Best Paint Brand For Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets endure significant wear and tear, requiring a durable and high-quality paint to maintain their appearance and withstand daily use. Choosing the right paint brand is crucial for achieving a professional-looking finish that resists chipping, fading, and moisture damage. This article explores several top-rated paint brands suitable for kitchen cabinets, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help inform your selection process.

Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore is a renowned paint brand known for its premium quality and wide range of colors. Their Advance line is specifically formulated for cabinets and trim, offering superior adhesion, flow, and leveling. This waterborne alkyd hybrid paint provides the smooth, durable finish of oil-based paint with the easy cleanup of water-based paint. It exhibits excellent resistance to scuffs, stains, and moisture, making it ideal for high-traffic kitchen environments. Benjamin Moore also offers Aura, a high-performing paint known for its exceptional color retention and coverage. While both options are excellent choices for kitchen cabinets, Advance is generally preferred for its superior leveling properties, which result in a smoother, more professional finish.

One potential drawback of Benjamin Moore paints is their higher price point compared to some other brands. However, many consider the investment worthwhile due to the paint's longevity and performance, reducing the need for frequent repainting.

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams is another popular choice for cabinet painting, offering a diverse selection of high-quality paints suitable for various surfaces. Their Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel is a top contender for kitchen cabinets, providing a hard, durable finish that resists scratching, scrubbing, and yellowing. This water-based paint is low-odor and easy to apply, making it a DIY-friendly option. Sherwin-Williams also offers ProClassic Acrylic Alkyd, a popular choice among professional painters for its smooth, factory-like finish. This paint provides excellent adhesion and leveling, resulting in a flawless appearance.

Similar to Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams paints are positioned in the higher price range. However, their extensive color selection, combined with their reputation for quality and durability, makes them a strong contender for kitchen cabinet projects.

Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball is known for its curated palette of richly pigmented colors and its commitment to environmentally friendly practices. Their Estate Eggshell finish is a popular choice for kitchen cabinets, offering a beautiful, low-luster sheen. This water-based paint is formulated with high-quality pigments that deliver exceptional depth and richness of color. While not specifically designed for high-traffic areas like kitchens, Estate Eggshell can be a suitable option if properly prepped and maintained. Farrow & Ball also offers Modern Eggshell, a more durable option formulated for modern living, offering greater scrub resistance and washability.

Farrow & Ball paints are generally considered a luxury option, commanding a higher price point than most other brands. However, their unique color palette and environmentally conscious formulation appeal to those seeking a premium, aesthetically driven choice.

Fine Paints of Europe

Fine Paints of Europe offers a range of high-quality, durable paints formulated for demanding environments. Their Hollandlac Brilliant and Hollandlac Satin finishes are popular choices for kitchen cabinets, providing a smooth, hard-wearing surface that resists scratches, chipping, and fading. These oil-based paints are known for their exceptional flow and leveling, resulting in a professional-looking finish. The high gloss of Hollandlac Brilliant provides a glamorous, reflective surface, while the satin finish offers a more subtle sheen.

Fine Paints of Europe products are positioned at the highest end of the price spectrum. However, their exceptional durability and luxurious finish make them a desirable option for those seeking the ultimate in quality and longevity.

Behr

Behr offers a more budget-friendly option for painting kitchen cabinets. Their Premium Plus Ultra paint is a popular choice, providing good coverage and durability at a lower price point than many premium brands. This paint is available in a variety of sheens, including semi-gloss and satin, which are suitable for kitchen cabinets. While it may not offer the same level of performance as some higher-end brands, Behr Premium Plus Ultra can be a viable option for those on a tighter budget. Proper surface preparation and application are crucial for achieving optimal results with this paint.

The key to a successful cabinet painting project lies not only in choosing the right paint brand but also in proper surface preparation and application techniques. Regardless of the brand selected, thorough cleaning, sanding, and priming are essential for ensuring proper adhesion and a long-lasting finish.