Kitchen Cabinet Ideas: Stained vs Painted Cabinets

Image Courtesy of Waypoint Living Spaces

When planning a kitchen remodel, one of the first choices homeowners face is whether to go with painted cabinets, stained cabinets pr painted kitchen base cabinets and stained wall cabinets shown in the above image. This decision affects not just appearance, but also long-term performance, durability, and how well the cabinets will complement your home’s overall style.

At SMY Home Improvement, we help homeowners in Lynnwood, Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds, and nearby cities navigate kitchen cabinet ideas from leading brands like Waypoint Simple Trends and Medallion cabinetry. Whether you're comparing slim shaker cabinets, wood tones, or trending finishes like green kitchen cabinets, here's what to know.

Painted Cabinets: A Clean, Consistent Look

Painted cabinets are popular for homeowners seeking a smooth, uniform finish. Typically painted in neutral or bold colors, they work well in transitional, modern, or contemporary homes.

• Typically made of maple or MDF.

• Hide wood grain, offering a consistent appearance across all doors and drawers

• Commonly paired with sleek kitchen cabinet hardware and minimalistic designs

  
  

Image Courtesy of Waypoint Living Spaces

Stained Cabinets: Warmth, Texture, and Natural Character

Stained cabinetry emphasizes the natural wood grain, showcasing the organic beauty and variation in each door. It's a strong choice for homeowners who want depth, richness, and a connection to the material.

• Enhances wood species like cherry, alder, hickory, and oak

• Offers a wider range of tone variation, especially with lighter stains

  
  

What to Expect from Natural Variation – Per Manufacturer Guidelines

Here’s an official, word-for-word excerpt from the Waypoint Living Spaces spec book, helping you understand what makes each stained cabinet unique:

Allow Cabinets To Age Beautifully

Our cabinets showcase the careful selection of natural and engineered materials to achieve the best possible look. While every effort is made to match wood grain as closely as possible, no two pieces of wood are exactly alike, even from the same tree. These differences in natural color and grain mean that each piece will respond differently to the finishing materials used. For example, close-grained woods absorb less and will vary in color from more open-grained pieces from the very same tree. It’s these variations that contribute to the beauty and distinction of quality wood products. However, exposure to sunlight, smoke, and chemicals may cause some materials to fade or vary from their original color over time.

Cabinets, doors, drawer fronts, and accessories added at a later date may not exactly match cabinets installed now. For the same reasons, door samples or displays may not represent the exact color of cabinets received at the time of shipment. Consumers should also read all cleaning agent instructions carefully before application.

Due to changes that occur from natural and environmental factors a cabinet is exposed to over its lifetime, we cannot be responsible for variations that occur in the finish of natural and engineered materials as they age.

Wood Species Matter

From the Medallion Cabinetry Silverline Spec Book

"CHERRY has a rich color and smooth, flowing grain patterns. Color varies from light pink to dark brown; variations are more prominent with lighter stains. Cherry will darken or mellow with age, a change that is more noticeable with light stains and which usually takes place within the first six months. Sun exposure greatly accelerates this process. Mineral streaks, pitch pockets, pin knots and sap wood all occur naturally in cherry and are acceptable characteristics.

HICKORY can vary dramatically in color within a single piece of wood, from almost white to a deep, dark brown. Hickory’s bold, prominent grain patterns give it a rustic appearance. Burls, pin knots, mineral streaks and small, sound knots are typical and are not considered defects.

KNOTTY ALDER, when finished, is a rich-looking wood that blends well with cherry. It has a very uniform light brown color with a reddish tinge and has a fairly straight-grained, uniform texture. Knotty alder may contain pin knots, open and closed knots of various sizes, checking and mineral streaks; these are typical and not considered defects. Some knots may be in locations which affect hardware placement.

MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood and softwood into wood fibers and combining with resin. Pressure and heat are then used to create a smooth surface with a consistent core. Painted MDF is durable and more resistant to warping, expansion and contraction than solid hardwoods. Molding ordered in MDF door styles will be constructed of maple and painted to match your order selection.

