Granite Works

Designing kitchen cabinets involve choosing among many factors, such as whether you should choose marble or granite countertops, or raised or recessed panels. In today’s post, Granite Works discusses another less-discussed decision that one will eventually make when getting new kitchen cabinets: whether or not to choose a glossy finish.

Kitchen Cabinets With a Glossy Finish

High-gloss kitchen cabinets became very popular in the 1970s and complemented accessories made of chrome and Bakelite. However, unlike other aesthetic trends of the time, gloss finishes remain popular to this day. Kitchen cabinets with gloss finishes are typically seen in contemporary kitchen styles, particularly with designs that emphasize sleekness, with minimal to no accessories. Glossy kitchen cabinets also complement equally glossy design elements like subway tiles.

Pros of Gloss Finishes

Many homeowners choose kitchen cabinets with glossy finishes for many reasons. Among these is that its reflective properties can help brighten up small kitchens, whereas matte finishes diffuse light and can visually “compress” a kitchen. Glossy surfaces also allow more flexibility with color choices. Dark colors tend to absorb light, but a glossy finish helps offset this by reflecting the light back out.

Kitchen cabinets with a glossy finish are as easy to clean as a granite countertop as oils and dirt do not stick to its surface. All you need is a clean microfiber cloth and diluted dish detergent to wipe the surface clean.

Cons of Gloss Finishes

Glossy surfaces are not without certain disadvantages that are worth considering. A common complaint about glossy surfaces is that they highlight imperfections, such as dents, scratches and fingerprints. While fingerprints and smudges can be wiped off with a cleaning cloth, removing scratches and dents can be difficult without special products or procedures. They’re especially noticeable when you choose dark colors. This makes kitchen cabinets unsuitable in kitchens where children or small pets may touch or damage the cabinet surfaces.

Granite Works is your leading provider of quality yet cheap granite countertops. Give us a call at (301) 690-9093. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Maryland and Washington, DC, as well as the surrounding communities.