While remodeling your kitchen, you need to ensure that you pick the right cabinets. Among modern cabinet options available, the trend for unfinished cabinets has been increasing in popularity. These are cabinets without a final coat of paint or stain. You can customize your way through any finish you prefer. This blog will guide you through everything you should know about the benefits of using an unfinished cabinet and some great styles of kitchen cabinet doors available in the market today.
What Are Unfinished Cabinets?
Finished, unfinished cabinet interiors without paintings, stains, or seals. They generally reach your home prepared for you to paint, stain, or seal. These are ideal if a person feels like doing all the work in their kitchen.
- Natural finish
- Ready for your choice
- To be fit with any finish
Design options
There are several advantages first, about leaving cabinets unfinished. They will certainly offer a clean canvass where you may opt for a color or stain to suit the cabinet design of your kitchen. This is very helpful, especially when you’re matching some other existing furniture or other décor inside your house.
Unfinished cabinets are also cheaper than pre-finished ones. So, it’s an excellent way for budget-conscious homeowners to realize that they have such an option available for their cabinetries.
- Customizable finishes
- Cost-effective
- Easy to match with the decor
Knowledge of Various Wood Species
Raw cabinets mainly have a great role when choosing the wooden species. Each has unique characteristics ranging from grain pattern, hardness, and color. The most commonly used wooden species include oak, maple, and birch. Oak has a very significant grain that makes the finish stronger, and maple has a very fine grain that is extremely smooth for painting. Birch is relatively cheap but has a fine grain that stains well.
- Oak: Strong with strong grain patterns.
- Maple: Very smooth, perfect for painting.
- Birch: Inexpensive fine stained grain.
Kitchen Cabinet Door Style
The other thing to consider, apart from the color, is the type of kitchen cabinet door styles. The door style can really make or break the aesthetic of your kitchen. Shaker doors are very common because they create a simple, clean line look. So, you have your traditional kind with raised panel doors, while the modern minimalist case will use flat panel doors. You want to get it right so that your kitchen looks just the way you want.
- Shaker Style: Clean, simple lines.
- Raised Panel: Traditional but classy.
- Flat Panel: Modern, bare-bones, minimalist.
Finishing Unfinished Cabinets
Finishing unfinished cabinets can be a relatively simple task, which only entails some preparation and then sanding off the wood to smooth out the surface, applying primer if painting, or using wood conditioner for staining if you are staining. Once primed, then coat with your favorite paint, and stain along with sealing protection to make it last longer.
- Smooth out the surface with sanding.
- Apply primer or wood conditioner.
- Paint or stain
- Seal for protection
Making Over Your Cabinets
Unfinished cabinets leave you with ample space to make them what you want or any shade you feel like. You can choose a different color, join different finishes, and add some trim or glass panels for your decorative accent. Mix and match styles of kitchen cabinet door styles to give it the unique look that you want. With these, you have a great opportunity to create a kitchen that truly shows off your personality.
- Pick custom colors
- Add decorative trim or glass panels
- Door style options
Cost Option
While unfinished cabinets are cheaper to obtain initially, there are other costs that apply. You would have to spend money on materials like paint, stain, and sealant. Moreover, you’ll also incur labor when you hire someone else to finish it. But even with all those added costs, unfinished cabinets tend to be the cheapest of all compared to pre-finished ones.
- Lower initial cost
- Overhead cost of finishing materials
- Optional professional labor cost
Where to Find Unfinished Cabinets
Unfinished cabinets are sold in most home improvement stores. Many retailers also offer online browsing, where you can find an impressive variety of cabinet styles and wood types. Some companies even enable custom unfinished cabinets so you can order cabinets according to your requirements for particular measurements and design preferences.
- Available at home improvement stores
- Wide selection online
- Custom work options
Maintenance and Care Tips
Unfinished cabinets need care and maintenance so they can last for years. They should be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild detergent. Avoid using strong chemicals that could damage the wood. Sealants on the finish should also be reapplied from time to time to preserve the new-like appearance and prevent moisture and wear on the wood.
- Clean with mild detergent
- Avoid harsh chemicals
- Reapply sealant periodically
Unfinished Cabinets in DIY Projects
Unfinished cabinets are also ideal for Do-It-Yourselfers. You see, for those who love DIY activities, finishing your cabinets may be a great affair since it gives you an opportunity to try out various techniques, such as distressing or glazing, in bringing out the true beauty in your cabinets. Second, handling the finishing process yourself saves you money and it boosts your ego.
- Good for DIYers
- Uniqueness techniques to try
- It is worth your money and fulfilling
Conclusion
Unfinished cabinets give you the greatest opportunity for a custom-fit kitchen that definitely suits your style and budget. From selecting which wood type would look best in your kitchen, or which perfect kitchen cabinet door styles, works best with your theme, unfinished cabinets give you virtually complete design flexibility over your kitchen. Sure, they require more effort than a pre-finished cabinet, but the space is worth all the hard work. The right care and upkeep will ensure that the semi finished cabinets will always become beautiful and usable pieces in your home for a long period.
It’s more than the budget-friendly idea of saving on cabinets. Unfinished cabinets are an investment in creativity and personalization. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or would be more than happy to take part in every aspect of your home’s design, unfinished cabinets work as a perfect canvas. Consider them for your next kitchen renovation project and enjoy the satisfaction of having a space that truly reflects your vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it cheaper to buy unfinished cabinets?
A. Yes, that is the response! Because the cost of finishing the cabinets is not incurred, unfinished cabinets are less expensive than pre-finished cabinets.
Q. What is the difference between finished and unfinished kitchen cabinets?
A. The lack of paint, stain, or sealer is the main factor influencing the cost differential between unfinished and finished cabinets. However, the lack of hardware in unfinished cabinets also affects their cost.
Q. How do you protect unfinished cabinets?
A. Wax or natural oils can also treat and protect unfinished wood. These goods seep into the wood, revealing its natural beauty and protecting it from stains and moisture.
Q. How do you seal unfinished wood?
A. Use a moist cloth to clean the wood thoroughly, and then lightly sand the surface before using the sealant of your choice. Make sure the sealer is applied in thin, wood-grain-following layers.
Q. Can you use oil on unfinished wood?A. Timber and bare wood can benefit from wood oil’s protective and edgy qualities. Wood oils nourish the wood from within and offer a long-lasting, economical, and deeply penetrating finish for wooden surfaces.