MAPLE has a smooth texture with tight, uniform grain patterns that make it ideal for painting. It is generally creamy white, varying slightly from almost bright white to light pink or reddish brown. Maple contains a natural resin that causes wood to turn amber as it ages. This change, which is accelerated by exposure to natural light, is more noticeable with lighter stains. Maple may occasionally contain small mineral streaks that form naturally when trees absorb minerals from the soil.

OAK (RED) is characterized by its open grain patterns, which vary from close-knit and vertical, to prominent and arched, with colors ranging from light tan and pink to medium dark red and brown. Oak may contain small mineral streaks and some pin knots.

PAINTED products which are applicable to the face frames/accessories of Thermofoil door styles and orders in paint finishes, have certain inherent characteristics that must be expected. Small hairline cracks may appear where wood joints occur on door/drawer fronts. Also, some grain patterns of wood may be apparent through painted finishes. Lighter painted finishes should be expected to show a slight color change over time. These characteristics are inherent and will not be considered defects.

Why this is important?

We call your attention to these characteristics because the effects of these variations in an entire kitchen may be different from what one visualizes when viewing a small display, a single door or a small sample. Most wood parts are constructed using different pieces of wood; each piece will accept stain in different ways. These variations in grain and color are inherent in the wood and are a natural enhancement to our product.

We feel the real beauty of real hardwood is created by the infinite variation of grain texture and color. This is the nature of hardwood; wild or unusual graining will not be considered a reason for replacement.

We take care in selecting our doors; however, there is no special emphasis made to select doors to match one another. Contrasting grain or color variations in doors is considered acceptable and will not be considered reason for replacement.

Wood cabinetry is also affected by humidity. Slight shrinking may be caused by humidity changes in the home. We recommend the use of an air conditioner or humidifier to control humidity in the home".

How to Decide for Your Kitchen

If you want a kitchen that feels sleek and modern, painted may be your best option. If you prefer a warm, organic aesthetic, stained wood brings variation and personality.

Whichever you choose, you'll want to consider:

• Door style and material

• Room lighting and layout

• Desired kitchen cabinet sizes

• Coordination with flooring, backsplashes, and hardware

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas-See Both Options at SMY Home Improvement

Hopefully this article about painted vs stained cabinets was helpful. Still deciding? Visit the SMY Home Improvement showroom in Lynnwood to see full-size stained and painted samples, sample doors for slim shaker cabinets and browse other cabinet door ideas.

We serve homeowners looking for kitchen cabinets near me throughout Snohomish and King Counties. Contact SMY Home Improvement today to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is better, stained or painted cabinets?

It depends on your goals. Painted cabinets offer a clean, uniform finish and work well in modern or transitional kitchens. Stained cabinets highlight the natural beauty of the wood and are ideal for traditional or rustic designs. At SMY Home Improvement, we help you choose based on your style, durability needs, and finish preferences.

Are stained cabinets still in style?

Yes — stained cabinets remain popular, especially for homeowners who want warmth, texture, and visible wood grain. They’re often chosen for custom layouts, open-concept kitchens, and mudroom or utility spaces where natural variation is a design feature.

Is it better to paint or restain kitchen cabinets?

We typically don’t recommend refinishing or repainting existing cabinets, especially if they were purchased from a manufacturer with a warranty. Altering the finish can void your warranty and lead to issues with adhesion, durability, or appearance.

Painting previously stained cabinets — particularly oak or other open-grain woods — can result in grain pattern bleed-through, even after multiple coats. If you're considering a change, it's often better to explore new cabinet options that are factory-finished for longevity and style consistency. At SMY Home Improvement, we offer professionally finished cabinet lines that eliminate these risks while giving you the look you want.

Where can I get help choosing stained vs. painted kitchen cabinets?

If you're unsure whether stained or painted kitchen cabinets are right for your home, SMY Home Improvement in Lynnwood, WA is here to help. Our showroom features a variety of cabinet finishes you can see and feel in person. Our experienced showroom staff will guide you through the pros and cons of each option—considering your style, budget, and lifestyle needs.