How to Choose the Right Finish for Your Kitchen Cabinets: Gloss, Matte, and Specialty Options

 Kitchen Cabinets are the most significant element of a kitchen remodel and have the greatest impact on the final look and function of the room. They can make or break a design and should be carefully chosen to complement your lifestyle, space, and budget.

 Stains, glazes and paint

When shopping for cabinets, start by evaluating the quality of the manufacturer's workmanship and finishing options. Look at the finish color and sheen, as well as the surface texture. A higher sheen reflects more light and is easier to clean than a duller finish. Cabinets can also be finished with stains, glazes and paint to create different styles and colors.

 The standard format

The width, height and depth of a cabinet are usually listed in the standard format of "width-height-depth" — for example, 18x36x12. The dimensions are specified with the width first, then the height and finally the depth; they may be given as a single dimension (depth only), or a combination of three numbers (height, width and depth). A common convention is to specify upper cabinets with the width-height-depth sequence and lower cabinets with the depth-width-depth sequence.

Offer a wide variety of style

Some Kitchen Cabinets manufacturers offer a wide variety of style options, such as beaded inset doors and drawer fronts and classic paneling. Other manufacturers focus on functional features such as pull-out pantries, roll-out shelves and spice organizers. Still others concentrate on interior hardware, such as smooth-running, full-extension drawer slides with soft-close mechanisms to prevent slammed drawers.

Wood cabinetry

The materials that cabinetry is made from have a huge impact on its overall cost and appearance. Wood is typically the most expensive material, but it is also available in a broad range of styles and finishes. Wood cabinetry is usually assembled with wooden dovetail joints, which are strong and durable.

Solid wood cabinetry

Plywood, a composite of thin layers of wood veneer, is less expensive than solid wood cabinetry and is available in a variety of finishes. It is more stable than natural wood and is less prone to warping due to changes in humidity. It's also easy to paint, which allows you to match your cabinetry to your decor.

Conclusion

Solid-wood doors and drawer fronts are the most expensive option, but they add a high-end look to any kitchen. For a more moderate price, you can choose painted cabinetry that comes in a wide array of colors and finishes. Another inexpensive option is polyester, a vinyl that's vacuum-pressed onto cabinet door and drawer fronts constructed of medium density fiberboard. It's easy to clean and resists scratches, but it can stain if exposed to water. Particleboard and plywood are often used for cabinet backs, since they're more affordable than solid-wood options and are a good choice in areas where the cabinets will be exposed to frequent moisture.