SHOULD YOU STAIN OR PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS?
I love 1990s oak cabinets. Crazy right? I know that 90% of you are cursing your oak, maple, or cherry cabinets from the 90s and early 2000s, while the remaining 10% love them and wouldn’t let a lick of paint go near them! And it’s not that I don’t understand both sides of the story; I do, having oak cabinets in our own home. HOWEVER, not ALL wood cabinets are created equal.
Remember…
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Just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s good.
What does this mean?
It means that just because your cabinets are solid wood, doesn’t mean they actually look good (insert angry husband HERE).
Aside from perception, there’s often a gender divide regarding wood cabinets (or anything wood, really). Based on my experience, more men love to keep their wood cabinets, whereas many women are a bit more inclined to paint them. If I hadn’t encountered this literally HUNDREDS OF TIMES in my daily Color Consulting work, I wouldn’t mention it…some men are sensitive about their wood (wink wink).
3 REASONS YOUR WOOD CABINETS MIGHT LOOK OUTDATED
While all of this can be open to perception, perception MATTERS if you want to update your home, either for yourself or for resale. On the other hand, if you plan on living in your home forever and ever, amen, don’t bother with trends or care what other people think; well, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog post in the first place.
As for what makes a wood-infused kitchen look UPdated or OUTdated, it can be a combination of the items listed below – items that park a kitchen in a particular decade (i.e., the ’90s) or style. If you’re happy in the ’90s, do the Macarena, sponge-paint your walls, and fill your lil’ wood-lined boots. However, if you’re open to a new way of looking at things, keep on reading.
1. WOOD GRAIN, STAIN & STYLE
- If your wood cabinets have a strong STAIN/color, this can detract from any other beautiful features they might have.
- Wood cabinets with a strong GRAIN can overpower a space in their busyness and take away from the beauty of the wood itself.
- Sometimes, the STYLE of the cabinets (i.e., cathedral top), combined with a slightly overpowering stain or grain, can make them look less than their full potential.
The above can also be more noticeable in a home with updated finishes. For example, if your home has wood trim, your wood cabinets likely look more at home. However, if the surrounding trim has been painted and the cabinets have the above challenges to consider, they could look outdated.
Wood cabinets need surrounding finishes that visually support them.
Wood cabinets can also look dated based on the finishes directly connecting to them, such as the backsplash in this next kitchen…
There’s not a SINGLE THING WRONG with these beautiful oak cabinets – I wouldn’t touch them with a lick of paint! However, the slate tile backsplash, narrow door trim, and combined cabinets make the space look outdated.
A great update to the above space would be to keep the cabinets just as they are, and replace the backsplash with a soft, off-white subway tile – let’s give those cabinets something to play with! I’d also paint out the narrow wood door trim to match the wall color – I’d rather see it disappear.
2. YOU HAVE TOO MUCH WOOD
If you have TOO MUCH wood (ooooh the innuendos) it’s not always a good thing as one can easily dull the beauty of another (if they’re not carefully coordinated).
In this next kitchen, the cabinets are STUNNING, as is the flooring. However, they take away from each other as the flooring blends with the lower cabinets – they aren’t PLAYING with each other – they’re canceling each other out.
I’m not going to say it’s not PRETTY – it’s just toooo much wood, and neither finish is in its full glory.
However, couldn’t the same be said for the previous kitchen? Here it is again for quick reference…
What’s the difference between these two kitchens? STAIN.
The bottom has a far less bossy stain color on the cabinets and floor, whereas the other has some darn strong red-orange hues. So, while the cabinets, flooring, and trims in the last kitchen blend, the overall look is soft, rather than overwhelming.
Remember, this can all be open to perception. I’m here if you want to UPDATE your space; I’m not here to cater to personal preferences – that’s what my Online Paint Color Consulting is for (I mean that kindly – my blog posts are for the ‘average’ homeowner and are geared more towards mass appeal).
3. YOUR NEW WOOD FLOOR CLASHES WITH YOUR WOOD CABINETS
Nothing murders a perfectly good wood cabinet (or floor) like a mismatched wood partner. Many people update their wood floors without considering their wood cabinets’ undertones, grain, and specific needs – they’re only focused on putting in a more modern-looking floor.
