Choosing the appropriate paint type is crucial when painting cabinets. According to Stephanie Calderon, owner and main designer of Stephanie Calderon Interiors in Charlotte, North Carolina, prioritize functionality over your intended aesthetic. According to Calderon, her design company usually uses oil-based enamel paint since it applies easily and is frequently the most stain-resistant once applied. She says, “You can achieve most design aesthetics using an oil-based paint,” going on to say that if you’re looking for something more Decorative, you can go with a chalk paint for a more distressed look or an acrylic enamel paint for a slicker finish.

Barnard expands on that idea by saying that choosing resilient paint is crucial for longevity because kitchen cabinets are high-touch surfaces. “Many durable paint options are available in a range of finishes, although glossy paints are often noted for their resilience,” the author adds. One more crucial point to remember is that, although choosing low- or zero-VOC paints is advantageous throughout the house, according to Barnard, the kitchen stands to gain the most from these choices since it is a place used for food preparation and may see more frequent contact with painted surfaces than other rooms.

Numerous companies, including as Benjamin Moore and Behr, have unique paint formulations designed specifically for doors, cabinets, and trim. These formulations are simple to use and offer some self-leveling, giving the surface a lovely, smooth finish. However, any high-quality paint, whether it be latex or enamel-based, ought to perform admirably and be robust enough to withstand regular kitchen cleaning as well as everyday abrasion. Remember that a gloss or semigloss will give you the longest-lasting finish and will probably withstand scratches and cleaning better.

Regardless of how you choose to approach the problem of how to paint your kitchen cabinets, Barnard emphasizes the significance of testing paint samples “to see how it will look throughout the day and with the space’s lighting.” “To guarantee the desired look or feel, it’s also helpful to see how the paint color will interact with the existing materials in the kitchen,” she continues.