Should You Stain or Paint Your Cabinets?

Your kitchen’s overall appearance is largely influenced by its cabinets, as these functional features occupy plenty of space. So, when it’s time to update, refresh, or overhaul your kitchen, you could do worse than to start with your cabinets. That said, as is the case with any home interior painting project, you might feel paralyzed by the possibilities. But before you even think about what colors and sheens to implement for your cabinets, you must decide whether to paint them at all or stain them instead.

Painting and staining are both viable options for kitchen cabinets, but your choice will ultimately depend on your preferences and needs. Let’s break down the pros and cons of these two coverage options to help you make the right choice for your kitchen cabinets.

Pros of Painting Your Cabinets

There are three major reasons to consider kitchen cabinet painting.

Bask in the Options

When it comes to variety, paint has stain beat by a significant margin. There are simply so many paint colors and finishes to choose from. If you’re looking to introduce some new color into your kitchen or perhaps match your appliances and/or furniture, paint will give you plenty to work with.

Modernize Your Home

Painted cabinets have also become the sleeker, more modern aesthetic. If you plan on selling your home, know that while plenty of prospective buyers like the natural look of stained cabinets, those seeking a modern look will appreciate the paint. And if you simply want to modernize your home for your own sake, painting your cabinets is a great way to start.

Conceal Cabinet Imperfections

Part of what makes painted cabinets modern and appealing to some is that any imperfections in the wood itself are easily covered up. Additionally, painting your cabinets helps hide dust, especially if you go with a lighter color.

Cons of Cabinet Painting

Painting your cabinets comes with some concessions, of course.

More Maintenance May be Required

Unlike stain, which seeps into the wood itself, paint rests on top, making it susceptible over time to peeling, cracking, flaking, bubbling, and more. These various forms of damage can be avoided and amended with the proper maintenance, so be prepared to stay on top of cleaning and touching up your painted cabinets if you go this way.

Cost Considerations

In most cases, interior painting contractors have to put more time and effort into painting cabinets as opposed to staining them. As a result, painting tends to be the more expensive option. If your budget is tight, keep this in mind.

The Upsides of Staining

If you’re not sold on staining, here are some benefits to think about.

Embrace the Natural Look

Staining your cabinets is a great way to maintain and emphasize the natural beauty that wood grain has to offer. If you want your kitchen to have this classic aesthetic, staining is a no-brainer.

Increase Your Home’s Appeal

On that note of classic aesthetics, a larger pool of prospective buyers tends to prefer traditionally stained kitchen cabinets. This, of course, varies from one individual to the next, but if you’re looking to boost your home’s appeal and resale value, staining may be the way to go.

Save Some Money

As mentioned earlier, staining your cabinets is typically cheaper than painting them. Of course, the cost difference will depend on the local painters you hire, where you live, the size and number of your cabinets, etc.

Cons of Kitchen Cabinet Staining

On the other hand, cabinet staining comes with drawbacks, too.

Fewer Options

You have some options when it comes to staining, but not nearly as many as painting offers. Generally speaking, with staining you’re stuck with some levels of transparency and opacity and minimal color variety. If you’re looking for more than that, you’re out of luck.

How Good is Your Wood?

Because stain reveals wood’s natural look, if you’re not happy with the grain, material, inherent color, etc., you might want to conceal your cabinets with paints instead.

Painting vs. Staining Your Cabinets: The Verdict

As you can see, there is no clear winner when it comes to painting or staining your kitchen cabinets. Rather, ask yourself what you want out of this project, and consider how these outcomes will affect your wallet, your home’s value, and your maintenance requirements. Whatever you decide, though, work with a Nashville painting company that specializes in both painting and staining and cares about quality. Either way, Nash Painting has your kitchen cabinets covered. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!