If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, RTA kitchen cabinets might already be on your radar. RTA (Ready-to-Assemble) cabinets offer a custom look at a much more affordable price. Since cabinets cover such a large part of your kitchen, their finish has a huge effect on the tone and style of the room. Whether you are aiming for a classic look or something more contemporary, the finish plays a key role. It also affects how your cabinets will hold up over time.
This is why the finish for your kitchen cabinets is one of the most important choices you’ll make when you’re planning your kitchen remodel. It’s a big decision, and it can feel overwhelming with so many options to pick from. Thinking about your home’s style and how you use your kitchen every day will help you make a smart choice, and this article will help put all these kitchen cabinet finish ideas into perspective.
Why Cabinet Finish Matters
The finish you choose for your RTA kitchen cabinets does much more than just provide color. It’s a critical layer of protection that determines how well your cabinets can withstand daily use. The finish acts as a shield, protecting the wood underneath from hazards like spills, grease, and even just the moisture in the air.
A good finish keeps your cabinets looking new for many years, even with all the activity that happens in a busy kitchen. It also affects how easy or difficult your cabinets are to clean. Some finishes can be wiped down in seconds, while others may require more careful cleaning to avoid damage. Picking the right finish is essential for the long life of your cabinets and for making your cleaning routine easier.
Durability and Maintenance
Durability is a major concern when it comes to kitchen cabinets. Your kitchen is often the busiest room in your home, and cabinets get a lot of use. A durable finish can resist scratches, chips, and fading. The right finish can also prevent moisture from getting into the wood, which can cause swelling or warping over time.
Maintenance is another big factor. A high-maintenance finish might require special cleaning products or more frequent wiping to stay clean. On the other hand, a low-maintenance finish can be cleaned with a simple cloth and some water. Narrow down your choices by considering how much effort you want to put into cleaning and care.
Popular Types of RTA Kitchen Cabinet Finishes
Each type of cabinet finish has its own unique look and feel, along with different benefits and drawbacks. Knowing these differences will help you narrow down your choices. You can find RTA kitchen cabinets in all these popular finishes, making them a great option for a beautiful kitchen remodel.
Painted Cabinets
Painted cabinets are a classic choice for a reason. They offer a clean, consistent look that can be customized to any color you can imagine. Painted finishes are great for creating a uniform appearance and hiding any natural imperfections in the wood. A good paint job is durable and can be wiped clean easily. However, a painted finish can chip over time, especially in high-traffic areas. You may need to touch up the paint every few years to keep your cabinets looking their best.
As for specific colors, white and grey are always popular, with a fresh look that never goes out of style. However, other colors have shown up in recent kitchen cabinet trends, including both light, airy colors and dark, saturated ones. Greens include soft sage and bold hunter or forest green and everything in between, while blues run from pale, sky blue to deep navy. Oranges and tans make an appearance too, with a range comprising light beige to rich, bright terra cotta.
- Pros:
- Wide range of colors available
- Smooth, sleek look
- Easy to clean and wipe down
- Creates a contemporary feel
- Cons:
- Can show chips and scratches more easily than a stained finish
- Small imperfections might be visible on the smooth surface
Stained Finishes
Stained finishes are perfect if you love the natural beauty of wood. Staining enhances the wood grain rather than covering it up. The stain sinks into the wood, highlighting all the unique lines and patterns, giving each cabinet a one-of-a-kind look. Stained cabinets are generally very durable and easy to maintain. Scratches and dents are often less noticeable on a stained surface than on a painted one. The main drawback is that the color options are limited to what the wood can handle.
Stained finishes come in many different colors, from light honey to rich espresso. They’re not meant to look specifically like a particular type of wood, but rather to create a warm, cozy atmosphere with natural colors.
- Pros:
- Shows off the natural beauty of the wood grain
- More forgiving of small dings and scratches
- Gives a warm, traditional feel
- Generally more durable against minor wear and tear
- Cons:
- Limited color options compared to paint
- Can look less uniform than a painted finish
Natural Wood Finishes
If you want to go a step further and really show off the wood, a natural wood finish is the way to go. This finish often involves just a clear coat or a very light stain to protect the wood without changing its color much. It lets the true, raw beauty of the wood shine through. However, keep in mind that natural wood can change color over time due to sunlight exposure. It also requires a high-quality sealant to protect it from moisture and daily wear. It’s important to use a finish that will protect the wood as much as possible, from both sunlight and other environmental factors.
The color of this type of finish relies mostly on the color of the underlying wood itself, but comes in tints meant to simulate different types of wood. You’re likely to find stains named after different wood types, like maple, cherry, or walnut, as opposed to other stained finishes named after things like espresso. It’s usually pretty easy to tell whether it’s a natural wood stain or not.
