Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets: How to Choose the Right Paint.
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel. As one of Sherwin-Williams’ newest formulations, the Emerald line of water-based paints is described as ...
- Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel.
- Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd.
- PPG Glyptex Interior Alkyd.
What paint is best for cabinets?
Painting a kitchen is a bit more detailed than painting other rooms since there are cabinets and an island to consider. As a general rule, white cabinets are always a safe bet. But if you have a kitchen island you can use it as a bit of an artist focal ...
What is the best brand of cabinet paint?
- Best overall: Farrow & Ball Off-Black
- Best balance: Clare Blackest
- Best depth: Portola Whitney Portal
- Best cool: Farrow & Ball Railings
- Best warm: Portola Story Teller
- Best classic: Farrow & Ball Pitch Black
- Best drama: Benjamin Moore Jet Black
- Best neutral: Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black
What is the most durable cabinet paint?
The best paint for furniture
- Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint. If you want to give a DIY project a go but don’t have loads of time to spend on it, then this Rust-Oleum Chalky ...
- Ronseal Satin Cupboard Paint. Do your kitchen cupboards look a little worse for wear? ...
- Rust-Oleum Gloss Furniture Paint. ...
- Ronseal Chalky Furniture Paint. ...
- Johnstone's Revive Chalky Furniture Paint. ...
What is the best paint for cabinet?
- Wash lower the cupboards having a Teaspoon substitute to get rid of any grime, grease, or finger oils.
- Scrub lower the cupboards further with Liquid Sander/Deglosser.
- Prime all of the lower cabinets with two thin jackets of primer.
- Paint the low cabinets.
Can I use water-based paint on kitchen cabinets?
The eco-friendlier option for kitchen cabinets is water-based paint. It can be applied manually or even by using a spray gun. There are more options available in water-based paint.
What type of paint is best for kitchen cabinets?
While oil-based paints make a case for themselves with their reputation for easy application and a long-lasting finish that can be scrubbed and cleaned regularly, latex paint is widely regarded as the best choice for most kitchen cabinets, since it offers lower levels of VOCs and is quicker to dry.
What is the most popular paint finish for kitchen cabinets?
Semi-gloss paints are the most popular finish for kitchen cabinets because it has a mid-gloss finish that is considered easier to clean while still hiding most imperfections. For these reasons, professional painters consider this to be the best kitchen cabinet paint finish.
What is the most durable paint for cabinets?
For painting your kitchen cabinets, the best paint is one that's consistently easy to apply. ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel is a traditional oil-based paint that when fully cured (21 to 30 days), provides a harder, more durable finish than latex or acrylic paints.
What is the most durable finish for kitchen cabinets?
On average, semi-gloss oil-based paint is the most durable finish for kitchen cabinets. Because of its sheen, semi-gloss paint can reflect light and remain durable for a long time.
Should cabinets be gloss or satin?
While satin finishes tend to be fairly durable in high traffic areas, they're not as durable and versatile as semi-gloss against mildew and mold. Kitchen cabinets in high moisture environments can, therefore, do better with semi-gloss paints.
Do you need special paint for kitchen cabinets?
Choose a high-quality paint. Special cabinet paints are available that provide a smooth finish, but any high-quality paint should work. Make sure your paint is acrylic, not vinyl. Acrylic latex-based paint is durable and easy to clean up.
How do I get a smooth finish on kitchen cabinets?
How To Get A Smooth Finish When Painting Kitchen CabinetsDo Your Prep Work. ... Use A Good Primer. ... Use A Paint Sprayer. ... Choose Lacquer Paint. ... Purchase A High-Quality Paintbrush And Foam Roller. ... Apply With A Brush And Finish With A Roller. ... Layer Several Thin, Even Coats. ... Sand Lightly Between Coats.
Do you need special paint for kitchen cabinets?
Choose a high-quality paint. Special cabinet paints are available that provide a smooth finish, but any high-quality paint should work. Make sure your paint is acrylic, not vinyl. Acrylic latex-based paint is durable and easy to clean up.
Should kitchen cabinets be painted satin or semi gloss?
While satin finishes tend to be fairly durable in high traffic areas, they're not as durable and versatile as semi-gloss against mildew and mold. Kitchen cabinets in high moisture environments can, therefore, do better with semi-gloss paints.
