Best Kitchen Cabinet Paint: Benjamin Moore Advance Review

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When it comes to painting your kitchen cabinets, there are so many different opinions out there! Between oil-based paint, latex paint, chalk paint, and more, how do you even choose? Refer to this post for the top-performing kitchen cabinet paint brand; tried and tested during our recent kitchen cabinet paint project. Our newly painted kitchen cabinets came out amazing!

The great thing about paint is that you don’t have to stick with one brand. You can mix and match paints from different brands on different walls of your house, but you can also get any color you’d like with any base of paint you’d like!

Benjamin Moore has some wonderful paint colors, sometimes I find myself drawn to the colors of Sherwin Williams more though. 

Did you know that you can use a Benjamin Moore interior paint in whatever sheen you like and have the hardware store color match it to the Sherwin Williams color? Yes! Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have access to each others color codes and can easily mix up the color for you.

If you didn’t know you could do this, you’ll quickly realize how much that expands your options. You can quickly use designer paint colors in high quality paint.

Benjamin Moore Advance Paint Review: Kitchen Cabinet Paint

We love both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint colors but sometimes, we one brands color and another brands “base product.” In this case, we used Sherwin Williams color and Benjamin Moore’s Advance Paint as we feel it’s the best for kitchen cabinets.

Do you need to use a primer under Benjamin Moore Advance Paint?

Yes, you absolutely should use a primer like Benjamin Moore INSL-X STIX especially if painting over dark cabinets. We used 2 coats of Stix as well as a coat of BIN primer as our existing cabinets were a dark cherry finish.

You can see all about the primers we used and the process of painting the cabinets on this post, how to paint kitchen cabinets.

Learn about different paint bases, colors and more in this Benjamin Moore Advance paint review.

Best Kitchen Cabinet Paint

1. Durable finish

Benjamin Moore has several different interior paint bases depending on your purposes. Aura or Regal Select are fantastic for interior walls, but for kitchen cabinets, I recommend Advance.

2. Used by professional painters

Did you know that most professional painters use Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams?

That means that if a professional painter can get a spectacular finish with these paints, so can you with the right techniques & processes. Wear and tear on kitchen cabinets is a real thing so be sure to pick a cabinet paint like Advance that that is durable.

3. Amazing range of colors

The hardest thing about working with Benjamin Moore paints is choosing the right paint color! Although we often use Sherwin Williams paint colors, Benjamin Moore has such stunning shades to choose from as well. Picking paint colors from any brand can be very overwhelming, even for design professionals.

They have some beautiful paint collections, so whether you want classic white cabinets or something totally different, you’re sure to find the perfect shade.

For kitchen cabinets, check out some of the colors in these Benjamin Moore collections:

• Designer Classics (a wide variety of rich, beautiful colors)
• Historical Colors Collection (fantastic for heritage houses)
• Williamsburg Color Collection (authentic colors from Colonial Williamsburg)
• Affinity Collection (different colors designed to go together)

Wondering what kitchen cabinet paint color we used? Read our Mindful Gray Paint Review for more details.

4. Excellent Coverage

Professional painters love Benjamin Moore because you can get a smooth finish with minimal effort. Their paint typically rolls (or sprays) on really smoothly, and you can usually get the job done in just 2 coats. 

If you are looking for the best cabinet paint sprayer, check out our post, best kitchen cabinet paint sprayer for a factory finish.

5. Easy to find near you

Benjamin Moore only sells through locally operated hardware stores. This means that you can find the best cabinet paint at the mom-and-pop store in your town (if you’re lucky enough to have one!).

They’re usually available in Ace stores, and you can search for those locations online.

6. Reasonably priced

I know that Benjamin Moore has a reputation for being a little pricey, so it might be strange to see its affordability as a selling point.

Because Benjamin Moore paints are so rich and high quality, I find I can get by with less. Plus, you’re much less likely to have expensive paint disasters. 

It’s worth the cost to get great coverage in just a coat or two of paint. If you use a cheaper paint and have problems, you’ll be spending the extra to get the right paint in the end anyway.

I’d rather start with the best stuff and have an easier time completing the DIY project!

Benjamin Moore Advanced Cost

A gallon of Benjamin Moore Advance typically retails for about $80.

7. No strong smell

If you’re concerned about the gasses emitted by paint, you can rest easy knowing there are many Benjamin Moore paints with a low VOC rating (volatile organic compounds). 

This is especially important for people who are sensitive to scent or families with small children. It also means your house won’t stink like paint for weeks after you’re done with your paint job!

When we painted our kitchen cabinets, we were concerned about odor due to my parents living in the home so the Advance was perfect. It’s still a little smelly but nothing like oil-based paint.

8. Multipurpose paint products

Part of what I love about Benjamin Moore is that you can often use their products on a variety of surfaces. They also have specific types of paint for different purposes, like their Advance paint.

You can use this trim paint on doors, kitchen cabinets, your kitchen island, furniture, and other surfaces that need a durable finish. 

9. Quick dry time

Although painting cabinets isn’t a fast job, Benjamin Moore Advance paint dries pretty quickly.

You’ll be able to touch the cabinets within 4-6 hours, and you can add your second coat after 16 hours of drying time.

Your kitchen cupboards won’t be fully cured until after 30 days, though, so you’ll want to be gentle with them for a while. This is standard for all paints; it takes time for the paint to dry and attach to the surface fully.

Best Kitchen Cabinet Paint Brand: Benjamin Moore Paint Cons

There are pros and cons to everything, even good paint! These things can be limiting for some people, so it’s important to bear them in mind. 

1. Long curing time (30 days)

Although all kitchen cabinet paint needs time to cure, your kitchen cabinets won’t be fully cured until 30 days after you paint them. That’s a long time. 

However, many comparable brands have poor reviews, so even if they cure more quickly, you’re likely to have more issues.

2. Not available at Big Box stores

If you don’t have an Ace, Aubuchon or independently owned store in your area, you won’t be able to find Benjamin Moore paints near you. Lowes typically carries Sherwin Williams and Valspar. At Home Depot, you’ll find Behr and Glidden. We purchase our Benjamin Moore paints at our local hardware store called Koopman Lumber.

If you can’t find Benjamin Moore, consider these other long-lasting cabinet paints:

• Behr Urethane Hybrid Enamel Paint
• Valspar Satin Base Cabinet & Furniture
• PPG Breakthrough

3. You’re paying for quality

There are cheaper trim & cabinet paints out there, but they don’t stand up to the durability and high-quality color of Benjamin Moore paints.

The extra cost is worth it, for sure!

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Brush Marks

There’s absolutely an art to painting your kitchen cabinets professionally! It really helps to start with the right paint, be sure to choose from the best paint brands. I recommend Benjamin Moore Advance paint for any trim work or cabinetry – it’s truly the perfect choice.

• Clean your cabinets really well to remove grease and build-up.
• Lightly sand your cabinets.
• Apply a high-quality primer using a high-density roller or brush.
• Use a paint sprayer to spray your paint in an even coat. Let it dry.
• Sand lightly, removing excess dust.
• Reapply and let the paint dry for approximately 1 day.

For those of you wondering, while we did use Benjamin Moore Advance, we opted to use Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray as the kitchen cabinet paint color. What do you think is the best kitchen cabinet paint brand? Have any questions about this Benjamin Moore Advance review? Share your thoughts in the comments below!