The pros and cons of a natural wood finish are the same as those of a stained finish.
Glazed Finishes
A glazed finish is often used on top of a painted or stained finish. It’s a semi-transparent layer that is applied and then wiped off, leaving some of the color in the grooves and corners of the cabinet door. This adds depth and character to the cabinet. A glaze can make a new cabinet look like an antique or can simply highlight the intricate details of a cabinet door.
The pros and cons mostly depend on the main finish beneath the glaze. The thing to keep in mind is that the wrong glaze can just make your cabinets look dirty instead; e.g. a yellowish glaze on a white cabinet can resemble nicotine stains! Fortunately, RTA cabinets are available with glazed finishes already picked out by designers who have considered this possibility, so you’re at a low risk of accidentally making a poor choice of glaze.
Laminate and Thermofoil
These are not traditional wood finishes and are not recommended for longevity, but they’re worth explaining for the curious kitchen designer. Laminate and thermofoil are types of synthetic coverings applied to a cabinet’s surface during manufacturing. They’re known for being budget-friendly and very easy to clean, and they offer a wide variety of colors and patterns, including some that mimic the look of wood. But keep in mind these “finishes” are essentially skins molded onto the surfaces of a material like MDF or particle board, which can be both weaker and heavier than traditional wood and plywood.
A deep scratch in a wooden cabinet might be ugly, but it can be filled in and concealed without much affecting the cabinet. But a deep scratch in laminate or thermofoil cannot be fixed the same way and will allow moisture inside, harming the cabinet’s structural integrity. They are tough and resistant to scratching, but the point is that damage that wouldn’t affect the usefulness of a wooden cabinet can destroy one of these. Once this type of finish is damaged, it’s only a matter of time until the cabinet needs to be replaced, and for this reason homebuyers often assume they’ll need to install new cabinets anyway as soon as they move in. Realtors will happily present wood cabinets as a bonus in a home for sale, but never these.
- Pros:
- Very durable and scratch-resistant
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain
- Affordable option
- Resists moisture well
- Cons:
- Cannot be refinished or repainted
- Can peel or crack with exposure to high heat
- May not have the same rich, natural feel as wood
- Not commonly available in RTA format
- If it does get damaged, the end is near for that cabinet
- Do not add value to your home
Matte, Satin, or Glossy Sheen?
Once you have an idea of the type of finish you want, you need to decide on the sheen: how shiny do you want your cabinets to be? The sheen refers to how much light the finish reflects and also slightly affects its texture. It can completely change the look and feel of your cabinets.
The three main types of sheens are matte, satin, and gloss, with semi-gloss being a fourth type that falls mostly into the gloss category.
Matte Finishes
Matte finishes are very popular in today’s kitchens. They have a flat, non-reflective surface that looks very smooth and sophisticated, and hides imperfections and smudges better than shinier finishes — a huge plus for a busy, messy kitchen. Matte cabinets create a soft, understated look that feels calm and elegant, making them a great option for those who want a minimalist feel. However, matte finishes can be a little harder to clean if something really sticky gets on them. You have to be careful not to scrub too hard and leave a shiny spot.
Satin Finishes
Satin is the most popular sheen for kitchen cabinets, and for good reason. It offers a nice balance between matte and gloss. It has a soft, subtle sheen that reflects some light but not too much. This makes it a great choice for hiding minor flaws in your cabinet surfaces. Satin finishes are also very easy to clean and maintain. They look great in almost any style of kitchen, from traditional to contemporary. If you are unsure which sheen to choose, satin is often the safest and best option. It’s a very versatile and forgiving finish.
Semi-Gloss and Gloss Finishes
Gloss finishes have a very shiny, reflective surface that can make a kitchen feel bright, spacious, and fresh (provided the glossy surface itself is free of smudges). Because they’re so smooth, they’re incredibly easy to clean. A quick wipe with a damp cloth is all it takes to make them shine. However, their high reflectivity means they show every single fingerprint, smudge, and imperfection, which can be a lot to handle for some households. Glossy cabinets can also produce glare in kitchens that already receive lots of light.
Semi-gloss is a compromise that sits between gloss and satin. It has most of the benefits of gloss, but with the shine toned down, which also somewhat reduces the drawbacks. Its popularity varies when compared to satin, but it’s a safe bet too.
