If you’re interested in updating your cabinets, you’re not alone. According to Mordor Intelligence, it’s estimated that $78 billion is the current value of the U.S. kitchen cabinet market. When your kitchen could use a refresh, but you don’t need a full-scale renovation, updating your cabinets can do the trick. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this, either by refinishing or repainting them.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between these two methods so that you can determine which one is right for your needs. Cabinet painting has evolved quite a lot in recent years, with certain paints specially designed just for the project. There are advantages to both methods, so it typically comes down to the final look that you’re going for.
Cabinet Refinishing Basics
This type of project is pretty much as the name suggests. Your contractor will need to clean out your cabinets to prime and then stain them. It’s a less involved project than replacing your cabinets, but it is more labor-intensive than having your cabinets painted. If you want to have the same color family as the cabinets are now, the process will be more straightforward. If you want to completely change the look, it’s typical to have the entire cabinet system refinished, including the box and doors.
If you’re pleased overall with your wood cabinets, but they just need a refresh, restaining is the way to go. If your cabinets aren’t wood, then you’ll need to go with a painting process. This option is further limited by the types of stains that are available. Once the contractor preps the cabinets, you’ll be able to choose either the same stain color or a different one. When cabinets are fully primed, you’ll be able to choose a lighter or darker stain without any problems or issues.
What You Need to Know about Cabinet Painting
Cabinet painting is a completely different process from refinishing your cabinets. When you opt for painting, you’ll have a lot more choices available to you. There are some color combinations available where you can choose to paint just the doors. However, most homeowners opt to have the entire cabinet system painted. Your contractor can choose to remove the cabinets to paint them or take care of the job with them in place. Priming is usually necessary, especially if your cabinets currently have any type of finish or varnish on them.
Once the doors have been removed and the material has been primed, it doesn’t take long to complete the job. Painted cabinets are a popular choice for homeowners who feel limited by the options that wood cabinets offer. When you choose to paint your cabinets, you can also have your contractor use decorative finishes or textured paints to expand the possibilities even further. Many homeowners prefer painted cabinets because it gives them a wide range of decor and interior design choices that are appropriate for a lot of different styles and preferences. If you like to stay on trend, painted cabinets are an effective way to do so.
Timeline for Both Methods
The number of cabinets that you’re having altered will have a large impact on the amount of time that it takes to complete your job. In most cases, repainting requires a much shorter timeline than a refinishing project. And once your cabinets have been primed for the job, it’s much easier to update them again in the future. If you have a reason why you need this part of your kitchen updated in a compressed timeframe, painting is the right choice.
If you have wood cabinets and that’s the overall look that you like and want to keep, then refinishing is the way to go. Wood cabinets give kitchens a traditional look that is well-matched to many homeowners’ aesthetic preferences. If you enjoy your traditional kitchen, this is the route to take, even though it will likely take longer. Of course, there are many traditional kitchen styles that work well with painted cabinets, too.
In summary, if you want your kitchen done quickly, then painting is the way to go. It’s also the right choice when you want to have cabinets that have color rather than wood grain. Refinishing is perfect for anyone who loves the look of their cabinets but thinks they need a refresh.
Materials Needed
Unlike ordering brand-new custom cabinets, you won’t need to worry too much about materials when you’re redoing your current cabinets. Your contractor will need to have either paint or stain and in many cases primer or sanding equipment. It’s up to you if you want your current cabinets totally stripped, or if a primer will suit your purposes. When you work with a professional contractor, a lot of these questions are answered for you. Other materials that will be necessary to include any hardware that you want.
Whether you decide to refinish or paint your cabinets, updating the hinges and hardware is another way to upgrade their look. Visible hinges can be refinished to further give your cabinets a new look. Painted hinges are another possibility. One of the fun parts of any home upgrade project is the small changes that have a big impact. If you’re creating a new kitchen and your cabinets are a part of these changes, new hardware or pulls on your cabinets will help to complete the look. It’s a fun way to incorporate your personality and design preferences into the final look of your cabinets and kitchen.
Final Results
Cabinets take up a lot of visual real estate in your kitchen. You may not realize how much so until you work to upgrade them! Once you have the cabinets either refinished or painted and everything back in place with its new hardware, the change will be substantial. If you choose to refinish the cabinets in the same stain, the change will be in how fresh and updated they look. The change is even more substantial when, for example, you go from a light oak stain to one that’s dark walnut.
The final results from your painting project will depend a lot on the choice of color that you made. White cabinets will completely transform the look and feel of the kitchen. Navy blue or darker cabinets will give the space a more formal and cozy feel. How the final look feels will have a lot to do with the color. Tan and yellow cabinets will have less of an impact than those that are glossy black or bright white.
You’ll be amazed by just how wonderful your kitchen looks no matter what color or stain you decide to go with. Now’s an ideal time to reinvent your kitchen with updated cabinets. If you’re interested in cabinet painting to update your kitchen, JNG Painting & Decorating is the team to call. We provide the professional services you can rely on. Your kitchen will look transformed, and you’ll have much less disruption to deal with. You’ll be amazed by just how much of a difference this technique can make to the look and feel of your kitchen. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and schedule a custom quote for your project. We look forward to working with you!
