In today’s kitchen, cabinet finishing is more than just a design element. It’s a crucial factor in defining the aesthetic, functionality, and atmosphere of the space.
Warm metallic tones like brushed gold and brass are experiencing a significant resurgence in popularity, complementing both light and dark cabinet colors. These finishes add a timeless elegance to the kitchen. They also hide fingerprints and smudges better than glossy surfaces, making them a practical choice for high-traffic areas. Contact Cabinet Refinishing Modesto for more information.
Matte Gloss
Unlike glossy surfaces that reflect light, matte surfaces scatter it. Whether on paper, canvas or HD aluminum mediums, this subdued sheen adds a touch of class to prints while reducing glare in brightly lit displays. It’s also an ideal choice for works of art with subtle saturation and broad tonal ranges, such as black-and-white or fine-art photography.
Matte finishes are redefining kitchen design in 2025, blending self-expression and customization with comforting familiarity to create a space that’s truly home. In place of the ornate carvings, corbels and thick moldings of yesterday, this modern cabinet color trend offers a clean, European-inspired aesthetic that blends seamlessly into open-concept homes with a strong visual connection between the kitchen and living areas.
The enduring popularity of matte cabinet paint comes from its ability to offer a rich, sophisticated look with minimal surface markings and wear-and-tear. This smooth, non-reflective finish hides fingerprints and smudges well, making it an excellent option for high-traffic kitchens where durability matters most.
For those who prefer a bit more shine, satin-finish paint is available to deliver a soft pearlescent glow. While it doesn’t provide as much resistance to moisture and scrubbing as matte, its slightly glossier sheen helps mask marks, so it’s still an excellent choice for high-traffic spaces like hallways, children’s rooms, and kitchens that need extra resilience against smudges and spills.
Almost every product-based business utilizes a matte coating to enhance the aesthetic appeal and improve the tactile experience of printed packaging. This muted sheen delivers a luxurious, premium feel to the materials, while its non-reflective properties make text more easily readable on the material’s surface. The process for creating matte coating is simple: a liquid is applied and cured with UV light to create a dull, flat appearance.
Matte White
Matte white paint has a slightly creamy finish and doesn’t reflect light, which creates a sophisticated look. It also doesn’t show smudges or fingerprints as easily as glossy finishes, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas that require frequent cleaning like hallways and entryways. This finish can also add warmth and richness to formal dining rooms.
When it comes to printing, matte and gloss are the two core finishes extensively used in the industry. Each has its own strengths, drawbacks and ideal use cases to help you select the best option for your products.
Matte finishes are not only more cost-effective than lamination, they’re also a great way to preserve a print and add a velvety feel to the material. The matte coating helps prevent fading over time, which is especially important for color-rich prints. The matte coating on the substrate also gives the material a silky, soft touch, which can enhance the tactile experience of your products and boost their brand value.
Glossy paper and aluminum prints feature a smooth, high-sheen surface that attracts the eye and provides an attractive glow. They’re ideal for displaying treasured memories and artworks to highlight the image and make it more visually compelling. The surface’s special coating also protects the print and helps it resist scratches, stains and moisture.
While matte and glossy finishes are polarizing, many homeowners use a combination of these options in their homes. For instance, matte finishes are popular for ceilings and main walls while satin is better suited to doors, trim and accent walls that will be frequently touched or scuffed.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that the sheen of a matte finish depends on the surface’s texture. Rough surfaces like sandpaper or linen have a dull appearance while smooth surfaces (like glossy paint) have a shiny appearance. This is because atoms on rough surfaces are spaced farther apart than they are on smooth surfaces, which allows the particles to scatter and absorb light more effectively.
Matte Neutrals
As the popularity of natural wood continues to rise, homeowners are re-embracing rustic kitchen cabinet finishes that offer a touch of natural charm. These organic accents create a harmonious visual tapestry that adds intrigue to their home’s design.
In addition to bringing a cozy feel to the kitchen, wood tones are versatile in their ability to work with various cabinet colors and textures. For example, black lower cabinets paired with white uppers provide high contrast that’s visually engaging. But the use of light stains and textured surfaces softens this bold combination, creating a more balanced look that’s suitable for any room.
Homeowners are also re-embracing matte neutrals as an alternative to glossy options for their image-based creations, such as giclee prints and canvas art. With their subdued aesthetic, these prints highlight intricate details and rich hues that shine through without the distraction of glare or sheen. Additionally, matte prints are often more resistant to fingerprints and scratches than glossy choices, making them ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens.
Matte paper, canvas, and aluminum mediums typically have a subtle texture that adds a tactile appeal to print designs. The lack of a thick coating also means that matte substrates tend to dry faster than gloss choices, which can help reduce the chance of smudging or marking in busy environments.
The 2025 trend for earthy tones is a reflection of people’s growing desire to connect with the natural world. These nature-inspired shades evoke a sense of calm and balance, encouraging people to take a break from their technology-driven lives. Additionally, these earthy tones can work well in open-plan kitchens that carry their cabinets into dining or living spaces to help them feel more connected to the space.
In this color family, you’ll find mushroom and taupe tones that feel grounded and refined, as well as the new generation of khaki hues with a rich, balanced warmth. Deep navy blues and inky midnight blues add a tailored sense of confidence to kitchens. These dark tones work especially well when paired with lighter uppers for a classic English pantry look or in rooms that have ample natural light to ground the palette.
Two-Tone
When it comes to creating a two-tone design, homeowners have a variety of color combinations and styles to choose from. The key is to choose colors that complement each other and will still look fresh in years to come. Trendy color pairings may be appealing now, but they can quickly date your kitchen design.
One of the most popular trends is to pair a dark wood tone with a lighter shade of paint or solid surface. This creates a rich, bold design that can add drama to any space. Our Impression Series offers a variety of wood texture finishes that can be paired with either our full overlay frameless Lucca or frameless Bella cabinet styles to create an interesting two-tone design.
Another popular choice is to create a classic white shaker kitchen with a darker lower cabinet or Island. This creates a timeless design that will never go out of style. Our Shaker cabinet line has six different color options to choose from that will provide a wide range of choices for homeowners.
When choosing a two-tone design, it’s important to consider other kitchen elements like countertops, backsplashes and flooring. The cabinets should compliment the surrounding surfaces to ensure a cohesive and thoughtfully designed space. Two-tone cabinets can also be a great way to tie in your design with other home furnishings and accessories, like bar stools or light fixtures. Keep in mind that if you decide to use a two-tone design, it’s best to stick with neutral colors over bold hues to increase resale value.