In this kitchen below, there’s nothing wrong with EITHER wood finish, other than the fact that they clash with each other – visually devaluing the whole look…
In this situation, my client was replacing the flooring with something more muted and wanted to paint the cabinets to coordinate with the new flooring and granite countertops…
BTW, the modern choice for cabinet hardware is to have knobs on the doors, pulls on the drawers
While the gray-wash wood floor makes me nervous, the overall look adds to the resale value and updates the space.
As shown in the kitchen below, my clients chose a muted LVP floor, which clashes with the oak cabinets. Also, consider the direction of the grain/pattern in the floor and how STRONG it looks, competing with the smaller grain of the cabinets. And while they planned on painting the cabinets ANYWAYS, this is a great example of the type of mismatch I see ALL…THE…TIME.
Just for the record – I LOVE THESE OAK CABINETS! But the floor kills them.
Benjamin Moore White Dove, island Sherwin Williams Dovetail
After, painted cabinets let the space breathe a little, whereas before, it felt claustrophobic.
While I’ve advised MANY clients to paint their outdated oak cabinets, there have ALSO been many that I’ve advised to KEEP their oak or wood cabinets.
WHY?
Let’s chat briefly about what makes for a good wood cabinet…
WHAT MAKES A WOOD CABINET TRENDY OR WORTH KEEPING?
I might’ve had a conniption if my clients (below) had decided to paint their gorgeous wood cabinets. The connection with the floor is fabulous, and they were wise to choose dining furniture that kept the wood palette simple and consistent. MAD LOVE.
GOOD GRAIN,GOOD STAIN,GOOD STYLE.
I posted this next kitchen on my Instagram to get a read on whether my followers agreed with painting them or wished they’d been left original (it was a pretty close tie)…
While the hardware is a bit graphic, it’s part of the charm of this home!
But, before we get started, these two questions could make this whole process more to the point and touch on the LAST big consideration in your kitchen – STYLE.
1. WHAT STYLE OF CABINET DOOR DO YOU HAVE?
a. RAISED OR RECESSED PANEL/SHAKER
b. SLAB
c. ARCHED, CURVED, OR CATHEDRAL (either just the top edge or both top and bottom)
TOP LEFT raised panel – TOP RIGHT recessed panel – BOTTOM LEFT double cathedral – BOTTOM RIGHT arched
2. WHAT CONDITION ARE YOUR CABINETS IN?
There can be a big difference between cabinets that are in GREAT shape, those that need a little work, and which direction is BEST when it comes to stain or paint.
As it relates to your cabinets, which of the following applies…
a. They’re in GREAT CONDITION; they just need a basic cleaning
b. They’re in GOOD CONDITION but need some stain touch-ups and cleaning
c. They NEED SOME LOVE (refinishing of some sort needs to be done on a larger scale)
If your stained cabinets need some TLC, consider the cost/labor of staining vs painting. Also, decide whether the effort to refinish them is worth it if they will still look dated based on the other factors involved (hinge style/flooring/surrounding finishes/etc…).
Restaining cabinets is labor-intensive and expensive if you don’t do it yourself. Don’t get me wrong, painting is labor-intensive and expensive too, but it doesn’t hold a candleto restaining.
And in the end, if your cabinets don’t have the STYLE factors needed to look updated, a fresh coat of stain might not move you ahead – you’ll have done all that work for the same result – an outdated-looking kitchen.
DID YOU CHOOSE ‘C’ FOR BOTH QUESTIONS?
You’re welcome to do the questionnaire, but you may just want to scroll down to the ‘MOSTLY Cs’ section. That’s right; the above two questions supersede ALL OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW because if you have arched, curved, or cathedral-style cabinet doors, no stain color will update them.
And sometimes, even paint can only take them so far, but it can be a step in the right direction.
At the end of the day, if your cabinets need to be completely rehabbed ANYWAY, paint is likely the best way forward for an UPDATED MODERN look.
