The kitchen is a central location in the home where families and friends spend a lot of time together, from cooking and eating to cleaning. But it’s also for so much more: kids doing homework at the dinner table, arts and crafts along the barstool countertops, and late-night chats over a midnight snack. Every component of a kitchen, from the fridge to the tiling on the floor, comes together to create the atmosphere.
Maybe you’re not doing a major overhaul of your entire kitchen and are looking for a fun DIY cabinet project. Either way, don’t spend all your time lost in the details of your many options—especially when it comes to your kitchen cabinets. Take a look at the pros and cons of three types of kitchen cabinets—painted, stained, and glazed—to discover which is the best option for you.
Painted Kitchen Cabinets
Painted kitchen cabinets are popular for a number of reasons, but they do have their drawbacks.
PROS
- Modern, smooth look
- More options for the color scheme of your kitchen
- Difficult to do yourself as mistakes are obvious
- When done right, there’s a high return on investment
- Water-resistant
- Applies well to a cheaper material, making it harder to tell the difference between cheap and authentic material
CONS
- Paint supplies generally costs more
- Not recommended for a natural look—hides the features and quality of wood cabinets
- More difficult to touch up—unless you have the color paint that was used on hand, you can end up with touch-ups that aren’t the same color as the original
- Dark paints show gathered dust
Stained Kitchen Cabinets
Many people love staining their kitchen cabinets for the fact that the color soaks into the wood and enhances its natural beauty. However, staining also comes with its own unique set of pros and cons.
PROS
- Traditional, natural look
- Cheaper than paint
- Easier application and more forgiving than paint
- Easier to touch up and match color
- Usually more affordable
- Long-lasting (20-30 yrs)
CONS
- Not as attractive on cheaper materials: MDF (medium-density fiberboards) can save homeowners a lot on cabinet prices, but you’ll need more expensive wood for a natural, authentic look
- Doesn’t cover up imperfections: Depending on the style you’re going for, this can be an issue or a non-issue. While paints cover up any color inconsistencies or uneven grain, stain highlights those features.
- Dark stains show dust
Glazed Kitchen Cabinets
Glaze is a semi-transparent coating that goes on top of a partial paint or stain job and enhances both options, significantly cutting down the cost of more expensive paint treatments.
PROS
- Leaves carved details on the wood darker than before. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on the style you’re going for.
- Provides an antique, country, and rustic look
- Adds interest to the details that might not have otherwise existed with paint or stain
CONS
- To some, can appear old-fashioned and dated
- Requires hard work and lots of effort: not cheap to apply or to take off
Kitchen Renovations with Cabinet Corner
Whether you’re going with paint, stain, or glaze, your options for kitchen cabinets are nearly endless. Don’t worry about getting too caught up in all the details, though. If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, make the right choice easy by choosing Cabinet Corner. Our ready-to-assemble cabinets come in a variety that’s sure to meet what you’re looking for in top-quality kitchen cabinets.
