Should You Paint Your Cabinets White? Here Are the Pros and Cons.

If it’s time to freshen up your cabinets, painting them is an easier, quicker, and more affordable option than replacing the whole cabinet system. This budget-friendly alternative is truly transformative, and painting kitchen cabinets costs anywhere from $390 to $1,230. Many homeowners opt for a crisp white when painting cabinets—it brightens up a space and works for a range of cabinet styles, from shaker to slab. Here’s how to tell if white cabinets are right for your home.

Should You Paint Your Cabinets White?

White cabinets have long been popular because they work for a range of cabinet styles and types of kitchens. But, as with anything, they come with benefits and drawbacks.

Pros

Here’s a look at some of the benefits of painting cabinets white:

• A timeless upgrade: Depending on the type of wood and finish, wood cabinetry can make a kitchen feel dated. White cupboards make a space feel timeless.

• Makes it look bigger: Ivory surfaces bounce light around, and an alabaster coat of paint makes narrow galleys and small sculleries feel bigger and brighter.

• Works for many styles: White cabinets look good in a range of homes, from modern to traditional.

• Raises resale value: A dark, dated kitchen doesn’t appeal to buyers. White kitchens are a clean slate, and they appeal to most buyers who want to personalize spaces themselves.

• Easy to accessorize: With white cabinets, you can have fun with other design elements like backsplash, countertops, and hardware. White is easy to pair with other colors and textures.

• Fresh and clean: White evokes the feeling of cleanliness, which is always welcome in a space where food will be prepared. 

Cons

There are some potential drawbacks to consider before you commit to painting your cabinets white, including:

• Keeping them clean: After a fresh coat of paint, your ivory kitchen will look pristine, but it won’t stay that way. Keeping white cabinets clean requires wiping down frequently.

• Visible dents and dings: Dents and dings are easy to spot on light surfaces. So, in a busy kitchen, you may want to avoid white shades.

• Void of personality: An all-white kitchen can feel bland and void of personality. To offset the feeling of a cold, clinical space, you must accessorize with texture and color.

Should I Just Paint The Upper Cabinets?

If you’re worried about keeping your white cabinets clean but want to make your kitchen feel larger and brighter, two-tone cabinets are a good middle ground.

In recent years, the trend to paint just the top cabinets white has emerged. Ivory cupboards on the top lighten up the space, and painting the base cabinets a darker color helps to mask any dirt and dings that will inevitably happen. This approach works well in small, highly trafficked kitchens.

To get the two-tone look, paint the upper cabinets a crisp or creamy white and the base a darker, organic color that feels neutral and earthy, like navy. Or, go with the classic “tuxedo kitchen” of white uppers and black lowers.

Are White Painted Cabinets Still In Style?

While white kitchens are timeless, over the past few years kitchen trends have shifted to add more color. Organic is the new trend with light warm wood cabinetry, along with shades of blue and green to evoke the feeling of nature. 

While there has definitely been a recent decline in white kitchens, they still are popular and are great for small spaces without a lot of natural light. They also are a great option for a homeowner who wants to refresh their space, as white painted cabinets provide a clean slate.

Painting vs. Refacing Cabinets

Before deciding whether painting is the right upgrade, look at the quality of your cabinets. Do they shut properly, or do they creak open? Is the wood on the cabinet face dented? Are drawers getting stuck when opening and closing them?

If your cabinet door and drawer fronts are in good condition, then a paint upgrade is in the cards. If there are dents, you can easily use wood filler to smooth out the surface, or you can reface kitchen cabinets to give them a facelift. If cupboards are in bad shape inside and out, it’s time to replace the cabinets altogether.

What White Paint Shade Should I Use?

Photo: Johner Images / Johner Images Royalty-Free / Getty Images

For your kitchen cabinetry, picking the right white shade can feel daunting. A simple off-white with a slight earthy undertone is a good option, as bright whites can look stark and show dirt easily. A creamy shade like Benjamin Moore White Dove is a classic go-to for kitchen cabinets, as is Benjamin Moore Simply White.

What Paint Finish Should I Use?

The kitchen is a room where there is much activity, so you want the paint job to hold up against daily wear and tear—including moisture and heat.

The best paint for cabinets is a latex enamel paint in semi-gloss or satin; these finishes are glossier, so they’re easier to wipe down. If you have a ventless oven hood, this is particularly important, as these recirculate air in the kitchen and leave residue on surfaces. Select a durable paint finish that can be wiped down with water or a mixture of water and diluted dish soap.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Even for the avid do-it-yourself homeowner, painting kitchen cabinetry is a multi-day, time-intensive project. Kitchens account for a large percentage of the resale value of a home, too, so you want to make sure that a professional painter near you is the one upgrading your kitchen. 

Painting cabinets isn’t as simple as painting walls. It requires removing cabinet doors and drawers, taking off hardware, sanding and priming surfaces, applying several coats of paint, letting everything cure properly, and then rehanging doors and installing new hardware. You also need the proper tools, like a paint sprayer, and technique to do the job. Hiring a pro who will use the right paint and techniques will ensure that your investment lasts for years to come.