{"id":309,"date":"2025-05-28T16:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/?p=309"},"modified":"2025-06-25T13:39:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T13:39:13","slug":"what-kind-of-paint-do-you-use-on-cabinets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/28\/what-kind-of-paint-do-you-use-on-cabinets\/","title":{"rendered":"What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Cabinets?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re staring down outdated kitchen cabinets and thinking, <em>\u201cCan I just paint these and call it a makeover?\u201d<\/em>\u2014you\u2019re absolutely right. But the magic isn\u2019t just in the brush\u2014<strong>it\u2019s in the paint you choose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In this blog, <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">Unique Painting of Kansas City<\/a> walks you through the best types of paint for cabinets, what professionals swear by, and how to get a smooth, durable finish that\u2019ll last for years.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What Kind of Paint Is Best for Cabinets?<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11105 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"different painting colors with paint brush\" width=\"606\" height=\"319\" data-src=\"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/different-painting-colors-with-paint-brush-300x158-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>When painting cabinets, <strong>durability and finish<\/strong> are non-negotiable. The top options are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Acrylic-Alkyd Hybrid Paints:<\/strong> Water-based, easy to clean, and strong like oil. Dries smooth with great adhesion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Oil-Based Paints:<\/strong> Super durable but harder to work with (and clean up). Mostly used in older renovations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Urethane-Modified Acrylics:<\/strong> Great adhesion, less yellowing, and perfect for high-touch areas like cabinets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u00a0Pro Tip: At <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">Unique Painting KC<\/a>, we often use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.benjaminmoore.com\/en-us\/interior-exterior-paints-stains\/product-catalog\/awiap\/advance-interior-paint\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Benjamin Moore Advance<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherwin-williams.com\/homeowners\/products\/emerald-urethane-trim-enamel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel<\/strong>.<\/a> They offer that smooth-as-glass finish and hold up to kitchen life like champs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What Do Professional Painters Use for Kitchen Cabinets?<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11106 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"man-painting-cabinet-in-white\" width=\"605\" height=\"319\" data-src=\"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/man-painting-cabinet-in-white-1-300x158-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Pros know that not all paint is created equal. Here\u2019s what the team at <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">Unique Painting<\/a> reaches for:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Primer First!<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/zinsseruk.com\/products\/b-i-n\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zinsser BIN<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherwin-williams.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sherwin-Williams<\/a> Extreme Bond primer is a must before any color touches your cabinets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Top-Tier Enamel Paints<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.benjaminmoore.com\/en-us\/interior-exterior-paints-stains\/product-catalog\/awiap\/advance-interior-paint\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Benjamin Moore Advance<\/strong><\/a>: Waterborne alkyd formula, self-leveling, low VOC<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherwin-williams.com\/homeowners\/products\/emerald-urethane-trim-enamel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane<\/strong><\/a>: Durable and designed for wood trim and cabinetry<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.benjaminmoore.com\/en-us\/interior-exterior-paints-stains\/insl-x\/cabinet-coat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cabinet Coat by INSL-X<\/strong><\/a>: Designed specifically for cabinets, no topcoat needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Finish Matters (More on that below)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Should Kitchen Cabinets Be Painted Flat or Satin?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Satin or semi-gloss<\/strong>\u2014that\u2019s your sweet spot.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Flat or Matte?<\/strong> Nope. Looks chalky, stains easily, and doesn\u2019t clean well.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Satin?<\/strong> Smooth, soft sheen, hides imperfections, and wipes clean.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Semi-gloss?<\/strong> More reflective, shows more detail, but super durable and easy to maintain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Most of our clients in Kansas City choose satin for a sleek, modern vibe or semi-gloss for a crisp, classic finish.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Can I Paint Directly Over Kitchen Cabinets?<\/h2>\n<p>Short answer? <strong>Not if you want the paint to stick.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cabinets\u2014especially older or greasy ones\u2014need proper prep:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Degrease<\/strong> using TSP or a strong cleaner<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sand lightly<\/strong> to scuff up the surface<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prime with bonding primer<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Then paint<\/strong> with your chosen cabinet-grade enamel<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Skipping prep is the fast lane to peeling paint.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What Is the Most Popular Paint Finish for Kitchen Cabinets?<\/h2>\n<p>In Kansas City and beyond, <strong>satin and semi-gloss<\/strong> rule the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Most Popular Finish = Satin<\/strong>, because:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It looks elegant<\/li>\n<li>Doesn\u2019t show every fingerprint<\/li>\n<li>Cleans up easily<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Runner-up = Semi-gloss<\/strong>, great for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Families with kids (think sticky fingers)<\/li>\n<li>High humidity areas<\/li>\n<li>A polished, glossy look<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">Unique Painting\u2019s<\/a> Pro Picks for Kansas City Homes<\/h2>\n<p>If you live in or near Kansas City, these paint combos are top performers:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Paint Type<\/th>\n<th>Brand<\/th>\n<th>Finish<\/th>\n<th>Why We Love It<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Acrylic-Alkyd<\/td>\n<td>Benjamin Moore Advance<\/td>\n<td>Satin<\/td>\n<td>Smooth, durable, low VOC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Urethane Acrylic<\/td>\n<td>Sherwin-Williams Emerald<\/td>\n<td>Semi-Gloss<\/td>\n<td>High-traffic durability<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cabinet-Specific<\/td>\n<td>INSL-X Cabinet Coat<\/td>\n<td>Satin<\/td>\n<td>Great adhesion, self-sealing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Want to know how much it\u2019ll cost to have your cabinets painted by professionals? <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/how-much-should-i-pay-to-have-my-cabinets-painted-kansas-city\">Check out our cost breakdown here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/kitchen-cabinet-painting\/\">Learn more about our Kitchen Cabinet Painting Services<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Ready to Paint Like a Pro?<\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t just guess on what paint to use\u2014<strong>get advice straight from Kansas City\u2019s cabinet painting experts<\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">Unique Painting<\/a> crew will guide you from color to finish.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">Unique Painting<\/a> for a <a href=\"https:\/\/fbp.b14.myftpupload.com\/free-consultation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FREE quote and color consultation today!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Phone:<\/strong> 816-500-7759<br \/>\n<strong>Website:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/uniquepaintingkc.com\/painting\/\">UniquePaintingKC.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re staring down outdated kitchen cabinets and thinking, \u201cCan I just paint these and call it a makeover?\u201d\u2014you\u2019re absolutely right. But the magic isn\u2019t just in the brush\u2014it\u2019s in the paint you choose. In this blog, Unique Painting of Kansas City walks you through the best types of paint&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":314,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309\/revisions\/314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jmrealtytoronto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}