A kitchen’s overall decor and style depend on the type of material used on its surfaces, like cabinets and countertops. It’s essential to choose a finish that caters to your needs. A finish embedded over the top of your kitchen cabinets endows it with style, protection, and longevity. There are many materials to choose from, like acrylic, membrane finish, solid wood finish, veneer finish, high gloss laminate, matt laminate, lacquer, and more. With the many options available, acrylic is one of those premium finishes that’s getting a lot of attention these days.
Acrylic is a material that’s incredibly eye-catching and has a beautiful, shiny, and glossy finish. Besides glass, acrylic is the only other finish with mirror-like qualities. Acrylic is chosen to give the kitchen a deluxe look and is tremendously popular amongst clients.
Besides its debonair look, this material has some unique physical properties that make it worthy of being in your kitchen. You should consider an acrylic-based kitchen if you’re trying to lend your kitchen a sophisticated and modern look.
Now let’s dive into the pros and cons of an acrylic finish-based kitchen and why you should or shouldn’t have them installed.
What is an Acrylic finish, and What are its Benefits?
Acrylic is a synthetically derived plastic material. It is not toxic and is made of polymer fiber. Acrylic is also called poly (methyl methacrylate.) It is a plastic that is lightweight and a shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It has similar properties to that of lacquer, which is a varnish made of resin. But unlike lacquer, acrylic is superior in every regard. Acrylic lends a mirror-like, highly reflective appearance to its surface.
There are two types of acrylic kitchen cabinet doors, one is solid acrylic, and the other is acrylic faced. The solid acrylic doors are made from the former material altogether, while the latter only has an acrylic coating. Acrylic-faced materials are less expensive than acrylic ones. You can opt for acrylic-faced doors to keep costs down.
Benefits of an Acrylic-based Kitchen Finishing
1) Beauty
The quality of the shine and luster it lends to the wood or surface makes acrylic preferable as a finish. The brilliance and sheen of acrylic make the whole kitchen appear more vibrant and spacious. If you have a single shade of acrylic installed, you can create art in your kitchen, depending on your taste. Acrylic kitchens give a futuristic, suave, and sleek appearance to your kitchen. Acrylic kitchens are incredibly eye-catching and will surely impress your friends and family.
2) Choice of Colors
You can choose between a wide range of colors that will give your acrylic finish doors a magnificent mirror-like reflective look. Some are anthracite, black, black oak, burgundy, cream, dark brown, graphite snow, and more. All of these color choices can create the kitchen ambiance and color scheme of your choice. These colors create contrast with the kitchen’s backsplash for added flair. If you’re looking for a luxurious and stylish appearance, acrylic-based finishes are the way to go.
3) Durability
Acrylic-based kitchens are incredibly durable. Modular kitchen manufacturers in Goa that build acrylic units guarantee that the material does not disintegrate or deteriorate in terms of beauty for many years. They are also resistant to delamination, tarnishing, and fading away.
Their reflective sheen and luster persist for a long time, which is excellent because kitchens can look unsightly with age if not well maintained. It’s best to use acrylics if the longevity of your kitchen is concerned.
4) Ultraviolet Resistant
Acrylic materials do not degrade with exposure to the light of the sun. If your kitchen is exposed to light or part of a patio, then acrylic-based finishes would be great to have installed.
5) Moisture Resistance
These surfaces are also moisture-resistant. They can be easily washed with mild soap and water. This makes them ideal for cleaning and maintaining an immaculate kitchen.
Disadvantages of Acrylic Sheets
1) Fingerprints and Stains
The reflective, glossy physical material of acrylic sheets makes them highly susceptible to fingerprints and blemishes. Acrylic sheets require more care and maintenance because of this property.
This could be a problem if you’re particularly incautious in the kitchen or if there’s heavy labor involved regularly. Damage can be avoided by not using acrylic on lower levels of counters and cabinets and using other alternative materials instead.
2) Cost and High Maintenance
Acrylics are expensive compared to other materials like laminates because they are a premium-natured products. They also need regular maintenance and cleaning compared to other alternatives like laminates.
Complications can also arise when replacing old acrylics about finding the same color hues and variations. Acrylics are also not usually replaced by yourself and will require a technician or professional assistance to do so. If you value getting your hands dirty and fixing things yourself, then acrylics may be a tricky material to work with.
Acrylics vs Other Materials
Acrylics vs Laminates
The most common material acrylics are compared to laminates, so let’s do a quick comparison of the two. Laminates are also used in kitchen cabinets as a finish and are one of the most commonly used. Laminates are made out of layers of plastic resins and paper compressed together. A decorative pattern is embedded on the top layers, which gives its color and appeal. Laminates also offer an extensive range of colors, similar to acrylics.
In terms of pure aesthetics, acrylics are superior to laminates. Laminates have a glossy, matte finish but don’t give off the same look as the more reflective shiny acrylic. Acrylics offer a more glamorous and striking aesthetic. Laminates also come in various textures, whereas laminates might be limited to just the smooth reflective texture.
Laminates, on the other hand, are less expensive, more durable, and scratch resistant than acrylics. If you don’t want a shine or a high-end look, or if you’re on a budget and do not mind a slight downgrade in aesthetics – then laminates might be a better option.
Some people find that utilizing laminates and acrylics might be an ingenious way of getting the best of both worlds. The topmost parts of the cabinets, which need to look good, can be highlighted with acrylics, while the lower parts can have more durable and cost-effective laminates installed.
Acrylic vs Veneer
Veneers are used in kitchens to give them a sophisticated antique appearance. Veneers are thin sheets of wood attached to your cabinets’ surface. They give the kitchen a very comfortable, soft, and homely ambiance. They provide a very wooden, organic look that is very congenial to many.
Acrylics are better than veneers in terms of durability. Veneers are eco-friendly as they are made out of trees. They are sturdy and long-lasting but only under the condition that the veneers are regularly maintained with polishing. They are not heated and moisture-resistant like acrylic and will degrade if they come in contact with water. But, like acrylics, they provide a great aesthetic and perhaps even a luxurious, earthy decor. Veneers would be a better choice for those looking for that antiquated, graceful and natural look.
Acrylic vs. Lacquer
Lacquered glass is another material used in the interior of kitchens, like its cabinets. It’s a glass-like substance created with a coating of lacquer. Just like acrylic, lacquered glass lends a high-end, elegant look to the kitchen that is very visually appealing.
Acrylics still have an advantage over lacquered glass in terms of durability. Lacquered glass is supposedly more prone to breaking like glass if you are not cautious; this is not the case with acrylics as they are more robust.
Why choose Acrylic over other materials?
What separates acrylic finishes from the rest is their ability to create a premium, high-end modernized look for the kitchen that is very inviting and alluring. If you value style, desire to personalize and be creative, acrylics are outstanding. Acrylics are also durable and can be cleaned easily; they won’t lose their shine like other materials over time. The most important thing about acrylic is the mirror-like shine and gloss, which makes it unparalleled compared to other finishes.
No other material offers such a mirror-life finish unless you’re opting for a glass-based surface, which is impractical. Laminates may offer a gloss or matte finish but not acrylics’ reflective shine.