Understanding Your Kitchen’s Style
Is your home a cozy farmhouse? Maybe it's a sleek, modern condo. Before you even start looking at finish samples, take a moment to consider your kitchen's style. The finish you choose should fit in with the rest of your space. For example, a rustic, stained wood finish might look out of place in a minimalist kitchen with clean lines. On the other hand, a high-gloss white finish might feel too stark in a traditional home. Your kitchen cabinets are the focal point of the room, so their finish needs to complement everything else. It should work well with your floors, countertops, and even the color of your walls.
Matching Finishes to Your Decor
When you’re in the kitchen, you’re going to see cabinets almost everywhere you look. So it makes sense that your cabinet finish should act as a bridge between all the different elements in your kitchen. If you have warm wood floors, you might want a cabinet finish that has similar warm undertones. If your countertops are a cool-toned gray, a cabinet finish in a similar cool shade might look great. Focus on the overall feeling you want to create. Do you want your kitchen to feel light and airy, or cozy and inviting? A light-colored finish can make a small kitchen feel bigger, while a dark finish can add a sense of luxury and depth.
How Light Affects Cabinet Finishes
Lighting is another huge factor in kitchen design planning. How much natural light does your kitchen get? In a kitchen with a lot of natural light, a darker finish can feel rich and dramatic. It can tone down an overly bright room. But in a kitchen with little natural light, a lighter finish is often the better choice because it will help reflect what little light does come in.
The sheen matters as much as the color. A glossy finish will reflect a lot of light, which can make a room feel brighter, but it can also show every fingerprint and smudge. Gloss can even reflect too much light, causing a glare. A matte finish absorbs light, giving a softer, more subtle look.
Light affects everything in how your kitchen looks, and you can’t assume otherwise. A finish that looks perfect in a showroom might look completely different in your home. Light also changes throughout the day, so you want to make sure the cabinets look good at all times. This is why you should take any opportunity to use cabinet door samples when you’re choosing your cabinets.
Durability and Maintenance Tips
Since kitchens see so much use, durability is often the most important factor when choosing a cabinet finish. When it comes to resisting scratches and dings, stained finishes often perform better because the imperfections tend to blend in with the natural wood grain. Painted finishes are more likely to show chips, especially in high-traffic areas. However, cabinet paint is getting stronger every year because of manufacturers who specifically want to toughen it up for hard-living kitchens, so don’t assume every painted cabinet is going to chip. Sherwin-Williams is relentlessly tough, as an example of a brand that provides durable cabinet finishes for kitchens.
Cleaning is another key aspect. Generally, smooth finishes like paint, laminate, and thermofoil are the easiest to wipe down. A simple wipe with a damp cloth is all you need to remove spills and splashes. While a stained wood finish can be cleaned easily, you may need to be a little more careful to avoid damaging the wood. A cloth dampened with plain water is still the usual solution, but you have to be faster and more thorough when cleaning up spills and drying the surface afterward.
Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Finish
Let’s look back at what I covered in this article: durability, color, mood, style, and lighting all come into play when you choose your cabinet finish. A finish will look different depending on whether your kitchen gets a lot of sun, is lit by overhead lights, or has no windows at all. A dark, matte finish might make a small, dimly lit kitchen feel even darker, while a bright, glossy finish can help reflect light and brighten up the space. Consider the long term as well: while it can be fun to follow trends, a timeless finish will likely make you happy for many years. Finishes like a classic white paint or a rich wood stain are trends that come and go, but never truly disappear.
The best thing you can do is to get cabinet door samples to experiment with in your kitchen. Looking at a small picture online is not the same as seeing the actual finish in your own home. The color can look very different in person, especially with your unique kitchen lighting. Nothing compares to seeing a sample of an actual finished cabinet, holding it in your hands, and being able to place it directly into the kitchen to see it next to your paint, countertops, and everything else. Leave any samples out in your kitchen for at least a full day so you can see how it all looks in different lighting as the sun changes position through the hours.
Choosing Your Finish with Confidence
Now that you have a better understanding of all the different finishes, you’ll have an easier time making your final decision. You’ll need to decide on painted vs stained cabinets and a matte vs glossy cabinet finish. Remember to consider your kitchen’s style, the amount of light it gets, and your household’s needs. Look at samples in person if you can, and see how they look in your own home’s light. This will help you get a real feel for the finish. You can find high-quality RTA kitchen cabinets in a variety of finishes that will look great and last for years.
Choosing the right finish for your RTA kitchen cabinets is a blend of personal taste and practical considerations. The finish is more than just a color, it’s an important part of your kitchen's overall design and function. We have a huge selection of cabinets in different finishes at RTA Kitchen Cabinets Online, and you can browse among them on our website or contact us directly for expert advice. With so many options, you’ll be able to find a finish you love that will last for many busy years.
