In this Guide
You may find that after years of use, your kitchen is beginning to look a little sad. That the once-upon-a-time grade-A wood looks like it’s seen better days. This is about the time you decide to do a little home renovation, and while that can be fun, it can also get quite pricey. A great way to make your kitchen look young again is to repaint your kitchen cabinets – it’s both cheap and easy to do! But with so many different paints available, how can you know which one is the best paint for kitchen cabinets?
For that, we’re here to help. We’ve scoured the market and found the best paint options for your kitchen cabinets. We rounded up some top-quality paints that vary in sheen, color, and style so that you can choose the one that’s perfect for your kitchen decor.
Make sure you read our essential buying advice at the end of our article, where we share the most important factors you should keep in mind when shopping for the best paint for your kitchen cabinets and what tools are needed!
Best Paint For Kitchen Cabinets Reviews
Low VOC
A bleached shade of aqua, Misty Morning will create a cool and expansive vibe in your space.
Matte sheen offers a subtle, flat finish and resists dirt with a scrubbable film for easy cleaning.
KILZ TRIBUTE Paint comes in four sheens and 100 classic neutrals and on-trend colors.
Up to 400 sq. ft. per gallon coverage on smooth surfaces.
The wide variety of colors and sheens will allow you to find the perfect option for your kitchen decor.
Kilz Tribute Interior Paint and Primer in One is our favorite choice for most homes, as this paint is easy to use, durable, and affordable all at once. The wide variety of colors and sheens will allow you to find the perfect option for your kitchen decor.
Pros:
The Kilz Tribute paint is very easy to use, as it’s both paint and primer in one. You won’t need to apply a primer first, which will save you time and money! The paint goes on the cabinets really easily and covers the base perfectly. You may need to apply one to two coatings based on the color and condition of the cabinets.
In fact, the Kilz Tribute offers great value for your money. It’s the most affordable recommendation on our list, but it’s also high-quality and durable. The company offers a limited lifetime warranty, as the color won’t peel off for years to come.
We chose the Kilz for most homes because they offer the greatest variety of colors and sheens.
This paint is also easy to maintain. The finish is mildew-resistant, which makes it great for the humid environment of kitchens. Plus, all the sheens are washable, so you can comfortably clean the cabinets any time they start seeming mucky.
We chose the Kilz for most homes because they offer the greatest variety of colors and sheens. You’re sure to find the perfect color for your kitchen decor out of their many options. There are over 100 colors available, with both classic and more trendy tones included. The four available sheens are eggshell, satin, matte, and semigloss. Based on whether you want glossy or matte finishes, as well as whether your cabinets are smooth or have some imperfections, you can choose the ideal sheen. (You’ll get more information on how to choose the perfect sheen in our buying guide!)
If you’re still not sure about which color is the best choice for your kitchen, Kilz has a cool solution for that! They offer color samples in 8 oz. containers or as removable Peel & Stick sheets, which you can apply on your kitchen cabinets to try out different color options.
Last but not least, the Kilz Tribute paint is low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), which makes it a safer choice for your family’s health, as opposed to high VOC paints. Plus, thanks to the low VOC formula, this paint doesn’t have a strong chemical smell.
Cons:
Keep in mind that the color may not be the exact tone that you see on the Amazon website. The shade may change based on the color of the base. To be sure that you get the exact color that you want, try out one of the color samples first!
- Plastic Gallon Jug - due to an metal can shortage, product may come in a plastic jug instead of a metal container
- Do not apply clear topcoats over bright white paint, as yellowing may occur due to a reaction to the substrate. Light color paints may also experience yellowing due to topcoat application, but it will less noticeable
- Extremely durable premium furniture paint with high adhesion rated for interior or exterior use.
- Apply over raw wood or prepped existing finishes. Perfect for upcycling and cabinet refinishing.
- Apply 2-3 coats by roller, brush or sprayer with an HVLP 2.0 tip. Water cleanup.
If your kitchen gets a lot of sunlight, and you worry that it may cause the paint to peel or fade over time, you’ll love the General Finishes Milk Paint.
The General Finishes Water Based Milk Paint has many merits – it’s high-quality, VOC-free, and super easy to use therefore being one of the best paint for kitchen cabinets. However, it’s our top choice for sunny kitchens, as it’s UV resistant! If your kitchen gets a lot of sunlight, and you worry that it may cause the paint to peel or fade over time, you’ll love the General Finishes Milk Paint.
Pros:
The General Finishes Milk Paint is very versatile. As it’s UV resistant, you can use it for the upcycling of both indoors and outdoors furniture. It’s the perfect choice for sunny kitchens and summer kitchens!
This paint is quite easy to use. As it has a liquidy texture, you can either apply it by hand or spray it onto your kitchen cabinets. Plus, since it’s water-based, it will be easy to clean up after painting.
The ingredients of the General Finishes make it a safe choice. It’s free of VOC colorants, which means that it will not have any adverse effects on your family’s health.
As it’s UV resistant, you can use it for the upcycling of both indoors and outdoors furniture.
Additionally, the formula of the paint makes it high-quality and durable. The formula is largely based on minerals, which allow this paint to adapt quite well to different kinds of wooden cabinets. The UV resistance will ensure that the paint doesn’t fade over time.
If you prefer a low-luster sheen, you’ll love the General Finishes. In fact, the product is named “Milk Paint” because leaves a flat rather than a glossy finish.
The General Finishes Milk Paint comes in 33 color options. If you’re on board with the low-luster sheen, you’re sure to find the perfect General Finishes color for your new kitchen look.
Cons:
One drawback of the General Finishes Milk Paint is that it’s a bit pricey.
