Painted Cabinet Finishes and Variations

Updated on: August 01, 2022

Painted cabinets are extremely popular these days and there are many choices in colors and a few extra options available such as glazing, brushed, or rub through finishes to help make your cabinets unique.

When choosing a painted finish, it means that several coats of paint are applied to the cabinets to create a rich look. Maple and birch are typically used for this type of cabinet due to their uniform, smooth appearance. Painted cabinet doors can develop hairline cracks at the joints and are visible through the paint. It's due to the expansion and contraction of the wood. The cracks area normal occurrence and have no effect on the door's stability. We have a variety of painted finishes available, from bright white to olive green.

There are a few ways to pump up the style on your painted cabinets, if you are looking for something a little different than just a plain painted finish. The first would be to add "glazing". Glaze is used in combination with stains, paints or laminates to enhance kitchen cabinetry -- accentuate the cuts and styles of doors, drawers, panels, false fronts and molding -- so the cabinets appear gracefully aged or antiqued. Glazes are applied by hand and show up best in more detailed door profiles since the glaze is painted in the contours of the cabinets.

Depending on the color, glaze can lighten and soften dark surfaces to create a timeless, classic worn and dusty look. The stain can be lighter or darker (gray, antique white, etc.) and the glaze highlights the details of the cabinets with a darker tone. When used lightly or selectively along edges and crevices, it can create contrast. The final result of the glazing will depend on the door style and how heavy it is applied.

A brushed finish is also a great way to enhance your painted cabinets. The brushing is hand applied and is exactly how it sounds. A brush is taken to the cabinet and provides a unique textural look to the painted finish. Instead of the glaze just being in the grooves and "hang ups" of the cabinet doors and drawers, it is all over the door creating a stripe effect. A brushed finish is available in a few different colors; most of our Deerfield® Shaker and Shaker II door styles have a brushed finish available as well as a few of the more traditional door styles like Springfield.

The last twist to a painted finish we offer is a rub through finish. In this type of finish, the corners and grooves are sanded to reveal the wood or a darker finish underneath. This creates a time-worn, antique feel to your cabinets. The rub through finish is available on our more traditional style doors such as Deerfield Springfield and Bronson.

It's best to get cabinet samples before deciding on any of the above painted finishes so you can make sure you are achieving the look you are going for in your bathroom or kitchen!