With the right kitchen or bath design, white cabinets can create a stunning space with timeless appeal. White cabinets provide a clean look and can make a small space appear larger, but there is a dark side to white cabinets that you should be aware of before you make the final decision to put them in your home.
As you consider your options for kitchen cabinets you need to weigh the positives and negatives of a painted cabinet vs. a stained cabinet.
Some of the benefits of white cabinets are the following:
- White cabinets are a timeless choice
- White cabinets can easily go with any design style from sleek and modern, to a vintage, country or traditional
- White cabinets are a great choice for brightening up a small space
- White cabinets can make a space that does not have a natural light source look lighter and more open
- White cabinets can make space look larger than it actually is
- White cabinets are very versatile and can easily change with your decorating whether you want to change the paint color or interior design of your home and go from a country to modern decorating
The dark side of white or the negatives are the following:
- White cabinets do require constant maintenance. White cabinets are prone to showing smudges, splashes and spills much easier than a stained cabinet. You will need to wipe them down frequently.
- White cabinets that are painted scratch or get dinged easily and they are not easy to touch up. If you have a busy household with young children and pets, white cabinets may not be the right choice for your lifestyle
- White cabinets will show signs of aging such as cracks or discolorations far more easily than stained cabinets.
- White cabinets can discolor after excessive long term sun exposure
- White cabinets are more expensive to purchase and install
- Even though white cabinets are timeless, you either hate white cabinets or you love them…..so when you go to resell your house you may be reducing the size of the market that wants to purchase your home
- White cabinets can make a kitchen look plain and bland if there isn’t much excitement in the decor or other parts of the room. Many people associate a room that is too white with being sterile and cold which is not what you want others to think when they walk in your kitchen or bath–it is important for a home to warm and inviting
Before our customers make the choice of white painted cabinets or even white painted millwork and doors, we like to educate them on the pros and cons of a product or color choice so they can make a decision based on their lifestyle and needs. Painted cabinets are beautiful, but they do require extra care and attention.
Ann Rodrigues is co-owner of David & Goliath Builders, the #1 Team in Home Building & Remodeling.