IS IT BETTER TO STAIN OR PAINT YOUR WOOD CABINETS?
After finishing this questionnaire, you’ll have a clearer idea of whether paint or stain is better for your kitchen cabinets. While this isn’t the holy grail for deciding what to do (you get the final decision), it will help you understand WHY stain or paint could be the best finish for you, your cabinets, AND your home – regardless of what’s trendy.
If we’re talking about what’s trendy in cabinets, and not considering much else, it would be painted cabinets (if you’re not buying new – if you’re buying new, both are in style). However, it’s not always about what’s trendy; it’s about blending smart update ideas with your personal tastes.
Pick the best answer for you and your cabinets (even if it’s not bang-on)…
1. WHAT TYPE OF HINGES DO YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS HAVE?
A. totally hidden
B. partially exposed
C. full-exposure (oh, you dirty bird)
2. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR STAINED CABINETS (referring to general stain color)?
A. kind of a muted ‘brown’ color with a bit of warmth/color, but nothing overpowering
B. a stronger warm tone, but it coordinates with the surrounding space (i.e., flooring/trim/furniture)
C. a strong yellow, orange, red, or pickled (pink) finish
3. HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON STAYING IN YOUR HOME?
A. we’re going to have to drag you out
B. you don’t know, maybe the next four or five years?
C. no more than one or two years
4. HOW UPDATED IS THE REST OF YOUR HOME?
A. it’s not very updated; it still has outdated wood-stained trims*, doors, and other finishes that could be updated – and you don’t plan on doing them all!
B. it’s somewhat updated, but you still have more to do, and you WILL be doing it!
C. it’s pretty updated
*Not all wood trims/doors are outdated, but those from the 70s/80s/90s tend to lean that way.
5. HOW WELL-COORDINATED ARE YOUR FLOORS & CABINETS?
A. they’re well-matched
B. they’re tile or vinyl and coordinate well enough, but aren’t super updated
C. your floors are wood, but in a different stain color than your cabinets, compete with them, OR they are tile/vinyl and aren’t updated, and you’re not prepared to change them
6. HOW UPDATED ARE YOUR COUNTERTOP & BACKSPLASH?
A. both are updated in neutral colors
B. one or both of them are a bit dated, but you plan on changing them in the future
C. not updated or are a color/non-neutral
7. HOW’S IT HANGIN’? YOUR DOORS, THAT IS…
A. your cabinet doors aren’t totally plumb and level; there are some gaps that you can’t fix/straighten up
B. everything is more or less level and straight; only a few spots aren’t 100% (but are fixable)
C. everything is top-notch and level, meaning if the cabinets are painted white, you won’t see a bunch of uneven black gaps between doors/drawers
MOSTLY A’S
KEEP YOUR CABINETS STAINED
If you picked mostly A’s, you may want to KEEP your cabinets in their natural wood finish. Just remember, if you have arched, curved, or cathedral-style doors, OR if they need a LOT of prep work, you might also check out the ‘C’ section; it’ll be like giving birth to a whole new kitchen – get it?
Based on all of these A’s, you have GREAT bones in place to support wood-stained cabinets, the first bone being the right door style. And while hidden hinges are BEST, exposed hinges are okay, as long as it’s the EDGE of them, not the full hinge, screws and all. Also, you’ll want to ensure the other factors (A’s) are in place.
But this doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. You might still have some serious work to do to update the look of your kitchen.
IDEAS TO UPDATE A KITCHEN WITH WOOD CABINETS
Based on how you answered the previous questions, consider the following…
- Replace your old countertop with an updated one in a NEUTRAL color – check out LAMINATE COUNTERS or TRENDY WARM QUARTZ COUNTERS.
- Add an updated backsplash that suits your countertop and general style (subway tile and travertine are popular choices with wood, especially oak – although travertine is just sloooowly coming back in style).
- Update your flooring so that it coordinates with your cabinets. This means that either, a) your tile or vinyl needs to be updated to coordinate with the cabinet stain/countertops, OR, b) your wood flooring needs to be better coordinated with your cabinet stain.
