Paint vs. Stain: Kitchen Cabinet Renovation

When planning a kitchen cabinet renovation, it’s important to know the pros and cons of paint vs. stain. Whether doing it yourself or working with a kitchen designer and buying new, there are some factors to keep in mind.

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Color

Paint is a more popular finish within the past few years. For people that want a clean finish with a unified color, it’s the way to go. There are a myriad of colors and shades that can be achieved, making it a go to for anyone that wants a specific color for their cabinets. If doing it yourself, it can be tricky to prevent streaking and is less forgiving to mistakes.

If you are going for stain, keep in mind that there will be some discoloration from cabinet to cabinet. Even buying from a cabinet retailer, there can be differences in the color and saturation. Stain is for anyone that wants to emphasize the natural beauty of their wood cabinets. Being able to see the knots and grain in the wood, you are more focusing on the texture of the wood rather than the color.

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Durability

When it comes to durability, it really depends on how much wear and tear your cabinets are taking. Paint is known to have some chipping over time, and hairline fractures will be more apparent than with stain. It can be harder to touch up the color on painted cabinets as well.

Stained cabinets are said to be more durable and longer lasting – as much as 2-3 times as long as paint. It’s easier to hide small imperfections, having the different color variations in the cabinet. If there is a chip, it’s also much easier to fix using a touch-up marker.

Cost

If buying from a cabinet retailer, the cost of paint vs. stain is comparable, depending on the manufacturer. There really isn’t a huge savings on either side, but paint can be a bit more expensive. Some manufacturers will even let you pick any paint color from a paint store, and they will match it for an extra few hundred dollars.

When doing it yourself, it’s also usually more expensive to paint. Stain tends to go a long way, while paint may need several coats and generally costs more for supplies.

Cleaning

Painted cabinets will show more dirt which can be hard to get off. Everyday spots where hands open and close cabinets, food splatters, etc. are more prominent on paint. Stained cabinets hide more dirt, but may show more dust. Either style should still be wiped down regularly.

As we are going into a kitchen renovation, we have decided on blue cabinets and a stained island. The island will be getting a lot of use, including feet at the island stools. Considering that stain is more durable and hides dirt better, it’s a great option for a high traffic area.

Read: Home Renovation – What You Need to Know

One other thing to consider is your flooring. We are going to have hard wood floors in the kitchen, so if we stained the cabinets, I was afraid it would look like too much wood.

Going for paint, but still want a wood element? Try out butcher block counter tops. You can stain them and still achieve your wood look. Keep it to just the counters or island to mix it up a bit. Add some floating wood shelves for an extra touch.

With paint vs. stain in a kitchen cabinet renovation, it really is just a matter of personal preference. It depends on your style and what you are trying to achieve. Want a dreamy color with a finished look? Go for paint. Or do you love your wood cabinets, and just want to enhance their natural beauty? Staining will help you achieve that – and revamp your kitchen with a new look.