Painted vs Stained Kitchen Cabinets

At the end of the day, the difference between painted and stained kitchen cabinets is simply the look. Painted cabinets are usually made of lighter-colored woods, such as maple, birch, or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Painted cabinets can look smoother and more uniform than stained cabinets, and come in a wide variety of colors. Stained cabinets, on the other hand, really showcase the patterns of the wood. Stained woods are a shade of brown, whether light or dark, and ultimately provide a different feel than painted wood.

Appearance Differences

As previously mentioned, the main difference between painted and stained kitchen cabinets is appearance. You may opt to go with one type of cabinet for the whole house or to mix it up between rooms. Painted cabinets are often better at fitting into more varied interior designs and styles. Stained cabinets, however, might pack a bigger punch when chosen for a certain space.

Stained cabinets’ main feature is a natural look. As their range only includes shades of brown, there is not much choice in color. Stained cabinets look best in rustic or old, cozy home aesthetics. Painted cabinets, on the other hand, provide a smoother look with more color options, as well as the ability to look distressed or weathered.

Painted cabinets are more popular, due to their adaptability when it comes to fitting into any part of your home. You can also achieve a different texture than wood through the many different finishes available. Painted cabinets can be sheer and smooth or not, and are often the safe and non-experimental move.

Though stained cabinets are less popular, they are actually much cheaper. This may be due to the fact that most houses are not looking to achieve a niche, rustic look. Rather, most homeowners strive for a futuristic or modern look. Regardless, a huge draw of stained cabinets is that with the almost-raw, natural stained wood present, you may find yourself closer to nature than you realize, creating a calm environment.

Want to Know More About Kitchen Cabinets?

We at Heiler Painting are experts in cabinet painting. Unless you’re going for a rustic look, painted cabinets are most likely the way to go, and we can help you with that! Please call us at 610-557-8485 to learn more!