- Updated hardware and lighting that suit the style of your home. Finishes should be consistent and coordinated.
The oak cabinets in this next kitchen are STUNNING – moderate stain, moderate grain, hidden hinges, and a simple door profile…
MODERATE STAIN COLOR, MODERATE GRAIN, MODERATE STYLE
My client (above) wanted to paint the cabinets and the newly installed island. While she was open to painting only SOME of the cabinets, leaving some wood, I HAD to tell her how I really felt – THE CABINETS ARE GORGEOUS AS THEY ARE! Of course, the island could be painted, to break up some of the wood-on-wood, but it would hurt my heart to see these oak cabinets covered entirely.
As for this next kitchen, sure, it would look BRIGHTER and more UPDATED with painted cabinets, but I absolutely love the rich depth of these cabinets and how the updated countertop and backsplash brighten the space instead.
Beautiful WOOD Kitchen Cabinets Updates: REAL HOMES, REAL BUDGETS!
MOSTLY B’S
STAIN OR PAINT – THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
If you picked mostly B’s, your cabinets could be GREAT contenders for stain…OR paint! The big decision will come down to personal preference and the overall appeal of your cabinets based on what you’ve learned so far.
You might also consider meeting your kitchen halfway by painting the island only, making some other smart kitchen updates, and keeping those beautiful wood cabinets in their glory!
This next kitchen has great bones…
- cabinet doors with square profiles
- flooring and cabinets that are well-coordinated
- stain color that isn’t overwhelming
- while the white appliances are no screamin’ glory, they’re being replaced
The ONLY THING is that between the wood cabinets, island, and floor, there’s a HECK of a lot of wood, to the point where you lose some of the beauty in the AMOUNT of it – it’s just one big orange-hued blob (like my hair in the morning)…
Painting the ISLAND ONLY was a great solution, offering a bit of contrast to the floor and the main cabinets. Along with a new countertop, backsplash, and paint color, the BEAUTY of these solid oak cabinets really shines through…
See more of this project and others here
While some choose to leave their lower cabinets wood and paint the upper cabinets some shade of white, this is TRENDY, won’t last, and only suits the rare kitchen (very rare, and you’ve probably seen the three of them on Pinterest, because they’re the ONLY ONES THAT LOOK GOOD – I wouldn’t if I were you.)
While I’d take down the valance on the window in this next kitchen, the cabinets have some pretty good bones. If they WERE painted white, the hardware would REALLY pop in contrast, creating a busier look (these are fully exposed hinges). Instead, we painted the island Sherwin Williams Night Owl to add visual interest and play off the wood…
Sherwin Williams Night Owl
I would also think about changing the counter stools to either match the wood of the cabinets OR choose a fully upholstered stool with legs closer to the cabinet stain. Oooo, and if possible (costs add up fast), I’d see if two pendant lights could be installed over the island to create a focal point/intimacy. Okay, I’m done now.
NOT SURE WHETHER TO PAINT OR STAIN YOUR CABINETS?
If you can’t decide whether to keep the stained look or to paint, here are a few things to consider…
- Do you plan on selling in the near future (i.e., five years or less)? Consider painting them. Painted cabinets are almost ALWAYS more appealing to buyers – especially in the younger demographic. (The exception would be if you have exposed hinges; that’s always a tough call unless you paint your cabinets darker.)
- If the cabinets are AWESOME but don’t look so hot with the floor – but you’re not replacing the floor – I’d paint the cabinets a color that DOES work with the floor, or you’ll devalue both.
- If the countertop and backsplash are not updated/neutral, but you don’t want to change them, consider painting the cabinets and updating your lighting and hardware to add modern elements to the room and to distract from the more outdated features.
- Start by painting your island (if you have one) and see if that shifts the energy of your space in a positive direction. If you love it, it could inspire you to keep on paintin’!
MOSTLY C’S
BETTER GET YOUR PAINTIN’ PANTS ON
If you chose C for the most part, it looks like your kitchen is ready for a change – maybe YOU aren’t ready, but your cabinets are. Remember, just because it’s WOOD, doesn’t mean it’s GOOD.
