Stained vs. Painted Cabinets: Make the Best Decision for You

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Choosing between stained and painted cabinets is mostly a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer the classic, timeless look of stained cabinets, while others enjoy the modern look of painted cabinets. There’s no wrong decision, but before you select one type over the other, here are a few factors to consider:

  • Color Options- You probably won’t be surprised that painted cabinets provide a wider variety of color options than stained cabinets. You might opt for a white or off-white paint to give your cabinets a clean, simple appearance. Or you might choose something bolder to add a pop of color to a room. Even though you can choose practically any color with painted cabinets, stained cabinets offer lots of color options too, so you’re still sure to find a stain color you like if you prefer stained cabinets.

Stained vs. Painted Cabinets: Make the Best Decision for You

  • Texture- One of the main attractions of stained cabinets is that you can see the grain and imperfections in the wood, which provides a natural, homey look to your cabinets. On the other hand, you might prefer the smoothness and uniformity that painted cabinets provide.
  • Durability- We use only solid wood and plywood in all our cabinetry. One thing to keep in mind is that real wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity. Because the stain absorbs into the wood, it’s as not likely to crack as paint, which merely coats the wood.
  •  Maintenance- Both stained and painted cabinets are easy to clean, but they aren’t equally easy to touch up. Painted cabinets can be difficult to touch up, especially since you may have a hard time finding the same paint color that was used for your cabinets. Stained cabinets can often be touched up with a simple stain pen.