Cabinet painting and staining

When it comes to renovating your kitchen or living space, you may find yourself asking: Is it better to stain or paint cabinets? While both methods offer distinct advantages, they’re not interchangeable. The right choice hinges on your specific needs and preferences.

In this article, we help you understand the differences between cabinet painting and staining — from their pros and cons to their application processes. We explore how each method impacts a room and tell you exactly how you can decide which is best for you. 

Why paint and stain your cabinets?

Cabinet painting and staining is a good idea for many reasons:

• Aesthetic enhancement: When you paint or stain kitchen cabinets, you revitalize your entire kitchen. It’s an easy way to keep up with current trends or inject a space with personality without the cost of a full renovation.
• Protection and maintenance: Over time, cabinets suffer from wear and tear, including scratches, dents, or discoloration. Stained and painted cabinets conceal these imperfections and add a layer of protection that prevents further damage.
• Increased property value: Refinishing cabinets can improve the overall value of your home. Freshly stained and painted cabinets make a space feel newer and well-maintained, putting you in better stead with future buyers.
• Cost-effective: Compared with a full cabinet replacement, painting or staining is more cost-effective, especially if the cabinet structure is still in good condition.

Many signs indicate it’s time to consider painting or staining your cabinets. Pay attention to noticeable wear and tear, fading color, or water damage. You may also just want a fresher look. You can easily remedy superficial imperfections with a new paint or stain job.

Cabinet painting vs. cabinet staining: What’s the difference?

When deciding on a cosmetic upgrade, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of cabinet painting vs. staining. Cabinet painting and staining are two distinct processes that yield different results. Here are the factors that should influence your decision: 

What is cabinet painting?

Cabinet painting creates an opaque, solid color finish that completely covers the original wood grain and any areas of discoloration. It pairs well with minimalist cabinet designs, like slab or Shaker doors. 

Painting means you can choose from a wide range of colors and get a consistent appearance. Many prefer it for contemporary spaces to uphold sleekness and continuity. Painted cabinet doors are also popular to achieve bright pops of color in maximalist kitchens.

What is cabinet staining?

Cabinet staining involves applying a semi-transparent or transparent stain to the wood, allowing the grain and texture to remain visible. It’s best with decorative cabinet door profiles, like raised panels or cathedral doors. 

Staining enhances wood’s natural beauty while adding color and providing a more rustic appearance. It’s perfect for bringing a classic charm to traditional kitchens, making them feel warmer and more inviting. 

Pros and cons of cabinet painting 

Deciding whether it’s better to stain or paint cabinets requires knowing their unique advantages and drawbacks. Painting cabinets, for example, brings about significant changes in the appearance of your kitchen, but it may not be for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of cabinet painting:

Pros

• Versatility: Cabinet paint comes in an array of colors, providing the opportunity to match your cabinets to the overall style of your space.
• Modernity: A fresh coat of paint gives outdated cabinets a modern and refreshed appearance, instantly rejuvenating the entire room.
• Uniform finish: Painting creates a uniform finish that covers any imperfections, scratches, or discoloration on the cabinets’ surface, giving them a new lease of life.
• Increased durability: A good paint job that’s well-sealed adds a protective layer to the cabinets, making them more resistant to scratches, stains, and other damage.

Cons

• Time-consuming process: Cabinet painting takes time and effort. It involves thorough surface preparation, multiple coats of paint, and drying time between each coat.
• Potential for visible brush strokes: If not done correctly, visible brush strokes can spoil the finish and make it seem unprofessional.
• May hide natural wood grain: Painting cabinets completely covers the natural wood grain, which might not be desirable if you prefer natural wood.
• Cost consideration: While painting cabinets is cost-effective compared with replacement, it still requires investing in materials and possibly professional labor.

Pros and cons of cabinet staining

Staining cabinets amplify wood’s natural beauty while adding color and depth to the surface. Here are some benefits and drawbacks to staining your cabinets:

Pros

• Preservation of natural beauty: Staining lets the wood grain shine through, giving the cabinets a natural appearance that upholds traditional style.
• Variety of finishes: Staining offers a variety of finishes in different transparencies and hues. This opens up many customization options without sacrificing the classic appeal.
• Easy maintenance: Stained cabinets require less maintenance, as any scratches or signs of wear often blend in with the stain, making minor repairs less noticeable.
• Enhanced wood protection: Stains penetrate the wood, providing a protective layer that resists moisture, mildew, and UV damage. This increases your cabinets’ longevity.

Cons

• Limited color options: Stains have a more limited range of colors than paints, which restricts the level of customization if you want a specific color scheme.
• Less coverage for imperfections: Due to their transparency, stains don’t hide surface imperfections as effectively as paint.
• Potential uneven application: Achieving a homogenous appearance with stain may be challenging, especially if you don’t have experience, as it requires careful application.
• Vulnerable to sunlight: While some stains have UV protection, prolonged exposure to sunlight can still cause fading over time.

