The kitchen conundrum: Painted or stained cabinets?

The first thing people notice when they walk in a kitchen are the cabinets. After all, there are usually plenty of them! This detail presents a powerful impact, so your choice is a big one. Here’s the kitchen conundrum: Painted or stained cabinets? The good news is, there’s no wrong answer. It’s a matter of preference. Do you like the aesthetics of natural wood cabinets, with the visibility of the grain’s uniqueness? Would you prefer the sleek, smooth look of a painted surface? We love the look of today’s cabinets that bring inspiring color. Ideal Homes has model homes that feature painted cabinets in blue, red, white, green, gray, and teal—and our visitors frequently remark how much they like this look! When you choose stained cabinets, you’re going to see the grain, so it’s important to choose a wood that gives you the look you want. A strongly vertical pattern, for example, will be quite apparent when you stand back and look at your cabinets. In either case—painted or wood—kitchen cabinets go through trends. Wood will never go out of style, although the stain colors will experience varying levels of popularity. White cabinets are timeless, but not for everyone. What’s your style? Your kitchen will reflect your design style as much as any room in your home—if not more. Unlike other rooms where the furnishings are easily moved and replaced, the commitment you make to your kitchen design is a lasting one. Whether you like rustic, French country, cottage, contemporary, or even something more eclectic, your cabinetry can enhance the look. You’ll have a wide variety of door styles, complemented with the hardware you choose. Then we can add finish accents, like crown molding, a corbel under a shelf or breakfast bar, a leg, spindle, column, kick board, or one of many other design details. The hybrid approach If you’re still up in the air, you can combine the two styles—stained and painted cabinets. You will achieve a beautiful design in your kitchen by painting the upper cabinets and staining the lower, or vice versa. You can also use a combination of two different paint colors, or the same color in different hues, like light gray on top and a deep charcoal on the bottom. Combined, your kitchen cabinets make a huge statement. What do yours say about you? Ideal Homes customizes kitchens for our homebuyers. Take a look at our photo gallery for some inspiration as you try to decide on your kitchen cabinets. If you’re thinking of building or buying a new home in the Oklahoma City metro area, browse our floor plans, new home communities, and currently available quick move-in homes. We’d love to help you live your dream of a new home, so contact us!