Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets (Professional Finish!)

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Hey friends! Today I am sharing the best paint for kitchen cabinets that we’ve yet to find for a truly durable, professional finish. I’m writing this with first-hand experience, having recently done a budget-friendly kitchen renovation. After making mistakes in the past with choosing the wrong paint and rushing the process (I’ll dive into this a bit later!), it was very important to me to get a professional finish this go-round.

After re-painting our kitchen cabinets, I have been blown away at the quality, durability, and professional finish of the paint we chose. This is the BEST, most high-quality paint we’ve found for kitchen cabinets, and I’m so excited to share it with you today. Choosing the right paint is truly the most pivotal part of re-painting kitchen cabinets and having a lasting, durable finish.

WHY THE RIGHT PAINT IS IMPORTANT:

When we moved into our home 6 years ago, we had never painted kitchen cabinets before. We were WRONG in thinking any paint that called itself “cabinet” paint would do. Kitchen cabinets get a TON of use, and are the center of the home (at lease they are in this house!). I am constantly cleaning off stuck-on food from little fingers, or the cabinet doors are getting opened and slammed into something nearby by someone 3 feet tall.

I thought “good enough” would be okay when we settled on a cheaper cabinet paint in the beginning and rushed through the process, but turns out… “good enough” starts chipping in our house just a few weeks in. If I could go back and tell myself ONE thing – it would be to invest in a quality paint upfront. No matter what.

Ultimately, we actually SAVED money by choosing a more expensive paint. As we had to use less paint, and will not have to paint again in the future any time soon!

HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS FOR A PROFESSIONAL FINISH:

I have a detailed tutorial written up on exactly how we painted our cabinets here.

In this post, I detail every step of the process! How we cleaned and prepped our cabinets, chose our paint color, organized, fixed any damage, sanded, primed, hid hinges, and all the supplies we used from start to finish.

But for this post, as this is about the paint and not the process – I will give you a quick run down of painted our kitchen cabinets. In short, because our wood cabinets had been previously painted, we had to clean our cabinet doors and sand them (not completely – but pretty well) before a fresh coat of paint.

To begin, you will need to make a plan for exactly what needs to be done to your cabinets. Maybe they have been stained or previously painted (ours were). They they are old cabinets and have damage and peeling/chipping. Your plan will change a bit based on the condition of your existing cabinets.

We used wood filler to fix holes and cracks. And then used a good primer (a strong binding primer) in order to make sure the paint truly stuck to that. I did multiple coats of primer, and multiple coats of paint!  I was not about to get lazy with this part. I wanted these puppies to last!

HOW TO GET A FACTORY SMOOTH PAINT FINISH:

The secret I found in this project, and maybe the most important step, is to use a high-quality paint with multiple coats of primer and paint. And to sand with a high-grit sandpaper in-between each coat for a smoother finish. It’s always a good choice to prime your cabinets for the best finish, and to use the RIGHT PRIMER. This is the oil-based primer we used. This, in my opinion, is a huge part of the excellent final outcome of our painted kitchen cabinets, and will give you the best results. 

We did use a paint sprayer for spraying the paint, and I believe for the smoothest paint finish possible – this is your best bet. But I have to say that the quality of the paint we used is so insanely good that even if it is rolled with a high-density foam roller – it will still look and feel incredibly professional.

Our color is Edgecomb Gray in a semi-gloss finish. I have a complete blog post written up on our color choice here.

Sherwin William Color Deck is amazing for helping you decide what paint color might work best for your home!

OIL VS. WATER BASED PAINT

Water-based paint, like its name suggest – uses water. It dries much faster, usually in a few hours, making it ideal for DIY’ing kitchen cabinets.

Oil-based paint, on the other hand, takes much longer to dry and has a very strong odor. These days, water-based paints are just as tough and do not turn yellow over time like oil-based ones can.

For painting cabinets, water-based paint is usually the better choice. It dries quickly, so you can finish the job faster, and it doesn’t have as many strong fumes, which is great for indoor projects. Newer water-based paints are really durable and give a smooth, shiny finish that’s just as good as oil-based paint.

WHAT IS THE BEST PAINT FOR KITCHEN CABINETS? 

Hands down, the best cabinet paint we’ve personally used is Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel. This is a quality water-based paint specifically designed for cabinets, trim, doors, etc.

The most important decision of the whole project is picking a paint that gives you a highly durable, professional finish.

Urethane-modified acrylic paint, like Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel, is an excellent option as it’s incredibly durable, resists chipping and scratches, and creates a solid, smooth look. It combines the benefits of water-based acrylics with the added durability of urethane resins. It’s also low-VOC and easy to clean, making it a great choice for kitchen use.

Another fantastic choice is acrylic-alkyd hybrid paint, like Benjamin Moore Advance. This paint mimics the strength and smoothness of oil-based paint but cleans up easily with soap and water. Plus, it doesn’t yellow over time. In my opinion, both of these paints will give you a beautiful, professional-quality finish, whether you’re spraying the paint or using a high-density foam roller.

This leads me to what we chose…

SHERWIN WILLIAMS URETHANE TRIM ENAMEL

Hands down, the best cabinet paint we’ve personally used is Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel. This is a quality water-based paint specifically designed for cabinets, trim, doors, etc.

I highly recommend pairing it with a high-quality primer like this one. This cabinet paint is a hugely popular choice for a reason. It is is SO high-quality that we ended up only using one can. You heard me. We bought two cans and only ended up using one! The paint is thick with incredible coverage, so a little really goes a long way.

The finished product with this paint is nothing short of professional. We have a rock solid finish (it is not chipping any time soon) and it is factory smooth. You’d truly think a professional painter did this for us! 

