Because cabinets are such a strong focal point in the kitchen, changing them up can transform the look and feel of the entire space. But new units can set you back thousands of dollars, even if you choose low-cost stock cabinets. The good news: If you like the layout of your existing cabinets and they’re structurally sound (no sticking drawers or doors falling off their hinges), you can achieve a new look for as little as $100 with a fresh coat of paint.
Certain cabinet styles and materials lend themselves to this project more than others, according to the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. The best candidates are wood cabinets with plain, simple fronts, often referred to as Shaker Style. Cabinets with a lot of intricate details and applied moldings will be harder to paint, and our pros don’t recommend this project for cabinets covered in plastic laminate or rigid thermofoil, since they’re difficult to refinish.
Assuming your cabinets are a good fit for the project, the critical first step is choosing the right paint. Through decades of paint testing, Good Housekeeping has seen steady improvements in paint performance, even as formulations become better for the environment. Our durability tests include the use of an abrasion machine to measure scratch-resistance and an accelerated weathering machine to see how well paints withstand fading from UV light. We also measure splatter resistance, dry time and smoothness. Meanwhile, our engineers study paint cans and spec sheets to understand chemical content, which tells them about toxicity and provides a better understanding of how much odor and emissions paints will give off as they dry.
What type of paint is best for cabinets?
It used to be that oil-based paints were the best way to get a durable finish for high-touch surfaces in the home, like cabinets and furniture. But water-based latex paints have gotten so much better over the years, without the heavy VOC content (short for “volatile organic compounds”) of oil-based formulas, even with the color tinting added in. “Any high-quality latex paint should work on cabinets,” says Gary McCoy, Lowe’s store manager serving the Charlotte, NC, market, with 8 years of expertise across all home improvement categories, including the paint aisle. McCoy adds that it’s important to “ensure the paint is acrylic, not vinyl.” Cheap, contractor-grade paints are often loaded with vinyl, which compromises their adhesion and durability.
There’s another option to consider, especially if your cabinets get a lot of wear and tear: hybrid alkyd enamel paints (a.k.a. waterborne alkyds). This is a newer category of paint geared toward professional painters, but consumers can find it too. “Hybrids bring together the best of water-based paints with the best of oil-based paint for a durable and glossy finish that’s water-resistant,” says McCoy. The downside to hybrid paints is that they tend to be pricey.
Whichever type of paint you choose, our engineers recommend going with a semi-gloss finish (as opposed to flat or high-gloss). The hard, durable coating will stand up better to staining, fading and chipping, and its shine makes it easy to sponge clean without the risk of dulling.
Here are the best cabinet paints you can buy in 2022:
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