You’ve made the decision to get custom cabinets, and you couldn’t be more excited. But it’s so hard to decide between colors and finishes! Should you choose that divine blue paint color you saw? Or would your kitchen look better with an elegant cherry wood stain? Then again, an antique finish through glazing could be amazing, too. So how do you decide? Here are five things to know about cabinet paints, stains, and finishes.

1. Paints Allow You to Choose Any Color

Out of all the options for finishing your cabinets, paints give you the biggest variety of choices. That means you can base your kitchen design on your cabinets or match your cabinets to your existing decor. Plus, it’s possible to match virtually any color, so you have a nearly unlimited array of choices. Whether you want a nice, neutral gray, modern white, or bold red, it’s easy to get the cabinets of your dreams. Remember, the final appearance of your cabinets will depend on the species of wood you choose. For instance, maple has a smooth finish when painted, while the wood grain on oak remains visible, highlighting its texture.

2. Wood Stains Accent the Natural Wood Grain

Wood stains accent your cabinet’s natural wood grain. They come in many colors and soak into the wood, so you never need to worry about chipping or peeling. It’s typical to choose natural wood colors, such as cherry, maple, or walnut for a gorgeous finish. At Edgewood Cabinetry, we have a wide variety of beautiful stain colors available, and we always stay on top of the latest trends. So whether you want a traditional reddish-brown cherry wood stain or an elegant weathered gray wood stain, we have a stain to match.

3. Glazes Create Complexity

Glazes create complexity and add character to your finished look. If you love rustic or antique cabinet styles, glazes are perfect for you. They are applied, then hand rubbed to give your cabinets the desired appearance. Glazes are also perfect for highlighting ornate details on your cabinets. Because of the labor-intensive process involved in hand-rubbed glazes, they are often more expensive, but they create a stunning finish.

4. Natural Finishes Are Perfect if You Love the Look of Natural Woodgrain

Do you love the way natural woodgrain looks, all on its own? Then, natural finishes are perfect for you. Natural finishes are achieved simply by applying oil or a protective coating to the wood. This allows the natural woodgrain to shine through in all its beauty. Wood can be sanded for a clean, smooth finish. Or leave features like knots and wormholes in the wood to show off its unique character.

5. There Are a Variety of Protective Finishes to Choose From

Cabinets typically have some sort of protective finish on them. This helps them last longer and ward off damage from things like humidity or scratches. Depending on the finish you choose, the protective coating may also add a beautiful sheen or gloss to your cabinets. Some common protective finishes include varnish, lacquer, and polyurethane. We can help you choose the best protective finish for your cabinets. That way, your cabinets look exactly how you want them.

6. Refinishing Gives Your Old Cabinets New Life

New custom cabinets are always nice. But if you have older wood cabinets that are still structurally sound, refinishing may be a good option for you. After all, older cabinets often have fine craftsmanship and historic charm. Plus, refinishing is an economical and environmentally friendly choice, too. With a little work, a new coat of stain or paint, and a protective finish, your old cabinets will have a fresh new look and continue to serve you well for years to come.

At Edgewood Cabinetry, we offer a wide selection of cabinet paints, stains, and finishes so you can get exactly the look you want. Plus, we make sure you’re satisfied at every step of the process. Contact us here to begin your next custom cabinet project.

Painted or stained is the usual choice when adding new cabinets to your home. Of course, you can go with unfinished, but most people go with some form of finish.

With stained, you keep more of a natural wood look, but painted cabinets give you more variety of color. So, which is actually best?

While there isn’t a definitive answer, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of both. In the end, it all depends on the look you want in your kitchen, bathroom or other rooms.

Flawless Or Flawed

If you want a more flawless finish, painted cabinets might be the way to go. Paint covers up the knots and blemishes in wood. Plus, if you want a clean, bright look, choosing a white shade of paint gives you an airy, classic that’s easy to decorate.

On the other hand, if you want to showcase the natural wood grain, you’ll want to choose stained cabinets instead. The stain adds color without hiding the wood itself.

Costs

For some, this may be the deciding factor between painted or stained cabinets. For instance, on KompareIt, having cabinets professionally painted costs $2,000 to $5,000. There’s more labor involved and you’ll need at least several coats. Plus, paint itself is more expensive.

Staining costs between $1,500 and $4,000. Naturally, both cost less if the painting or staining is done while your cabinets are being built.

Colorful Or Natural

This is usually the main deciding factor between painted or stained cabinets. Do you want a colorful kitchen or a more natural wood finish? As HGTV states, you have endless options for painting cabinets. Go as a timeless or as personal as you want. With staining, you’re limited to clear, light, medium and dark wood tone shades.

Fixing Knicks

One thing you should consider is how difficult knicks are to fix. No matter how careful you are, you’re going to knick the finish on your cabinets at some point. You don’t want to have to completely re-do your cabinets to fix the problem.

With painted cabinets, it’s a little more difficult because you’ll have to find the right shade. For white cabinets, this isn’t too much of an issue. For other colors, getting the perfect shade can be tricky. Plus, you have to ensure the patch is the same thickness to avoid a dimpled effect.

For stained cabinets, stain or wood colored markers allow you to quickly fix any knicks in the finish. Since the marker absorbs into the paint, much like stain, it tends to blend better for a more flawless fix.

Another thing to keep in mind is paint will gradually start to chip. It’s not a matter of if, but when. When done right, painted cabinets can last 10 years or more before they need to be refinished. Stained cabinets keep their color, but may lose their luster over time.

Changing Your Mind

Before you make any final decisions, think about how long you plan to keep your cabinets the way they are. If you want to change your look every few years, you’ll want to choose painted cabinets. It’s much easier to remove the paint and start over with a new color.

With stain, the color is actually absorbed into the wood itself. Your only option is to go darker if you want to change the color. Even sanding the cabinets won’t completely remove the stain color. Think of stain as a more permanent option.

Hiding Dust

Finally, consider how often you want to clean your cabinets. For this one, it’s not so much a matter of painted or stained. It’s about how light or dark you go. Darker paints and stains show dust much more. Lighter colors still get dusty, but the dust blends in more. No matter what type of finish you choose, consider how the color works with your room. You’ll likely have the look for years to come.

Still trying to choose between painted or stained cabinets? Contact our friendly team today to find out which works best for your needs.

Image: Charles Deluvio

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Cabinet Paints, Stains, and Finishes: 5 Things to Know