Last Updated on June 4, 2024 by lindseymahoney
Whether it’s your kitchen or bathroom, a fresh coat of paint on your cabinets can completely transform the look of the space. When it comes to choosing the best paint for the job, Sherwin-Williams offers several excellent options that provide durability, a smooth finish, and easy application. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top Sherwin-Williams paint choices for cabinets and why they are ideal for your next makeover.
Table of Contents
- Best Sherwin Williams Paint for Cabinets
- 1 | Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
- 2 | ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd
- 3 | SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex
- 4 | Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex
- My Top Pick for the Best Sherwin Williams Paint For Cabinets
- Tips for Painting Kitchen Cabinets
- My Favorite Cabinetry Paint that is NOT Sherwin Williams
- More Content You Will Love
Best Sherwin Williams Paint for Cabinets
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Sherwin William’s has four types of paint products that are recommended when painting cabinets.
1 | Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel is a premium choice for painting kitchen cabinets. This water-based urethane-modified alkyd offers the durability and smoothness of oil-based paint with the convenience of water-based cleanup.
Why It’s Great for Cabinets:
- Durability: This paint is highly resistant to wear, making it perfect for high-traffic areas like kitchen cabinets.
- Smooth Finish: It levels out beautifully, providing a smooth, professional-looking finish that rivals oil-based paints.
- Non-Yellowing: Unlike traditional oil-based paints, Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel won’t yellow over time, keeping your cabinets looking fresh and new.
- Low VOC: It has a low VOC (volatile organic compounds) content, which means fewer odors and a healthier environment during application.
2 | ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd
ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd is another top-performing paint from Sherwin-Williams that combines the benefits of both acrylic and alkyd resins. It’s designed for trim and doors but works exceptionally well on cabinets too.
Why It’s Great for Cabinets:
- Hard, Durable Finish: Provides a durable, hard finish that stands up to the daily wear and tear of kitchen use.
- Smooth Application: Offers a smooth application and excellent leveling properties, reducing the appearance of brush strokes.
- Quick Drying: Dries faster than traditional alkyd paints, allowing you to complete your project more quickly.
- Easy Cleanup: Being water-based, it’s easy to clean up with soap and water, yet it still delivers the toughness of oil-based paint.
3 | SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex
SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex is a versatile, high-quality paint that’s suitable for a wide range of interior surfaces, including kitchen cabinets. It offers good coverage and a durable finish.
Why It’s Great for Cabinets:
- Versatility: It’s a versatile option that adheres well to a variety of surfaces, making it suitable for cabinets made from different materials.
- Durability: Provides a durable, washable finish that can withstand frequent cleaning and use.
- Good Coverage: Offers excellent coverage, which can reduce the number of coats needed to achieve a rich, uniform color.
- Affordability: It’s more budget-friendly compared to some other premium options, without compromising on quality.
4 | Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex
Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex is known for its buttery smooth application and luxurious, low-stipple finish. It’s a great choice for homeowners looking to achieve a sophisticated look for their kitchen cabinets.
Why It’s Great for Cabinets:
- Smooth Finish: The paint’s unique formula provides an exceptionally smooth and even finish, perfect for cabinets.
- Washability: It’s easy to clean, making it ideal for areas like the kitchen where spills and splatters are common.
- Low Luster: Available in various sheens, including low luster, which is great for a soft, elegant look on cabinets.
- Self-Leveling: Helps reduce the appearance of brush marks and imperfections.
My Top Pick for the Best Sherwin Williams Paint For Cabinets
In my opinion, Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel is the best Sherwin-Williams product to use when painting cabinetry. I have had lots of personal experience with this type of paint and am very pleased with how well it holds up in high-traffic areas. It is great for painted furniture makeovers as well!
BATHROOM VANITY
Recently I updated our kid’s retro bathroom and I gave the existing vanity cabinetry a makeover using paint. Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel paint was the perfect choice for this cabinet that gets heavy usage every day.
When it came to choosing the perfect shade of green, I had dozens of beautiful Sherwin Williams colors to choose from. If you are not color matching your paint, I highly recommend grabbing some paint chips to sample in the space where the cabinetry will be painted.
The natural light in the space and task lighting will make the paint sample look different than in the store. This is your best bet for choosing the best paint color the first time!
This paint formula is a little pricey for me, so luckily there are a variety of sizes you can purchase if you need a smaller amount. I only had to purchase a quart of paint instead of a full gallon to paint the bathroom vanity, which saved me money!
KITCHEN ISLAND
When we renovated our kitchen, we wanted a gray kitchen island to compliment the white cabinets around the perimeter of the room. We chose gray cabinets from Home Depot and I hired a handyman to install vertical planks on the back of the island.
Hiring someone to finish the back of the island using wood instead of the cabinet finishing material saved us a ton of money and we achieved the same look. This is a great hack when you have a tight budget!
Once the decorative wall treatment was attached to the island, I used wood filler to cover the nail holes and sanded it smooth. I always recommend applying a good primer on raw wood before applying the finishing paint color. My go-to Sherwin Williams paint primer is Extreme Coat Bond Primer.
Next, I took one of the cabinet doors to our local Sherwin Williams store and had them color match the gray color exactly. Bringing a piece of the kitchen cabinetry is incredibly helpful when matching a paint color and the paint sheen. The satin sheen was the best finish to match the surface of the cabinetry.
I used a 2″ angled paintbrush and a smooth surface paint roller to achieve a clean look that matched the purchased cabinetry. I am so happy with the finished product and how seamlessly the paint blends with the premade gray cabinetry!
Tips for Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Regardless of which Sherwin-Williams paint you choose, here are some essential tips to ensure a successful cabinet painting project:
- Preparation is Key: Thoroughly clean and sand your cabinets to ensure the paint adheres properly. Remove all grease, dirt, and old paint or varnish.
- Use a Primer: Apply a high-quality primer to ensure good adhesion and to create a smooth base for your paint.
- Use Quality Tools: Invest in high-quality brushes and rollers designed for smooth finishes to achieve the best results.
- Apply Thin Coats: Apply multiple thin coats of paint rather than one thick coat to avoid drips and achieve a more even finish.
- Allow Proper Drying Time: Be patient and allow each coat of paint to dry completely before applying the next one. This will ensure a durable and professional-looking finish.
My Favorite Cabinetry Paint that is NOT Sherwin Williams
If you are looking for a quicker process for painting cabinetry, I recommend using a cabinet paint kit. One of my favorite features of these paint kits is that you can skip sanding the entire surface of the cabinets!
The kit includes a de-glosser cleaning agent, the paint color base, and a durable top coat finish. This kit provides all of the materials you need to paint your cabinets quickly with results that will withstand the test of time!
*Check out this step-by-step guide to painting kitchen cabinets using Rust-Oleum Transformations Paint Kit.
Choosing the right paint for your kitchen cabinets can make all the difference in the final result.
Each of these paints provides durability, a smooth finish, and ease of application, making them perfect for transforming your kitchen cabinets. With the right preparation and application, you’ll achieve a stunning, long-lasting finish that breathes new life into your kitchen.
Happy painting!