the differences between painted and stained cabinetry. Some homeowners will also choose to mix the two styles in a two-tone cabinet design, for example by mixing lower and upper cabinet finishes or choosing one for the perimeter and one for your island or beverage bar.

Stained vs. Painted Cabinets: What is the Difference?

One of the key differences between stained and painted kitchen cabinetry is that stained cabinets work with the cabinet material and let the wood grain show through (though the extent to which the grain shows will depend on both your wood type and the color of the stain). On the other hand, paint covers up the wood grain, so the focus is really on the color rather than the cabinet material. For this reason, stain only works with natural wood materials that can absorb the stain, and the higher the wood quality, the better. Paint can be applied to wood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and does not require as high a quality material to look great.

With stained cabinetry, you apply a stain color, a sealer, and a topcoat. Stain soaks into the wood, and shows off the natural wood material, with its knots and wood grain. Wood stains range in color from lighter to darker shades, but the type of wood you select will affect the final look of the stained finish.

Painted kitchen cabinets typically use lighter wood or MDF since the focus is on the finish and not the material. Painting cabinets usually involves a primer coat, a base coat, multiple coats of the paint color, and then a topcoat. This means that the painted cabinet finish is thicker than a stained one due to the multiple layers involved. Painting gives a smooth, more controlled finish to your cabinetry, with a uniform surface. It also allows for a wide range of color options to let you achieve exactly the style you want.

Deciding on a Style

When planning a kitchen remodel, there are a wide range of options to consider when looking for the perfect kitchen cabinet style. How can you find the right one for your new kitchen? Think about your home design aesthetic and the look you want to achieve in your kitchen design. Look at other features like your countertop material, backsplash, flooring, hardware, plumbing fixtures, and more, and choose design features that complement each other and create a cohesive style for your kitchen.

If you prefer a look that is grounded in nature, then a stained finish is ideal for you. The natural warmth of wood creates a welcoming environment in any home and lets the beauty of your wood selection take center stage. A light stain color works well with modern slab cabinetry or simple Shaker-style cabinet doors, while a darker stain complements a more traditional kitchen remodeling look.

Painted cabinets make your color choice the focal point of the cabinet design and offer an almost limitless range of options for your cabinetry. It covers up the surface of the wood, so you don’t see the knots and grain of the wood with a painted finish, giving you a sleek look. Classic white, beige, cream, and gray are all popular choices for painted cabinetry, but sophisticated black, vibrant or deep blues, and green tones are also top choices for cabinet paint colors. The beauty of paint is that you can get creative with your kitchen design, so if you are happy to commit to red cabinets or teal tones, you can achieve that look with painted cabinetry. Think about your room’s style and color scheme and choose cabinet colors that complement your aesthetic. You can also select a two-tone cabinet design to add depth to your design.

Considering Durability

Both painted and stained cabinets can be considered durable, but there are differences in how each will withstand daily life in a busy kitchen design. Painted cabinets protect your cabinet surfaces with multiple layers of paint, keeping the cabinet material from getting scratched or dented. However, painted surfaces can still get scratched and when they do, these blemishes tend to show up more than on stained wood surfaces. On the other hand, stained wood is more prone to scratching but it doesn’t show up as much due to the natural color and texture variations on stained cabinetry. Paint can also crack or chip, which will not happen with stained cabinets.

Which is Easier to Maintain

Paint is harder to touch up than stain due to the difficulty of matching colors and the painting techniques used to get a smooth, flawless paint surface. Paint also tends to show more dirt and smudges, which means you need to clean it more regularly. The flip side of this is that you are more motivated to keep your painted cabinets clean, so you avoid a build-up of dirt, and they stay looking great for longer.  Painted cabinets will also show imperfections more easily, so if your paint gets cracked or chipped it will be an obvious blemish that is harder to fix. It can also be more susceptible to temperature changes, so if you don’t maintain a relatively consistent temperature in your home paint may not be the best option.

To properly maintain your painted cabinets, clean up any spills or splatters right away as moisture can damage painted surfaces. Use a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleaner to avoid damaging the sleek painted surfaces. Likewise, stained cabinets can absorb liquid unless they are properly sealed so make sure you maintain your cabinet’s sealed surfaces and use only a damp cloth to clean them regularly.

Is There a Cost Difference?

While there is a difference in cost between painting and staining due to the materials, process, and number of layers required to cover the cabinet surfaces, this is not the biggest cost impact. The biggest difference is the quality of the wood or other material you select as well as the construction of the cabinetry. However, when comparing like with like, painted cabinets generally cost 10-15% more than stained cabinets.

Which Option is Best for Your Kitchen Design?

So, is stained or painted cabinetry the best option for your new kitchen design? Consider your home’s style and the design aesthetic you want to create for your kitchen. Balance this with your lifestyle and consider how this affects your durability and maintenance preferences. Plan for your project’s budget so you can include this factor when choosing your preferred cabinet option. Work with an experienced and professional design and remodeling team, who can help you understand the options and find the perfect choice for your home!