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Should You Paint Or Stain Your Kitchen Cabinets?

You’re ready to update your kitchen, refreshing the cabinets you currently have. This leaves just one important question: paint or stain?

Cabinet painting and finishing are two of our most popular services - no doubt about it. That’s probably due in large part to the fact that kitchens have taken on a whole new level of importance in our homes, acting as a central hub where we do life. Consequently, improvements to your kitchen space offer some of the best return on investment you’ll see from any home improvement project. Hands-down.

If you have good quality cabinets that meet your needs, but are ready for a fresh look, cabinet painting and finishing is the perfect way to create all the style of a remodel, just without the messy demo and long construction process.

There’s lots to love about that, right?

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of paint and stain, just to help you make the best choice for your home.

Cabinet Painting Pros and Cons

 Should You Paint Or Stain Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Pro: Clean, Bright Style

White is definitely a popular option. And it’s honestly not just a trendy pick! Similar to say, subway tiles, it may be in high demand right now, but its roots go deep. White will always be in style as a timeless, neutral choice.

Pro: Have Fun with Cabinet Colors

You can pick unique, attractive stains, but will they ever have the impact that a bold island accent color offers? Probably not. Paint creates endless possibilities, especially when you use it in attractive combinations that bring your kitchen to life.

Pro: Paint Covers Blemishes

Stain is not very forgiving, but with the right products and prep the right paint can cover a multitude of dings and gouges. Even a natural feature, like large knots in the wood, can be a little unsightly depending on the character and quality of the material. Paint is the great equalizer.

Con: Can Be Harder To Touch Up

If you use the right products for the job, paint is very durable. But life still happens, especially if you have kids in the house. Paint is a little less forgiving, and requires the occasional touch-up to look its best.

Con: Hides Natural Features

For some folks, natural wood grain and all those unique swirls and patterns is where it’s at. If you have quality cabinets that really shine, it can be a shame to cover those features (for some homeowners, anyway).

Cabinet Staining Pros and Cons

 Should You Paint Or Stain Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Pro: Easier To Touch Up

Got a blemish? Finding the exact stain match isn’t hard, or if it’s a finish that pre-dates you, find something similar and you’ll likely be able to blend it without much trouble.

Pro: Natural Warmth and Charm

If you love wood grain, let it shine! Stain exudes a timeless warmth, and showcases more craftsmanship than paint.

Pro: You Can Retone

If you like wood finishes, but just not YOUR wood finish, talk to your painting company about retoning. It’s an ideal way to update your style without going the painted route.

Con: Showcase Blemishes

Yikes… Stain showcases all the natural charm, but it also highlights the imperfections. To look its very best, stained surfaces need to be in excellent condition.

Con: Some Limitations

Lower-grade materials, like engineered MDF (fiberboard) can’t be stained. There are painting limitations too for these substrates, raising larger questions about whether a pull-and-replace cabinet upgrade would be a better option.

Con: Some Stains Look Dated in Older Kitchens

In older kitchens especially, the wrong stain choice can create a dark, dated aesthetic. Your hardware and door/drawer face style might only accentuate this look. That’s why so many homeowners opt for a radical change with paint. It’s crucial to really think through your space, style, and natural light before committing to a particular color.

Our Best Advice? Talk with an Experienced Cabinet Painting Company

The right professional will offer both services, and provide an unbiased perspective based on your specific needs, preferences, and budget. They can also offer samples so that you can see and feel what the surfaces will be like in your home. That makes a huge difference!

If you have any additional questions about your Bay Area cabinet painting or finishing project, please reach out. We’re here to help!

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Customer Reviews

“The painters at MB Jesse are top notch! Cesar's team was super friendly and helpful. They were very polite and accommodating. Their expertise in everything painting related was evident in their attention to detail and efficiency painting tricky spaces. The apartment looks brand new!”

— Adam Swisher

“I want to express my thanks for a job well done. The rooms look great and there is no problem with any marks on the all the trim, floor, carpet, etc. The paint job is lovely. I also want to express my thanks for the level of professionalism the foreman showed in running the job. He was very attentive to any changes I needed to make, was extremely careful in getting the faux paint color and effect correct. Thanks so much for a job well done.”

— Suzan D’Arcy

“Hello Matt,Just another notice of thanks to your wonderful crew, Rigoberto, Javier and John. They did fantastic work, with Rigo providing meticulous and conscientious attention to the details and excellent woodwork finishing, as evidenced by the beautiful fireplace. Javier did a fantastic job in the bathroom especially, it looks "brand new," and John always does quality work, both with the interior and exterior. I can tell they care about what they do. Rigo's "punch out" was very thorough, too. I will call again when I need some more work and will definitely recommend your company and fine crew. I also felt as a homeowner, I could leave my house in their good hands during the day and that took a lot of worry from me, they were honest, prompt and reliable. They were also very kind, respectful and clean in their work, very professional. Thank you.”

— Beth Marx & Melissa Kirsch
Oakland

“Everyone I dealt with was nice, helpful, and very professional. The price was reasonable! (I didn't feel like I was getting the "San Francisco price." The attention to detail and work quality was excellent. They did what they said they would do in the exact timeframe they said they would do. Highly recommend!”

— Tim Tyson

“I cannot imagine finer painters--and I have worked with many. They work exceptionally hard. It is a joy to see their workmanship!”

— Alicia R.
Oakland

“I just wanted to send you an email to say that John did such a great job over here today. He is truly a hard worker. He has the perfect balance of friendliness, honesty, and professionalism. I trust him. He takes the time to do the job to the best of his ability and that is what sets him (and your company) apart from the competition. He didn't make me feel rushed. He really made me feel like our job was the most important thing in the world. Thanks again!”

— Jo
Oakland

“Julie,Just to let you know I am very appreciative of your crew catching the plumbing/mold problem. It was very astute of them. I wanted to let you know that again your crew has done excellent work here, please pass this along to Mr. Jessee. There are some bumps in the road here, but the painting and your crew has not been one of them. Their work is the only thing going right currently, and this crew is very nice and respectful. It is much appreciated. Thank you again.”

— Beth
Oakland

“My entire experience with MB Jesse was very professional. The crew were very friendly and super accommodating of my ridiculous schedule and geriatric pets in the house. The finished product, which was pretty much my entire house, far exceeds my expectations. Would definitely work with them again!”

— Heather Jordan

“It was a great experience working with MB Jessee. The crew was careful and thorough as they painted the house, sealed stucco cracks, repaired dry-rotted wood, stained the deck, etc. Robert, Gersson, Jose, and all of the people involved in the process from the estimate to the job completion were friendly and professional.”

— Mike C.
Livermore, CA

“Just wanted to let you know that the crew was great to have around the house for the past two weeks. All three of them were professional, courteous, and attentive to my thoughts/concerns and were extremely knowledgeable. They paid great attention to the detail and it shows.”

— Mark & Roberta Gross

“M.B. Jessee painted the exterior of my Spanish house over 9 years ago, and they did such an incredible job that they are still getting referrals from me today. The paint is holding up perfectly -- there is absolutely no peeling chipping or any other deterioration. I still remember that my final walk-through list consisted of items written on one side of a 3x5 index card (and I'm REAL picky about my house!) However, when Matt and I did that walk-through over HALF the items were no longer an issue, as his team had noticed them first and they had already been resolved.”

— JoAnn Newcomb

“The entire MB Jessee team is courteous, efficient and professional. From scheduling and estimating to the crew managers and crew, they all did an excellent job on a small (but complicated) two room project in my house. I'm already thinking about getting them scheduled for the next project in the spring.”

— Cari Cheney