The kitchen is arguably the most important room in a house, isn’t it? There is an old saying that a house with a beautiful kitchen must have beautiful people living in it. Well, we can’t argue with that now, can we?
However, the kitchen furniture is very important for the kitchen’s tidiness and beauty. If you have a very beautiful kitchen space but an old, rusty cabinet, your kitchen will look awful. That’s why you need to give your kitchen cabinet a vintage look.
But, to do that, you need to repaint or enhance the old paint on your kitchen cabinet and the best sealer for the kitchen cabinet can help you achieve exactly that.
Although there are many types and brands of sealers available on the market. So, choosing the right one for you can be tough. That’s why our experts spent hours researching and finding the top four sealers for kitchen cabinets.
Keep reading to find out more about them.
Best Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet Reviews
This section contains multiple options. But, not all of them might be suitable for your needs. So, read thoroughly and choose a sealer for the kitchen cabinet that fits your necessities.
1. Rust-Oleum Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet | Chalked Paint
Do you want a type of paint that can be used on absolutely anything, anywhere? Then, Rust-oleum has just the perfect type of paint for you. Rust-oleum chalk paint is easy to use, quick and reliable. These chalked paints work perfectly for wood furniture and especially kitchen cabinets.
If you want to give your interior a rustic, vintage feel there’s nothing better than chalked paint. Chalked paint gives the furniture a matte, vintage look. Also, as these are water-based, they are very easy to use and quick to dry.
However, prepping is not an easy task. Sanding and priming furniture before painting can be very tough for novices. That’s why Rust-oleum made their paints in such a way that they require minimum prepping. No sanding is necessary for most surfaces.
Although priming is suggested before using on bare wood. This is such an advantage that most other sealers or paints on the market can’t provide. So, Rust-oleum chalked paint is surely one of a kind!
Product Features:
- Soap & Water Clean Up
- Use on multi-surface like wood, metal, ceramic
- Fast dry within 30 minutes
- Comes in many colors & finishes
- Great for DIY projects
- A smooth and velvety finish gives a vintage look
- 12 different colors to choose from
- Minimum odor and water-based paint
- Can be used on a variety of surfaces
- Dries in just 30 minutes
- Some users complained that top-coating ruined their paint job
- Sealant makes white color yellowish
2. Varathane Cabinet Sealer for Kitchen| Water-based Polyurethane
If you don’t want to color but only coat your wooden cabinet then, having the best water-based polyurethane for furniture is going to help you a lot. That’s why we had to include Varathane ultimate polyurethane to this list.
Varathane polyurethane protects the surface of wooden furniture. These are very durable and last longer than average polyurethane on the market. Also, Varathane polyurethane offers four different styles to match your interiors.
However, applying polyurethane is very time-consuming. Usually, polyurethane takes three or more hours to dry between coating. But, you can do your job fast if you buy from Varathane. Their polyurethane dries to the touch in only 30 minutes.
Anyway, if you compare other polyurethane sealants for wood with Varathane, you will find that these provide a beautiful, smooth finish in a very short time, without compromising their quality.
Product Features:
- Fast clean with water & soap, Low odor
- It will never turn into yellow
- Protect indoor furniture such as windows, doors, cabinets
- Dries up fast thanks to the water-based formula
- The best protection from scratch & stain
- Amazing scratch resistance with excellent clarity
- Cleans up with soap and water
- Gloss, Semi-gloss, Matte, and Satin finish available
- A single can covers 125 sq ft.
- Fastest drying polyurethane in the market
- Harmful vapor, precautions are necessary
- The containers could be made better
3. Nuvo Cabinet Sealer | Coconut Espresso
Well, if the color is named coconut espresso, it’s going to catch your eyes. However, Nuvo has much more to offer than funny names. These are light, satin finish, beige color and these are specialized for cabinets.
Also, these paints don’t need you to remove the cabinet or prime them. All you need is a roller and a brush and you’re good to go. However, the color Coconut espresso can lean more off-white or beige depending on the lighting in your kitchen.
However, safety and health hazard are the main concern for novices. As these are water-based acrylic paints, they are very safe. With a low odor and VOCs, you can use these paints anywhere without any concerns.
Anyway, Nuvo cabinets are paints that don’t need any prepping except thoroughly cleaning the surface of your furniture. Also, the paint itself is a sealer, so you don’t need to use any other type of sealant.
