Painting changes finish; refacing changes fronts
Choose painting when you like the door style and layout but want a new finish. The existing fronts remain, so their shape and much of their character remain too.
Refacing usually involves new doors or drawer fronts and a new finish on the visible parts of retained boxes. It can change the style more substantially without replacing the entire cabinet structure. Ask the provider to define exactly what their refacing package includes.
Neither option solves a layout that no longer works. New boxes or a wider kitchen project may be more suitable in that case.
Compare condition, layout and door style
| Question | Painting may fit | Refacing or other work may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Do you like the door shape? | Yes; only the finish is dated | No; you want different fronts |
| Are the boxes sound? | Condition supports a finish project | Damage needs repair or replacement first |
| Does the layout work? | You want to keep it | Storage or arrangement needs a separate design |
| Is the grain or surface important? | Review a finish sample | Compare new front materials |
These are decision prompts, not a remote condition assessment. Have the actual cabinets checked before choosing.
Include counters, hardware and kitchen access
Hardware changes can leave old holes or alter door operation. Countertops and backsplashes can also constrain cabinet changes. Discuss those plans together before paying for a finish you may later disturb.
Ask how the kitchen will remain usable, where parts will be finished and who refits them. A lower-disruption option still needs a practical access plan.
Ask for comparable finished scopes
Compare the complete retained-cabinet result: preparation, visible sides, fronts, trim, hardware work and refitting. Do not rely on a universal claim that one option always saves a fixed percentage.
Use cabinet painting costs to assemble the parts list. If your goal is a finish refresh, request cabinet painting and explain what you want to keep.