Paint guide
Best Benjamin Moore Paint for Kitchen Cabinets in Burlington
Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the biggest visual upgrades you can make in a home, but cabinets are not the same as regular walls. They get touched every day, exposed to cooking moisture, cleaned often, and viewed up close. That means product choice, prep, primer, sheen, and colour all matter.
At Colour Land Paint in Burlington, we help homeowners, painters, and contractors choose the right Benjamin Moore products for cabinet projects before they start.
Our Go-To Cabinet Paint: Benjamin Moore ADVANCE
For most cabinet painting projects, Benjamin Moore ADVANCE is one of the best options to consider. It is a waterborne alkyd paint designed to give a smooth, furniture-like finish with excellent flow and levelling.
ADVANCE is commonly used for:
- Kitchen cabinets
- Bathroom vanities
- Built-ins
- Interior doors
- Trim
- Furniture-style painted woodwork
For cabinets, the goal is usually a smooth finish that looks clean, holds up to regular use, and does not feel like ordinary wall paint. That is why choosing the right cabinet paint matters.
Which Sheen Is Best for Kitchen Cabinets?
For kitchen cabinets, most customers choose a pearl/satin or semi-gloss finish.
A lower-sheen cabinet finish can look softer and more modern, while semi-gloss gives more shine and can highlight cabinet details. The best choice depends on your cabinet style, colour, lighting, and how much sheen you want to see in the room.
A simple rule:
- Choose pearl/satin for a softer, modern cabinet look.
- Choose semi-gloss if you want more shine and a more traditional cabinet finish.
- Avoid flat or matte wall finishes on cabinets.
Colour Land tip: Bring a cabinet door, drawer front, or clear photo of your kitchen into the store. We can help compare sheen, colour, primer, and product options before you start painting.
Need help narrowing colours first? See our paint colour advice.
Do You Need Primer for Cabinets?
In many cabinet projects, yes. Primer is often one of the most important parts of the job.
Cabinets may have factory finishes, old oil paint, glossy coatings, stain, grease, tannins, or previous coatings that need proper preparation. A good primer can help with adhesion, stain blocking, hide, and the final appearance of the topcoat.
You may need primer if your cabinets are:
- Bare wood
- Previously stained
- Very glossy
- Dark and being painted light
- Oak or another tannin-rich wood
- Previously painted with an unknown coating
- Showing stains, knots, or bleed-through
Do not guess on primer. The wrong primer can cause peeling, poor adhesion, stain bleed, or an uneven finish.
Colour Land tip: If possible, bring a cabinet door or detailed photos to the store. We can help you decide whether you need a bonding primer, stain-blocking primer, or another Benjamin Moore primer option for your surface.
Cabinet Prep Matters
Even the best paint will not fix poor preparation. Cabinets should usually be cleaned, degreased, sanded or scuff-sanded, dusted, primed when needed, and painted carefully.
Before painting cabinets, make sure you consider:
- Removing doors and hardware
- Labelling doors and hinges
- Cleaning grease and residue
- Sanding glossy surfaces
- Choosing the correct primer
- Allowing proper dry and cure time
- Using the right brush, roller, or sprayer
- Testing colour in your actual kitchen lighting
Cabinet painting is more detailed than painting walls. Taking extra time at the beginning usually leads to a much better final result.
Best Benjamin Moore Cabinet Colours
White, off-white, warm greige, soft taupe, deep green, navy, black, and natural neutral cabinet colours are all popular choices. The right colour depends on your counters, backsplash, flooring, wall colour, lighting, and whether you want the cabinets to feel bright, warm, classic, or dramatic.
Before choosing a cabinet colour, test it beside:
- Countertops
- Backsplash
- Flooring
- Wall colour
- Hardware
- Natural and evening light
A colour that looks perfect on a screen can look very different on a cabinet door in your kitchen.
Colour Land tip: Cabinet colours should be tested vertically, not just flat on a table. Bring your paint samples home and view them at different times of day before making the final decision.
Should You Paint Cabinets Yourself or Hire a Painter?
Some homeowners paint their own cabinets, especially smaller vanities or laundry room cabinets. Full kitchen cabinet projects require more planning, more prep, and more patience.
You may want professional help if:
- The kitchen is large
- The cabinets are very glossy
- You want a sprayed finish
- The cabinets have damage or coating issues
- You are changing from dark to light
- You need the job completed quickly
- You are unsure about prep or primer
Colour Land can help you choose the right Benjamin Moore paint, primer, sundries, and colour direction whether you are doing the project yourself or working with a painter.
Visit Colour Land Before You Paint Your Cabinets
Before you buy cabinet paint, visit Colour Land Paint in Burlington. We can help you compare Benjamin Moore ADVANCE, primer options, sheen choices, colour samples, brushes, rollers, sanding supplies, and prep products.
Bring photos, a cabinet door, or colour inspiration with you. The more we can see, the better we can help.
Colour Land Paint
3505 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington, ON
Your independent Benjamin Moore paint store in Burlington
Kitchen Cabinet Paint FAQ
What is the best Benjamin Moore paint for kitchen cabinets?
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE is one of the best Benjamin Moore options for kitchen cabinets because it is designed for a durable, smooth, furniture-like finish.
What sheen should I use on kitchen cabinets?
Pearl/satin and semi-gloss are popular cabinet sheen choices. Pearl/satin gives a softer look, while semi-gloss gives more shine and highlights cabinet details.
Do I need primer before painting cabinets?
Many cabinet projects need primer, especially if the cabinets are glossy, stained, bare wood, dark, or previously coated with an unknown finish. Bring photos or a cabinet door to Colour Land and we can help choose the right primer.
Can I use regular wall paint on cabinets?
Regular wall paint is usually not the best choice for cabinets. Cabinets need a tougher finish because they are touched, cleaned, and used much more than walls.
Should I test cabinet colours first?
Yes. Cabinet colours should be tested in your actual kitchen lighting beside your counters, backsplash, flooring, and hardware before you commit.