What Are The Pros And Cons Of High Gloss Cabinets?
I’ll be honest. I’m a sucker for high gloss cabinets. They give your home a modern look and seem to have a classically clean look. It’s no surprise to me that high gloss cabinets became a major favorite among Millennials and other artsy folks. While they are excellent for people who are aesthetically-oriented, they aren’t always the best possible pick. Wondering what you should know about this cabinet style?
High gloss cabinets are visually striking and can reflect light, giving your room a larger appearance. They are also waterproof and easy to clean. However, their high-gloss looks can make scratches appear more pronounced, they can be extremely expensive, and they require frequent cleanings.
Even when high gloss cabinets aren’t in style, you can’t help but look at their visual appeal. Are they the best choice for your kitchen? Well…that’s kind of an iffy subject.
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What Are High Gloss Cabinets?
High gloss cabinets are wooden cabinets that are painted with a special high gloss lacquer, acetate, or acrylic paint. This paint is often laid on thick and is designed to last for years on end. In some rarer situations, you might be able to find high gloss cabinets made of pure plastic or lacquer-coated metal. However, those are not the norm.
This is a cabinet category that is noted for being commonplace in ultra-modern, stylish homes that are meant to be statement pieces. Because they can be a status symbol, it’s rare to see them in middle-class houses.
The Pros And Cons Of High Gloss Cabinets
To a point, I’m having a little trouble writing this article because I love high gloss cabinets SO MUCH. But, as a faithful home improvement writer, I’m going to try to make this as fair and balanced as I can.
The Perks Of Having High Gloss Cabinets
Want to know why I am such a diehard fan of these cabinets? Well, I have more than a couple of ideas that might convert you to high gloss fans…
- High gloss cabinets are so beautiful, they almost look surreal. These cabinets have an insanely streamlined, futuristic look that’s hard to ignore. This is why they’re so prominently featured in interior design magazines and why people who are into the “aesthetic life” tend to like them so much.
- These cabinets offer long-lasting paint. They don’t fade as quickly as regular cabinet paints do.
- Waterproofing is (kind of) part of the high gloss cabinet deal, too. Most, if not all, high gloss cabinets are highly resistant to water and splashing. This is just part of the way that the paint works. A quick wipe will remove most of the splashes that come with culinary work.
- They are easy to clean. Yep. Literally just wiping will work well. If you want to go the “all natural” cleaning route, then you can use white vinegar and water to wipe everything down. You’d be surprised how quickly it’ll cut through grease.
- High gloss cabinets can also reflect light. The more light that gets reflected, the more your kitchen will look larger. Besides, who doesn’t like a well-lit room.
The Problems With Having High Gloss Cabinets
While I love seeing high gloss cabinetry, I also know they have their limits. All cabinet styles do. Here’s why these aren’t always a good choice for people who like them.
- When they get scratched, you will notice it. A scratch on a high gloss cabinet will be way more noticeable when it’s on high gloss paint. The light reflections will turn scuffs and scratches into a massive glaring issue. Like, you won’t be able to ignore it. You will need to get it fixed…and fixing is not always easy.
- They are pricey. Getting a perfectly smooth lacquer look is not going to be easy. You will end up having to pay a pretty penny in order to get them installed. With that issue set aside, I also should point out that repairing scratches is also going to cost a pretty penny. This makes most people really averse to having them in their own homes.
- The glare from light is not always a good thing. If you’ve ever had a mirror shine sunlight on your face, you’ll understand why high gloss at the wrong angle can make cooking at certain times awkward. It can hurt your eyes and can also make your cooking time a little tougher.
- Expect to clean a lot more than what you thought you would have to. The truth is that a high shine on cabinetry is great in theory. In practice, every single fog-up is going to make you need to wipe down your cabinetry. Grease s going to be way more noticeable, too. If you do a lot of frying (like I do), it will be a nightmare.
How Much Do High Gloss Cabinets Cost?
It’s important to emphasize that high gloss cabinetry is considered to be a premium item for a home. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive types of cabinetry that you can get. You can get a lot of use out of them, but they are going to be extremely expensive. During normal years, this cabinetry can cost between $500 to $1,200 per linear foot.
This means that you should expect to set aside extreme amounts of money for this cabinetry. Most homeowners will have to spend at least $12,000 to $20,000 to get cabinetry installed like this. We are also in a wood shortage until the mid-2020s, so the price of wood will also be higher.
Are High Gloss Cabinets Worth It?
They can be. High gloss cabinets are not for people who want to get something basic or simple. In fact, they are more for people who want to have an elegant “statement piece” kitchen that doesn’t necessarily take too well to dirt and grime. While they are gorgeous, the truth is that many homeowners find them to be pretty high-maintenance compared to most others.
If you want to get these cabinets, it’s really important to ask yourself if the budget you have is going to handle them. Are you willing to drop 20 G’s on your cabinetry? Moreover, are you willing to hire a painter when those cabinets get scuffed? Also, are you willing to scrub away at the grease that builds up every time that you decide to make fried veggies? If you are willing to spring on the maintenance, then you might be a good match for this cabinetry.
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Related Questions
Is high gloss cabinetry in style?
High gloss cabinetry is one of those things that remain perennially in style. Ever since the 1970s, this type of cabinetry has remained in high demand. It’s sleek, modern, and at the same time, timeless. With that said, the demand for high gloss started to come back at a fever pitch as soon as the “shabby chic” trend of the 2000s ended up going away. So, it’s definitely one of the top trends now.
Does high gloss scratch easily?
It depends on how you define “easily.” When compared to matte finishes or satin finishes, high gloss definitely doesn’t hold up as well. It shows scratches pretty quickly. However, a very thick sealant will help prevent the scuffs and wear that tend to plague this type of cabinetry. So while it is not an extremely durable finish for a cabinet, it is absolutely better than it once was.
Do white gloss kitchens turn yellow?
Over time, almost all white gloss kitchens will start to turn yellow. This is because the UV radiation from sunlight can potentially interact with the paint. As the paint ages, the light-reacted paint will start going from white to yellow. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to fix this aside from investing in paint that has been treated to avoid UV-base aging.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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