Is oil or latex paint better for kitchen cabinets?
Address the oil versus latex debate. The two primary differences between oil-based paint and latex-based paint on kitchen cabinets are final texture and dry time. Oil-based is more traditional and popular with purists who like the “painterly” look of brush marks, while latex gives a more consistent finish.
Can you just paint over cabinets?
Wood, wood-laminate and metal cabinets usually can be repainted without difficulty. Plastic laminate cabinets might not accept a topcoat of paint — those that can be refinished often require special paints and techniques, and results can vary.
What paints come in satin and semi gloss?
Unless you enjoy repainting. Most hybrid enamel paints come in satin and semi-gloss. Satin falls right between semi-gloss and eggshell finish. Benjamin Moore makes a broader range of products, including high-gloss for that candy-coated finish on your cabinets.
What is oil based paint?
Oil-based paint is the go-big-or-go-home of interior paints. In it, the color pigment is suspended in oil and then thinned with an agent like mineral spirits. It was the preferred type of slow-drying paint to use on wood in homes because of the uniform paint surface.
What does sheen mean when painting cabinets?
It feels like there’s a correct answer, but it’s also about preference. Sheen refers to how shiny the paint surface is after it dries. When you’re painting kitchen cupboards, the sheen is part of the total package, along with the luster and color.
When was latex paint invented?
Compared to the history of paint, latex paint is still the new kid on the block. Sherwin-Williams used a synthetic rubber, latex, in the 1940s to create the first water enamel paint. Since then, its safety, environmental friendliness, and ease of use have motivated the ongoing development of latex paint technology.
Is oil based paint good for cabinets?
As you’ll read in the following section, technology’s improved paint formulas. Oil-based paint is no longer the best paint for cabinets, just as it’s no longer suitable for residential applications.
Is latex paint better than oil paint?
Because of the improvements in latex paint formulas, it’s almost as durable and polished as the finish you’d get from oil-based paint. Almost, but not entirely. Latex paint dries much faster than oil-paint, making it difficult to get as even and lustrous of a finish. Using a paint sprayer will minimize unevenness.
Standout Formulas for Your DIY Project
After blind testing and reviewing twenty-four top brands, here is the ultimate DIY guide on the best paint for cabinets.
My Top Picks for the Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets, 2021
This formula is paint perfection in a can giving you a finish just as smooth and durable as it is gorgeous. READ REVIEW
Terms Defined for Picking the Best Paint for Cabinets
Leveling – The ability of the paint to smooth out even over surface defects. This is especially important when trying to find the best paint for oak cabinets.
The Top 10: What is the Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets?
According to my blind tests, this formula excelled in every area. Benjamin Moore Advance is a high-quality waterborne alkyd paint meaning it has the positives of oil-based paints in a water-based formula.
The Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets – The Full Results
Here is all the data from the cabinet paint testing. Be sure to check out the video to see exactly how I tested to find the best paint for cabinets. If you have trouble seeing it, you can find it here as well: The Best Paint for Cabinets, YouTube Video
Why I Wanted to Find the Best Brand of Paint for Kitchen Cabinets
When we first got married 18 years ago (that makes me feel so old) one of our first projects was to paint our kitchen cabinets?
How Do You Make Old Cabinets Look Modern?
If you have orange honey-oak cabinets in your kitchen like I do, there are more than two main problems. Yes, they are orange, but also most oak cabinets have a very open grain which means they don’t have the smoothest, most modern-looking finish.
What is the best paint for kitchen cabinets?
While oil-based paints make a case for themselves with their reputation for easy application and a long-lasting finish that can be scrubbed and cleaned regularly, latex paint is widely regarded as the best choice for most kitchen cabinets, since it offers lower levels of VOCs and is quicker to dry.
Why is it important to choose the right paint finish for kitchen cabinets?
Choosing the right paint finish for kitchen cabinets is important since it affects how durable your cabinets will be in the long run. Cabinet doors and drawers are subject to touching, pulling, slamming, and more, while shelves routinely have objects being slid in and out.
What are the effects of oil based paint?
Oil-based paints release volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, in higher numbers than other paint options. VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, and other long-term effects .
