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Interior designers interviewed by House Beautiful say high-gloss paint can make kitchen cabinets, islands or ceilings feel brighter and more polished. They caution that it reveals surface flaws, calls for extensive preparation and can clash with other shiny finishes.
Interior designers interviewed by House Beautiful say high-gloss paint can add reflectivity and a furniture-like quality to kitchen cabinets, islands and other surfaces, but stress that the finish needs careful preparation and a coordinated room design. The advice offers homeowners a way to consider a dramatic paint treatment while weighing its practical limits, including visible chips and imperfections.
Malorie Goldberg, a principal designer at Noa Blake Design, told House Beautiful that high-gloss paint has a richness she says is especially apparent in deeper colors. She said the sheen can make cabinetry feel more like furniture and lift the perceived finish of a room. Ariel Fischer, also a principal at the firm, said reflected light can make a kitchen feel brighter or more expansive, including when the palette is dark.
The designers’ suggestions include painting cabinets, an island, a bar area or a ceiling, rather than assuming the finish must cover every surface. Danielle Davis, founder and principal designer of 56th Street Design Studio, said a small kitchen could use the treatment in a butler’s pantry, while a larger room may have enough millwork for selected applications. Jen Levy, an interior designer at Surrounded by Color, said she likes a high-gloss ceiling in a lighter, brighter kitchen.
Application is a central caveat in the report. Levy recommends hiring a professional because the finish requires extensive preparation; Davis said a rough or uneven surface will show through the shine. Davis also described glossy cabinets as easy to wipe clean with a microfiber cloth, while warning that chips may stand out. The report does not provide product comparisons, cost estimates or independent performance tests.
The Finish Changes the Room’s Look
Paint finish can affect how a color reads and how much light a surface reflects, so the choice may alter a kitchen’s appearance without replacing its cabinetry. Designers interviewed for the report present high gloss as one option for adding visual emphasis, particularly to a specific feature such as an island or cabinet run. That selective approach may appeal to homeowners seeking a visible update, though the article gives no cost figures or evidence that it increases a home’s sale value.
The finish also brings trade-offs. Its reflectivity can draw attention to both the painted surface and the surrounding materials, making coordination important. Davis cautions that glossy paint may feel out of place beside rustic materials or abundant natural wood, while too many shiny surfaces in a modern kitchen can become overwhelming. The advice is therefore less a universal makeover rule than a design option dependent on the room’s existing finishes and the homeowner’s tolerance for upkeep.
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Where Designers Would Use Gloss
The House Beautiful report frames high-gloss paint as a choice to consider after settling on a kitchen’s color palette. It contrasts the finish with the matte and eggshell paints commonly used in kitchens, then describes ways designers featured in the article have applied gloss selectively. Examples include a glossy-painted island in a New York City kitchen designed by Francis Nicdao, a bar area in a Missouri home designed by Annie Kern, and the inside of an IKEA cabinet painted red in a Chicago kitchen by Caroline Turner.
Those examples show the treatment on different surfaces; they do not establish how durable every paint, surface or application will be. The designers’ general recommendations are to use gloss to complement the room’s existing palette, balance it with more subdued materials, and prepare the surface thoroughly before painting.
““There is a richness to high-gloss paint that really can’t be achieved with any other finish or product, especially in deeper colors.””
— Malorie Goldberg, principal designer at Noa Blake Design
Durability and Costs Remain Unspecified
The supplied report does not name particular paint products, provide project budgets, or compare how different gloss levels perform over time. It also does not quantify how much a reflective finish changes perceived brightness or whether it affects a home’s market value. The designers’ comments are professional opinions and recommendations, not results from a controlled study.
Actual results may depend on the painted material, surface condition, lighting, color and quality of the application. The report notes that cabinets can be wiped clean and that chips may be noticeable, but does not provide maintenance schedules or durability data. Homeowners would need product-specific guidance and an assessment of their own kitchen before deciding how much surface to paint.
Check Surfaces Before Choosing Gloss
The report describes no scheduled follow-up, product launch or formal design study. For homeowners considering the finish, the immediate next step is to identify a suitable surface and assess its condition, surrounding materials and lighting. The designers advise getting professional input on preparation and application, particularly where an especially smooth result is the goal.
Before committing to a whole kitchen, a homeowner could discuss a limited application—such as an island, pantry or cabinet interior—with a qualified painter or designer. Product selection, cost, expected maintenance and repair options should be checked directly with the relevant professionals, since those details are not covered in the report.
Key Questions
What can high-gloss paint do in a kitchen?
Designers interviewed by House Beautiful say its reflective finish can make colors appear brighter and give cabinets or other millwork a more furniture-like look. The effect depends on the room and the surfaces being painted.
Which kitchen surfaces do designers suggest painting?
The report discusses cabinets, islands, bar areas, pantry spaces and ceilings. Its designers suggest considering a selected feature rather than assuming every surface should be glossy.
Can high-gloss paint hide uneven surfaces?
No. Davis says a high-gloss finish can show sanding flaws and other imperfections, which is why the designers stress preparation before painting.
Is high-gloss paint easy to maintain?
Davis says glossy cabinets can be wiped with a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints, spills and food. She also warns that chips may be noticeable; the report does not give broader durability data.
Does the report say high-gloss paint will raise a home’s value?
No. It describes designers’ views on appearance and use, but provides no evidence or estimate that the finish changes a home’s market value.
Source: housebeautiful.com
