Materials & Finishes
Millwork Finishes & Sheens
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
Cabinet paint and wall paint are different products and the distinction matters more than the colour. A shop-applied catalysed coating cures to a hard film that survives daily contact; a brush-applied wall paint stays comparatively soft and chips. For sheen: satin on cabinetry, satin or semi-gloss on trim, and avoid high gloss unless the substrate is genuinely flawless.
Coating types
| Coating | Durability | Applied | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion varnish / catalysed | Highest | Shop-sprayed | Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, mudrooms |
| Catalysed lacquer | High | Shop-sprayed | Cabinetry generally |
| Waterborne alkyd | Good | Brush or spray | Trim, site-finished built-ins |
| Acrylic enamel | Moderate | Brush or spray | Trim, low-contact millwork |
| Standard wall paint | Low | Brush/roller | Walls only — not millwork |
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Choosing a sheen
- Matte / flat
- Hides surface imperfection beautifully, marks easily and is hard to clean. Suitable for low-contact panelling; poor for cabinetry.
- Eggshell
- Slight sheen. Reasonable for wall panelling in low-traffic rooms.
- Satin
- The default for cabinetry and most trim. Enough sheen to clean, not enough to spotlight every flaw.
- Semi-gloss
- Traditional trim sheen. Durable and cleanable; shows substrate imperfection more than satin.
- High gloss
- Dramatic and completely unforgiving. Every dent, sanding mark and filler patch will be visible. Only over a flawless, properly prepared substrate.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Can I paint cabinets with regular wall paint?
- You can, and it will chip within months on anything you touch daily. Wall paint is formulated to cover a porous vertical surface, not to cure into a hard film that survives fingernails, cleaning products and door edges. Use a coating intended for millwork.
- What sheen should trim be?
- Satin or semi-gloss. Semi-gloss is the traditional choice and is very cleanable; satin is slightly more forgiving of imperfect substrate and reads as more contemporary. Matte trim looks beautiful and marks the first time someone scuffs it with a vacuum.
- Why does my cabinet paint look different from the sample?
- Sheen and lighting. The same colour in satin looks lighter and flatter than in semi-gloss, and a north-facing Calgary room in winter renders colour very differently from a showroom. Always view a sample in the actual room, in both daylight and artificial light, before committing.
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