- GREAT RESULTS - Superior coverage, usually 1 to 2 coats with Amazing adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces; little-to-no prep work required (just clean first)
- FURNITURE, CABINETS & MORE- Formulated specifically for furniture, cabinets & home decor; can be used for craft and art projects as well
- INTERIOR / EXTERIOR- Works great for interior and exterior projects alike. For exterior projects, simply use a marine finish topcoat like our Polytique It before applying the clear wax
- SILKY CHALKY SMOOTH FINISH- Dries within 30 minutes to a contemporary finish with our clear wax or a chalky matte finish that is easy to distress (if desired), yet exceptionally durable
- ECO-FRIENDLY & SAFE TO USE - Low Odor. Ultra-low VOC, hypoallergenic with virtually no smell
The secret that makes the Retique It look so good on wood is that it contains wood itself!
The Retique It Renaissance Furniture Paint is our top quality recommendation, as it offers excellent coverage, it’s easy to apply, it’s non-toxic, and leaves a perfect silky-wooden finish. A secret that makes the Retique looks so good on wood is that it contains wood itself!
Pros:
You’ll love the gorgeous new look of your kitchen cabinets that only the Retique It can bring to the table. The paint leaves a silky-smooth, chalky finish that makes kitchen cabinets look genuinely wooden, and that’s because over 70% of this paint is wood. The paint contains tiny particles of recycled wood which will make the new coating seem fresh and authentic.
We also chose Retique It as our top quality recommendation because it offers superior coverage. Even though it’s water-based paint, one coat is usually enough to prevent any grain from rising. However, if you want to emphasize the raised grain, you can add a second coat of paint, using the same color or mixing it up with a different one!
Even though it’s a water-based paint, one coat is usually enough to prevent any grain rising.
The Retique It is really easy to use. You can simply apply after carefully cleaning your kitchen cabinets. You won’t need to do any sanding, stripping, or priming prior to painting.
This paint is also easy to maintain. It’s quite long-lasting and washable, so you will be able to clean it using water and soap.
Lastly, this acrylic paint doesn’t contain any dangerous chemicals. It’s non-toxic and ultra-low VOC, which makes it safe for indoor use. This also means that it won’t leave an awful chemical smell that will linger for days.
Cons:
One thing to keep in mind is that this paint may be a bit thick, but this can easily be remedied by adding a little bit of water to it.
Also, the Retique is the priciest option out of our recommendations, so it may not be the best choice if you’re on a tighter budget.
Conclusion
Our top recommendation for most people is the Kilz Tribute paint. This paint is durable, easy to maintain, and quite versatile. The broad selection of colors and sheen options will allow any homeowner to find the perfect fit for their kitchen refurbishing. Plus, the Kilz is the most affordable paint on our list, so that anyone on a tighter budget can purchase it. The Kilz Tribute is low VOC, as is the case with all of our recommendations.
The best choice for kitchens that bathe in sunlight is the General Finishes Milk Paint. This paint is UV-resistant and won’t allow the new color of your kitchen cabinets to fade from the sun. Plus, the General Finishes is super easy to apply, as you can paint it or spray it on. If you’re going for a low-luster look, you’ll love the milky finish of this paint.
Our favorite high-quality paint is the Retique It Renaissance Furniture Paint. The wood-based acrylic formula will give an authentic and fresh look to your old wooden cabinets. The silky finish is easy to clean and maintain, and won’t lose its luster for years to come.
Choosing The Best Paint For Your Kitchen Cabinets
If you still aren’t sure what paint to use for your kitchen cabinets, don’t worry! Just read on to learn the most important factors you should consider when choosing the best paint for your home.
Sheen and Color
There are various sheen and color options that you can choose from to achieve the perfect look for your kitchen cabinets. The Kilz comes in the most sheen and color options, the General Finishes offers a flat, milky finish, and the Retique It brings a silky, chalky look to the wood.
If your cabinets have more imperfections, a satin or matte finish will help hide them.
At the same time, consider the state of your kitchen cabinets when choosing a sheen. There are several sheen options: satin, eggshell, gloss, semigloss, and matte (flat). Satin is shinier than eggshell or flat paint, but the finish is more matte than glossy. If your cabinets have more imperfections, a satin or matte finish will help hide them.
Semi-gloss and gloss paint, on the other hand, have a much shinier finish, but they will also emphasize the imperfections on the wood. This makes them better choices for cabinets with smooth surfaces.
Ingredients
You and your household will be exposed to whatever ingredients come in your paint, so double-check the ingredients of your paint of choice. VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are harmful chemicals that emit gases from some liquids, such as paint (1).
Make sure that the paint you choose is low-VOC or VOC-free.
A lot of paints come with VOCs, and they are also the reason why some paints have a strong chemical smell. Make sure that the paint you choose is low-VOC or VOC-free. All of our recommendations satisfy this criteria!
FAQ
Q: What sheen is best for kitchen cabinets?
A: The best sheen for kitchen cabinets is generally considered to be satin. This is because satin is the easiest to clean, and shows the least imperfections, dirt, and grime.
Q: What is the most popular color for kitchen cabinets?
A: The most popular color for kitchen cabinets is white. According to a survey conducted among American homeowners, 43% chose white cabinets, 25% chose wood cabinets, and 11% opted for gray cabinets.
Q: How can I paint my kitchen cabinets without sanding?
A: You can roller, brush or spray paint your kitchen cabinets without sanding by cleaning them thoroughly and making sure you remove any dirt, grease, and grime.
What’s Next?
We hope that you were able to find the best paint for your kitchen cabinets amongst our recommendations. At the very least, you should now have a better idea of what you’re looking for! To get more details about each of our recommended paints, click on their title links to learn their price, specifications, and customer reviews.
Make sure to check out our complete guide for the best interior paint for all your home-revamping projects!