PROS OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS URETHANE TRIM ENAMEL: 

• Hard & durable paint finish
• Self-leveling for a smooth surface and sleek finish (it will even itself out from brush strokes, etc. and give a super smooth finish when dry). From personal experience with this paint, I used a paint sprayer, foam roller, AND angled brush – and because of how the paint self-levels, the finish is PERFECT for all.
• Moisture resistant 
• Fast drying time (significantly quicker than other comparable paints). This was a really big deal for me, as I was doing this myself, I did not have days to wait between coats.
• HIGH coverage (we needed WAY less paint than we thought we would need). Even with multiple coats!

I want to state that I do not recommend this paint lightly. This is the real deal, professional finish you’re looking for.  I went on a months-long deep dive in research for this project, and am positive I came out with the best product. 

WHAT ARE THE OTHER POPULAR CABINET PAINT OPTIONS?

BENJAMIN MOORE ADVANCE VS. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URETHANE TRIM ENAMEL:

To break it down, there are several well-known brands that have top contenders for kitchen cabinet paint. The other most well-known cabinet paint is Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint. When I was researching both Benjamin Moore Advance and Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel, I actually found myself torn in the beginning. Benjamin Moore Advance is a waterborne alkyd paint, which means it offers the durability and smooth finish of an oil-based paint but with easier cleanup and lower VOCs since it’s water-based. It has a much longer dry time than Sherwin Williams.

Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel is a water-based alkyd-urethane hybrid. It has the added toughness of urethane, making it more resistant to scratches and wear, which is great for high-traffic areas like kitchens. It dries faster than Advance, usually within a few hours, and reaches full hardness in about a week, which is significantly quicker. Both paints give a beautiful, smooth finish. BUT I needed and wanted a quicker turn-around.

Dry time between coats on Advance paint is 16 hours (compared to 4 for Sherwin Williams). THIS was a huge reason why I ultimately went ahead and went with Sherwin Williams. Painting kitchen cabinets is already lengthy enough without adding in days of dry time – whew! *insert sweating emoji.* 

BEHR CABINET ENAMEL:

The most budget, well-known kitchen cabinet paint is Behr Cabinet Enamel from Home Depot. I have personal experience with this paint as well, and I have found that Behr Cabinet Enamel almost always remains sticky feeling. We also had a terrible time with chipping when we used this for our cabinets. To Behr’s credit, the paint does *look* really nice and it is certainly cheaper. But for me, that’s where it ends.

For something that gets as much use as kitchen cabinets, I’d rather have them be as quality as possible and am now willing to pay up. If you’re on a tight budget and have to go this way, I strongly recommend sanding VERY WELL and applying multiple coats of a strong bonding primer first. 

Again, I have a VERY detailed blog post on exactly HOW we painted our cabinets here. The post you are currently reading is simply sharing our paint choice with you and why.

WHAT SHEEN IS BEST FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?

There are 4 different sheens to choose from for kitchen cabinets. Matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.  

We chose semi-gloss for our finish. The long and short of this though is that you would not be going wrong with either. Satin finish or semi-gloss finish are the best sheens for kitchen cabinets, as matte would not be easy to clean and glossy will show every fingerprint and smudge.

I personally love a semi-gloss finish, as it has a more durability and I find it the most professional looking finish (especially for older cabinets). Again, this is personal preference for me, as I know satin is a highly popular kitchen cabinet finish. 

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING BETWEEN MATTE, SATIN, SEMI-GLOSS, AND HIGH-GLOSS FINISH:

MATTE:

A matte finish is great for hiding imperfections and leaning towards a minimal or rustic looking. However, it’s not as easy to clean as other finishes, and tends to show smudges or grease more readily.

SATIN:

Satin is an understated look that is very popular right now. It has a bit of shine without being too glossy. However, because it is a lower gloss sheen, it is not as easy to clean as semi-gloss. 

SEMI-GLOSS:

Semi-gloss has a higher shine, making it a bit more vibrant and modern. The finish makes it a bit more durable and easier to clean. However, the higher loss finish also makes it harder to hide imperfections (ie. bumps in wood, brush strokes, etc.)

HIGH-GLOSS:

A high-gloss finish on kitchen cabinets creates a bold, modern look. For those looking for a statement finish with maximum shine, high gloss can make a stunning choice. The finish is incredibly durable and easy to clean, resisting moisture, stains, and dirt better than most other finishes. However, its shiny surface shows fingerprints, smudges, and scratches, which means it requires more frequent cleaning to maintain its polished look.

A great way to make your final choice for sheen is to have a sample of the right color mixed up in two different sheens. Test it on your cabinets and see how the light hits before painting your entire kitchen. 

Again, we ended up choosing a semi-gloss finish as I found it to be the best of both worlds (easy to clean with less fingerprints and smudges).

CONCLUSION:

• We chose Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel for our kitchen cabinets due to its quick dry time and durable finish.
• The best sheen for kitchen cabinets is semi-gloss or satin, depending on your preference. We chose semi-gloss.
• Take the time to prep properly, use high-quality products, and be patient with your process. You’ll have a stunning, durable finish that will last!
• You can find the tutorial for exactly how we painted our cabinets here.

Taking the time to choose the best paint for your kitchen cabinets is truly a game-changer. The professional finish you’ll achieve is worth every bit of effort, and the durability will give you peace of mind for years to come. Whether you choose Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel (like we did), Benjamin Moore Advance, or another high-quality option, make sure you follow the correct steps and do not rush the process. With the right paint and process, your cabinets will look brand new and withstand the test of time.

Invest in quality from the start. Trust me, you’ll be so glad you did! The power of paint is incredible, and our paint has absolutely transformed our kitchen. The durable finish has me positive that we will not see any chipping any time soon!

I hope this is helpful on your own cabinet painting journey! Best of luck, and happy painting 🙂
Courtney

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