And you know what? Even if your cabinets ARE good, as shown next, you can still paint them if you want a LIGHTER and BRIGHTER look.
Don’t feel bad; they’re still WOOD; they just have a few coats of paint on them…
Sherwin Williams Pure White and Peppercorn
As you now know, many factors can devalue the look of wood, which can devalue your home. I know, there are oodles of hubbies out there who can’t understand how wood cabinets can be a BAD thing; I mean, they’re SOLID WOOD, and you CAN’T PAINT WOOD! But just think…
If you paint them, they’ll still be solid wood – they’ll just look better.
This next kitchen had a double-whammy (no, not Tim’s favorite Friday night move), but curved doors and a strong red stain. They also weren’t so hot with the orange hue of the flooring. It didn’t matter HOW MUCH the homeowner may have wanted to keep their wood cabinets (which they didn’t); the ONLY choice was to paint…
While this project involved a HUGE facelift, including new door and drawer fronts, white was the way to go as the previous look would turn off the majority of buyers…
Want some SERIOUS inspiration? See this project and its listed finishes HERE
These next cabinets CLASHED HARD with the flooring – something HAD to go. Each was pretty (although that orange is DAMN STRONG), but together they were a HOT MESS…
HUGE THANKS to my Online Paint Color Consulting clients who send their photos in – I don’t ‘borrow’ from other creator’s sites, and prefer to use images that are my own – REAL HOMES, REAL PEOPLE, REAL BUDGETS!
While I’d love to see a more interesting backsplash in the above kitchen, this was a budget-friendly refresher for resale, so we painted the backsplash instead.
This next kitchen is a labor of love for the homeowner. However, that labor of love saved her some SERIOUS money and looks freakin’ gorgeous…
Painting kitchen cabinets is HUGELY satisfying. If your kitchen can handle white cabinets, it will INSTANTLY brighten your space. And while the current trend is to paint cabinets in an off-white or light neutral, off-whites are often popular for early 2000s cabinets.
How to Choose the Right White Paint Color for Your Home
WILL GEL STAIN WORK ON WOOD CABINETS?
I’ve been asked this MANY times, and as an answer, I have a few points for you to consider:
- Gel stain on wood cabinets is WAY less labor intensive than restaining, but still requires DECENT prep, including a light sanding, TSP or degreaser, and wiping with a tack cloth or clean rag to remove ANY residue). The durability is also questionable; you’ll want to put one or two coats of a quality top coat on your cabinets.
- Gel Stain does not penetrate the same unless you have bare wood, meaning more product will sit on the surface. To sand enough so that the stain sinks in, well, that’s a heck of a lot of sanding, and it needs to be a CONSISTENT sand job so that you avoid blotchiness where the stain sits/absorbs. The more stain that sits on the surface, the more you risk the ‘painted’ look as you see more of the product and method of application (i.e., wipe marks/brush marks), and you also risk it wearing off sooner.
- You can only go the same color or darker.
- It can reduce the look of the wood grain. Why? Well, when the wood is unfinished, the stain will penetrate the wood, but the grain area doesn’t always take stain as well as the open wood areas. When you break up that sheen and restain a darker color, the open wood area will often take more stain, while the grain doesn’t always darken much more, so they start blending into each other a bit (I hope that makes sense…).
- It takes a steady hand and can look like a hot mess if you don’t do a great job.
To see some gel stain before and after projects on Pinterest, click here.
6 Questions to Ask Before Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets White
So there you have it! Hopefully, these tips and ideas have helped you determine the best choice for you and YOUR kitchen!
RELATED POSTS
REAL HOMES, REAL BUDGETS: Painted Kitchen Cabinet Projects
Beautiful WOOD Kitchen Cabinets Updates: REAL HOMES
Hardware Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets
4 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets
5 Ideas to Update Oak or Wood Cabinets WITHOUT Paint!
The Best Paint Colors to Go With Oak or Wood Cabinets
How to Choose the Right White Paint Color for Your Home
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WRITTEN IN 2019, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED IN 2023