How long does it take for oil based paint to dry?
For one thing, while it goes on smoothly, oil-based paint takes a long time to dry in between coats—up to 16 hours. Without good air circulation (which can be hard to come by in a kitchen), you may end up waiting days for the paint to dry.
Which is more durable, glossy or gloss paint?
This will be the shiniest of your paint choices and is a great option for especially bold cabinet colors or super modern kitchens. Gloss paint will also be the most durable, due to the fact that more resin and binders are used in formulating glossy paint, giving the paint more of a hard "shell.".
Can you wash latex paint on wood cabinets?
This is a must for a kitchen, so definitely look for a paint that is described as washable or scrubbable for your cabinets. If you’re painting wood cabinets, you'll need to properly prep the surface before using latex paint.
Do you need to sand laminate before painting?
To help, opt for a laminate-specific primer or paint. These products are specially designed to bond to the shiny surface of the laminate. You’ll still need to sand the surface before and after priming—make sure you use fine sandpaper and go at it softly to avoid sanding through the laminate surface.
What is advance paint?
Advance paint by Benjamin Moore combines the low VOCs of a water-based paint with the smoothness and durability of an oil-based paint in an alkyd-enhanced hybrid . Advance gives you a choice of finishes, including matte, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss.
What is Pratt and Lambert's hybrid enamel?
Pratt & Lambert’s entry into the hybrid enamel market is Aquanamel Waterborne Alkyd Enamel. With low VOCs and soap-and-water clean-up, you won’t believe the flow and leveling capacity of this paint. Formulated to withstand abuse, it is a perfect match for high-traffic kitchen cabinet doors and frames. This paint works best over primed surfaces and comes in satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Learn how to spray paint kitchen cabinets.
What is Sherwin Williams trim?
As one of Sherwin-Williams’ newest formulations, the Emerald line of water-based paints is described as “a finish that withstands wear and tear and goes on in fewer coats.”. Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel comes highly recommended from professionals for painting kitchen cabinets, ...
Can you paint kitchen cabinets with urethane trim?
Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel comes highly recommended from professionals for painting kitchen cabinets, but they warn that using the wrong brushes and rollers or poor technique yields subpar results with spotty coverage and brush marks.
Is Behr paint good for kitchen cabinets?
It’s clear that paint companies have focused on developing hybrids and Behr offers a good one for painting kitchen cabinets with its Urethane Alkyd Enamel paint. Behr recommends this paint for a variety of surfaces, and its durable, flawless finish is perfect for cabinets. And, it is available in both satin and semi-gloss. How to remove paint from wood surfaces and restore their natural beauty.
Should You Paint Your Cabinets?
There are a few factors to take into consideration when deciding whether to paint cabinets. If your cabinets still have life in them, painting them is a more cost-effective option than replacing them entirely. However, if you have significant wear or damage to your existing cabinetry, it’s a good choice to replace them.
Replacing Cabinets
More customizable and modern options like glass inserts of soft-close drawers
Choosing Paint for Your Cabinets
If you decide to paint your cabinets, it’s important to properly prep them and choose the right type of paint to get the best results. Because most cabinetry has a smooth surface, it is difficult for certain paints to adhere to them, which is why more prep work may be necessary.
High Gloss
A high gloss finish is more durable and harder than other types of finishes, making this a good choice for cabinetry. Of all the finishes available, high gloss is the easiest to wipe down and clean. Using a high gloss finish will add more sheen to the cabinetry but is more prone to scratches and scuffs.
Semi Gloss
A semi gloss finish has less sheen than high gloss but still works well on cabinets that are frequently used because it is easier to clean than a flat or matte finish. Semi gloss paint still has a good amount of sheen and can make the color of the cabinets appear brighter and more vibrant.
Types of Paint for Cabinets
Learn about the differences between oil-based, latex water-based, and hybrid enamel paint to determine the best choice for your cabinetry.
1. Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paint (sometimes referred to as alkyd paint) is composed of either a natural oil (such as linseed) or synthetic oil (alkyd) as its base. Because the base is an oil, the paint can take longer to dry than other types of paint. However, once dried, it creates a hard surface that allows for more durability and longevity.
