Whether you are designing your kitchen from scratch or doing a modern renovation – chances are you have seen and heard of all the trending materials and finishes for cabinetry that can elevate the look and feel of your favourite gathering place. Chances are you have created your dream kitchen board on Pinterest and spent a few hours on social media in search of materials to source for your upgraded kitchen project. You have probably figured out, depending on the final look you are going for, your cabinet finish can create mass visual impact, contrast to the eye, offer unique texture and become the focal point of the space.
One of the biggest trends in cabinetry has become lacquer cabinet finishes. We looked at two very similar yet vastly different options to give you the pros and cons of both! Are you a matte finish maven or a high gloss lacquer lover?
High Gloss Lacquer
(ultra-high gloss or 100% gloss)
PROS
– can make a pop of colour in your kitchen cabinets really stand out
– the reflective cabinets can make a space seem larger and more open
– perfect for deep and rich colours as the gloss adds dimension and prevents light from absorbing into the cabinets, making the space feel overwhelmingly dark
– best suited for modern/contemporary design builds
– durable, easy to maintain and clean with a damp microfibre wash cloth
CONS
– imperfections on the surface are easily seen, including scratches and dents
– though easy to clean, darker high gloss surfaces are not forgiving with finger prints and might become an annoyance
– can become overwhelming with all one colour in a space, regardless of size
OPTIONS
– choose to utilize high gloss for an area you want to make a statement with, either upper cabinets to draw the eye up so people can also admire your unique back splash or modern cooking stove
– create depth and drama with a high gloss built in kitchen pantry while using matte or a wood finish for the rest of the kitchen cabinetry
Matte Lacquer Finish
PROS
– great for modern contemporary or more traditional style kitchen cabinets, certainly more options to play with in the design spectrum
– due to the flat finish, scratches and imperfections are far less noticeable compared to high gloss which captures more light making those things more noticeable
– looks more consistent regardless of level of sunlight or time of day which can create a range of colours and shades with high gloss finishes
– matte finishes are more calming and soothing compared to the drama of high gloss
CONS
– because a matte finish not reflect light but rather absorbs it, darker colours and smaller spaces feel that much more noticeable
– colour choice is key, without light to create dimension and drama – your kitchen can quickly become ‘one note’ if the colour choice is too close to the wall colour and or backsplash
– not as easy to clean as high gloss, matte finishes can sometimes absorb oil which make them a tad harder to clean – being consistent is key
– might be too flat or boring
OPTIONS
– adding dimension with more than one matte finish colour for the kitchen cabinets can quickly change the dynamic in the room
– adding more than one texture like matte finish with high gloss or semi gloss cabinetry is also a great way to create more drama
– breaking up an all matte kitchen with reflective tile, contrasting counter tops or island top can also be a helpful hint for your new kitchen