Cabinet painting process overview

Cabinet painting and staining require different application processes. While they start similarly with proper surface preparation (removing cabinet doors and hardware, sanding and cleaning), they involve different techniques and materials to achieve their respective finishes.

Here’s a brief overview of the cabinet painting process:

• Use a high-quality primer: This promotes paint adhesion and creates a uniform base for the paint. Make sure to choose a primer specifically meant for cabinets. 
• Stir the paint: Mix the paint thoroughly to ensure consistent color and texture. Properly stirred paint ensures evenly distributed pigments.
• Apply the paint: Use a high-quality brush, roller, or sprayer to apply the paint evenly. Remember that multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat.
• Application technique: Start with the innermost areas and work outward. Apply in thin layers for better coverage, allowing each one to dry before applying the next.
• Drying and curing: Let the paint dry thoroughly. Ensure cabinets are completely cured before reassembly. Until they are fully cured, they’ll be more vulnerable to scratches.
• Protect: Choose a sealant specifically formulated for use on painted wood surfaces. Popular choices include water-based polyurethane and acrylic or latex sealants.

Curious about how to paint a kitchen cabinet without sanding? Check out our resource that walks through this topic. 

Cabinet staining process overview

The first key difference between cabinet painting vs. staining processes is that the latter requires more careful consideration of the type of wood. While you can paint almost all types of wood cabinets, different wood species react differently to staining. For example:

• Maple stains well, and you can easily customize it to your desired shade.
• Oak has a more pronounced grain that looks best with a clear or light stain.
• Hickory has a tight grain that makes it difficult for stains to penetrate without rouging.

But the differences don’t end there. Here is a brief overview of the cabinet staining process and how it differs from cabinet painting:

• Condition the wood: Unlike painted cabinets, stained cabinets don’t always need a primer as many solid stains are self-priming — but you will need to use a wood conditioner.
• Apply the stain: After thoroughly stirring the stain, you can apply it. Use a brush or cloth to apply the stain evenly, following the direction of the wood grain.
• Application technique: Work in small sections to avoid drying lines. Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for the recommended time, usually five to 15 minutes.
• Wipe off excess stain: Using a clean cloth, wipe off any excess stain to achieve the desired color intensity. Always wipe in the direction of the wood grain.
• Allow drying time: Let the stain dry completely, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, before applying additional coats.
• Protect: Use a brush to apply a sealer evenly over the stained surface. Common choices include oil-based polyurethane, lacquer, and varnish.

Whether you paint or stain kitchen cabinets, remember to work in a well-ventilated area, wear appropriate safety gear, and consult the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Cabinet painting vs. staining: What’s right for me?

Whether cabinet painting vs. staining is right for you depends on your preferences.

We know that cabinet painting is an easy way to modernize your space, presenting an unbeatable range of colors for maximum versatility. Its opaqueness and uniform finish masks surface flaws while providing a smooth, continuous design. Cabinet painting has the added benefit of lending a protective layer to the wood and having an easier application process. 

With all this in mind, you should choose to paint your cabinets if:

• You want a wide range of color options.
• Your cabinets have visible imperfections.
• You prefer a simpler style over a traditional one
• You want a finish that provides increased durability.
• You’re DIYing the project and want an easier job.

Meanwhile, we know that cabinet staining enhances the natural beauty of wood, adding warmth and character. While it doesn’t offer as many colors as painting, there is still a large range of shades to match every taste. Staining requires less upkeep, as scratches are less visible. By penetrating the wood, stains also resist moisture, mildew, and UV damage.

Therefore, you should choose to stain your cabinets if:

• You want to preserve your cabinets’ natural grain and texture.
• You have little to no surface imperfections on your cabinets.
• You prefer traditional aesthetics over pared-back looks.
• You want a finish that requires less maintenance.
• You have the skill or budget to do the process properly.

Overall, if you want a complete transformation with a fashionable twist, cabinet painting might be your best option. But if you’re seeking to refresh your space without compromising the natural appeal of your cabinets, choose cabinet staining. 

Learn more with The Cabinet Door Store

Achieving a flawless cabinet painting and staining job requires knowing your needs, choosing the best materials, and having patience. Whether you opt for the elegance of stained wood or the fresh appeal of painted cabinets, this guide will help you transform your kitchen into an eye-catching space.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your cabinet renovation journey, The Cabinet Door Store is here to help. With a wide array of top-quality cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware available, we have the perfect solutions to elevate your cabinet project.

Explore our range of products today or contact our friendly team to find out how we can help you bring your dream kitchen to life.