Product Features:
- Very light, creamy beige, satin finish paint
- Covers approximately 50 sq. ft of area
- Water-Based Acrylic
- For the best protection apply 2 coats
- Takes up to 4 hours to dry up
- A single can of 31 Oz covers 50 sq ft
- Safe, low odor, water-based acrylic paint
- Light, creamy satin finish with a rustic look
- Requires no prepping and dries fast
- Some users complained that the paint cracks when drying
- Nuvo apparently sent returned products to some users
4. Minwax Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet | Wipe-on Poly
Do you have an old, dull cabinet that you would want to revive? Then, Minwax has the best sealer for the kitchen cabinets for you. These are so easy to use that anyone can use them without any prior knowledge about woodwork!
Minwax wipe-on poly is just perfect. Because, all you need is some clean clothes, 220-grit sandpaper, and the wipe-on poly and you’re good to go! The furniture only needs to be sanded and you can just pour the poly and wipe it on with soft clothes as the name suggests!
However, as these are so easy to put on, it’s only natural to question their durability. Although you don’t need to worry about that at all. Because, Minwax sealers are wipe-on polyurethane by nature but they work perfectly, lasting a long time.
Anyway, when compared to other sealants on the market, you won’t find any other that is so easy to work with but provides such good results.
Product Features:
- Thicker, Low Odor
- Long-Lasting
- Fast drying Technology
- Usable on many surfaces such as wood, bamboo, metal
- Very simple and easy to use
- Provides durable and clear finish
- Water-based polyurethane so cleans easily with water
- Low-odor and ultra-fast drying
- Great alternative for DIY polyurethane finish
- Dries a bit faster than average
- Requires minimum two coatings
Top 4 Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet Comparision
Title | Paint Type | Surface | Color | Tating |
Rust-Oleum Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet | Acrylic | Wood,Ceramic,Furniture,Metal | Blush Pink | |
Varathane Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet | Watercolor | Wood | Gloss Finish | |
Nuvo Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet | Acrylic | Wood | Coconut Espresso | |
Minwax Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet | Water Based | Wood,Ceramic,Furniture,Metal | Gloss (Water Based) |
Buying Guide for Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet
Sealers are closely related to primers. These are used to make porous surfaces, non-porous. There are different types of sealers. Some are clear coatings and some are colored. Also, different brands of sealers work differently on different surfaces.
Mainly there are two basic categories of wood finishes and sealants. There are ones that penetrate the wood and there are ones that coat the wood. Many factors need to be considered to choose one above the other.
Some of the factors are the type of wood, usage of the furniture, skill set of the user, and tools available. However, penetrating finishes like Linseed oil or wax are easier to use and are very forgiving. Although these don’t provide much protection.
On the other hand, coating finished like lacquer or varnish provides much more protection to wood and varnish is very easy to use by hand too.
So, you need to understand how cabinet sealers work to find out the best one for you. However, if you keep some things in mind before buying a sealer for the kitchen cabinet, you can find the perfect one. Follow the guide below to help you choose the best one for you.
Longevity
You want your sealer to last a long time, don’t you? Cheaper sealers are not very durable, so you have to find a durable sealer that will protect your cabinet for a longer time. You can consider buying a top coat for painted cabinets that last longer.
Color
If you want a good-looking kitchen interior, you need to make sure that the color of your cabinet matches the overall color scheme in your kitchen. Beautiful, neutral colors can have much more impact on your interior than you think.
However, if you aren’t sure about the color to choose, you should go with neutral, matte, or semi-gloss colors. This includes all shades of white, gray, black, brown, etc. Although try to make sure that you combine dark and light colors.
High Abrasion Resistance
As cabinet sealers are mainly used to protect your wood or other furniture, you need to buy one with high abrasion resistance. As kitchen cabinets store sharp, metallic objects it’s possible that the coat or the furniture itself can get damaged.
That’s why sealers with high abrasion resistance are likely to last longer and keep your kitchen cabinet looking amazing!
If you keep these things in mind before buying a sealer for the kitchen cabinet, you will surely find the perfect and most suitable one for you.
Types of Sealer for Kitchen Cabinet
If you want your wooden furniture to last longer and provide strength to the wood, you need to use the best sealants for wood that you can find. Sealing is very different than staining and you need to thoroughly understand what you want for your project.
