Unfinished vs. Finished Cabinet Doors: Which is Best for You?

Whether you're remodeling your kitchen or building the home of your dreams - cabinet doors are one of the most important investments you'll make for the aesthetic you're trying to achieve. Kitchen cabinet doors can completely change the feel of your home - and should be picked wisely.

When exploring the different options, you've likely run into finished vs. unfinished cabinet doors. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. It's best to weigh the pros and cons before deciding which is right for your home.

Here's everything you need to know about unfinished cabinet doors and finished cabinet doors.

Understanding Cabinet Doors

Cabinet doors can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room inside of your home. Whether you're looking for a vintage, modern, or minimalist kitchen design - the cabinets you choose can help you achieve the look you desire.

Before investing in new custom cabinet doors for your project, you'll want to understand the differences between unfinished and finished cabinets.

Unfinished cabinet doors are doors that have yet to be painted or stained. They don't have any protective coating, surface treatments, or natural clear finish applied to the wood.

Finished cabinet doors are painted, stained, and ready to be added to your kitchen the day they arrive. These doors also already have a protective clear finish applied to protect against everyday wear and tear.

Comparing Unfinished and Finished Cabinet Doors

There are pros and cons to consider for both types of cabinet doors before placing your order.

Here's a breakdown of unfinished vs. finished cabinet doors:

Pros and Cons of Unfinished Cabinet Doors

Pro: Customizability and Flexibility

If you're a true DIYer who gets satisfaction from finishing a project - unfinished cabinet doors are a great choice. You can paint, stain, and completely customize the cabinet doors to meet the needs of your ideal kitchen aesthetic.

Pro: Cost-effectiveness

Unfinished cabinet doors are typically more budget-friendly and have lower upfront costs. However, you must consider the additional costs of the stains, paints, and tools needed to complete the project. If you don't typically do DIY finishing or other projects at your house, you'll need to purchase various tools and materials to get the job done.

Con: Labor-Intensive

If you've never stained, painted, or done any DIY cabinet finishing to unfinished cabinet doors - you have your work cut out for you. It may take a few days or even weeks to get the look you're trying to achieve. This is something to remember if you don't have the time or patience to complete the project on your own.

Con: Professional Skills Required

Custom cabinet doors are an investment. If you're painting or adding a stain on your own, you'll want to ensure you get a professional-looking finish at the end of the project. If they don't turn out how you want them to, you may need to start over - which can delay the process even more.

Pros and Cons of Finished Cabinet Doors

Pro: Convenience

The day your finished cabinet doors arrive, they are ready for installation. This means you don't need to waste time painting, staining, or adding the finishing touches to your custom cabinet doors - a professional has already done it for you.

Pro: Guaranteed Professional Look and Feel

One of the benefits of finished cabinet doors is the superior quality and professional grade finish.. When you buy from a trusted company, you can feel confident you'll receive a high-quality finished cabinet door. If you aren't a DIYer or familiar with applying paints, stains, or finishers to unfinished wood- this may be a more suitable option.

Cons: Cost implications

Finished cabinet doors have a higher upfront cost. If you already have the paints or stains you want to use for your cabinets purchased from a previous project, you'll save money going with unfinished cabinet doors.

Cons: Less Customization Options

What you see is what you get. If your finished cabinet doors arrive and you don't like how they look or feel like they don't compliment your current kitchen design - your options are limited. Removing paint or a stain from a finished cabinet door can be challenging, leading to more work and additional costs.

Choosing Between Unfinished and Finished Cabinet Doors

So, which option is best for your project? At the end of the day, it really boils down to personal preference. When deciding between the two, you'll have to consider:

- Budget

Finished cabinet doors have a higher upfront cost to consider. However, unfinished may be cheaper at the beginning, and the DIY tasks and tools you need may start to add up.

- DIY Capability and Interest

Unfinished cabinet doors are a commitment. Do you have the time, money, and energy to DIY your cabinet doors? Do you have the professional skill set necessary to ensure they come out how you want them to? This is something to consider before you decide to order unfinished.

- Desired Kitchen Aesthetics

Whether you're revamping your entire kitchen or looking for new cabinet doors to complement your current aesthetic -the look and feel you want to achieve will always play a role in the project.

Tips for Purchasing and Installing Cabinet Doors

No matter which style you decide best suits your needs - there are a few things you'll want to consider before you purchase or install your new custom cabinet doors.

1. Choose the Right Material

Before ordering unfinished cabinet doors, you must decide if to paint or stain them. If you plan to paint your unfinished cabinet doors, you'll want to invest in a paint-grade material. If you like the natural look and feel of wood, you'll want to take some time to research wood species durability, grain types, and colors before placing your order.

2. Double Check Your Measurements

Custom cabinet doors offer a tailored fit to your cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom. The superior craftsmanship and functional design make them a top choice for any project you have planned. To ensure the cabinets fit the space, you'll want to double-check your measurements to ensure you don't end up with something that doesn't fit your cabinets.

To learn more, read our measurement guide.

3. Pick Out Your Hardware

The hardware you choose can completely change the look and feel of your custom cabinets. Before investing in cabinet hardware, consider the kitchen design. If you want a modern kitchen aesthetic - you may like matte black cabinet pulls or handles for your project. While traditional kitchen aesthetics pair well with brass knobs or vintage finish cabinet hardware.

4. Plan for Installation

Installing your cabinet doors on your own may seem like a daunting task to take on. However, it's a somewhat straightforward process you can easily do with the right materials and guidance.

To learn more, read our step-by-step installation guide.

Invest in High-Quality Custom Cabinet Doors From CabinetDoors.com

At CabinetDoors.com, we offer high-quality custom cabinet doors for an affordable cost. We have a variety of unfinished cabinet doors you can easily paint, stain, and seal on your own. We also have an extensive collection of professionally finished cabinet doors and over 12 Popular Sherwin-Williams colors to choose from.

No matter what your preference is - we're your one-stop shop for all of your needs.

Explore our selection of custom cabinet doors today to get started.