Sealers do their job by sealing the wood in a clear, water-proof substance like polyurethane which ensures that the wood lasts longer and does not rot. Also, moisture can damage wood from the inside out.
This is especially a problem in winter. Because water can get inside through the cracks of untreated wood and then turn into ice which expands its area! So, this damages the wooden surface a lot.
That’s why sealers prevent moisture to get inside the wood through condensation. As you can use sealers on virtually any wooden furniture, sealers are very handy and help wood maintain its structure for a long time.
However, there are different types of sealers available. They will be discussed below.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a class of polymers. These plastic coatings are usually used on wooden furniture for increasing their longevity and durability. Polyurethane is widely used. Because these polyurethane sealers are very durable and water-resistant.
These are ideal for kitchen cabinets, doors, tables, etc.
Varnish
Varnish for wood is a clear, transparent protective coating and this works great. Varnish has been used for a long time by woodworkers and its durability is long-proven. However, Polyurethane is easier to use for novices than varnish.
Shellac wood finish
Shellac is a type of resin secreted by female lac bugs on the trees of India and Thailand. Shellac is used as a wood finish by mixing it in an alcohol solvent.
Shellac finish is very easy to use and dries fairly quickly. However, shellac is much more expensive than industrially produced polyurethane.
Wax finish for wood
Wax is a coating finish for wood. This doesn’t penetrate the wood and simply coats the wood. These are fairly easy to use and the finished result looks natural and rich.
Danish Oil
Danish oil is a thin oil and varnish mixture. The oil helps bring out the beauty of the wood and the varnish resin offers increased protection to the wood. Danish oil offers much more protection to chemicals, heat, scratches, etc than wax or shellac.
These are the type of wood finish sealants. Although there are some more types those are not significant and these are the ones mostly used.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Do you put a clear coat on kitchen cabinets?
If you don’t want to do a lot of repainting, you should always clear coat your kitchen cabinets. Modern-day polyurethane type clear coatings offer much more protection and longevity. So, you can use them without any hesitation.
How do you seal kitchen cabinets?
To seal your kitchen cabinet, you need some type of sealer like polyurethane or varnish. Then, you need to clean your cabinet thoroughly and sand the surface properly. After sanding, you can apply the coating smoothly and easily.
You should use a high-quality synthetic brush or soft foam for this process. Also, some sealers can be used with normal soft clothing. However, you need to apply two or three coatings depending on the sealer you buy.
Also, make sure that you sand properly after coating. Learn more about the process of sealing cabinets.
Should cabinets be semi-gloss or satin?
Satin finishes are mildly glossy. Satin finish resists stains and scuffs. So, these are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Also, these are not too shiny. So, Satin gives the cabinet a rustic look.
On the other hand, the semi-gloss finish makes the wood pretty shiny. The wood mostly reflects light after the finish. Semi-gloss too resists stains, and scratches and these are suitable for cabinets too. So, choosing between semi-gloss and satin is more of a preference.
However, you can learn more about semi-gloss or satin finishes in cabinets.
How do I know if my cabinets are sealed?
It’s pretty easy to understand whether or not your furniture is coated. All you need to do is take a damp cloth and soak it in water. Then, just rub on your cabinet with the cloth.
If the cabinet gets soaked in water, then it isn’t sealed and if it doesn’t then the cabinets are coated and sealed.
What is the most durable kitchen cabinet finish?
Many types of kitchen cabinet finishes are very durable. Semi-gloss finish or polyurethane finish both are very durable and resist heat, scratches, and stains perfectly.
So, the most durable kitchen cabinet finish is more about which one you want. Because many choices offer durability.
Should you put a top coat on painted cabinets?
Putting a clear, top coat on painted cabinets will help the wood gain longevity and durability. This will also ensure that the paint holds on for a longer time. So, putting on a top coat will help you in the long run, even if your cabinets are already painted.
Final Words
The kitchen is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the house. So, the kitchen needs to be beautiful and classy. Having an old, damp cabinet will not help you get that beautiful interior design.
So, coat your kitchen cabinets with the best sealer for kitchen cabinets available. This will not only beautify your interior but also help the wood be more durable and last longer. So, buy the perfect wood sealant for you and see your environment change.