Acrylic vs Laminate: Perhaps kitchen cabinets are the most important part of any kitchen and when it comes to the modular kitchen, and then everything revolves around the kitchen cabinets. There is nothing that you can take for granted when it comes to kitchen cabinets and even a small detail plays a vital role in deciding the life and look of the cabinets.

If you already have decided the material for your kitchen cabinets, but stuck between the acrylic coating and laminates for kitchen cabinets, then here are the details about both and which will be a better option.
To start with, first, know the difference between cosmetic coating and laminates:
- Acrylic Coating
The acrylic coating is similar to lacquered and it is non-toxic. It gives a bright, shiny mirror-like finish to your cabinets and the best part is that it comes in a wide variety of colors.
You can easily match acrylic coating with the interior of your home and kitchen. The acrylic coating does not fade with time and maintains its brightness for long.
- Laminates
Laminates are another popular option for kitchen cabinet coating, laminates are composite material which is prepared in factories using paper and plastic resin under very high pressure with the help of automated machinery.
Like acrylic; laminates are also available in large color and variety laminates are durable and good to handle wear and tear of everyday kitchen usage.
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Which is a better acrylic coating or the laminates?
It can be very confusing to choose one over another, especially when both offer great results and that’s why it’s hard to choose acrylic overlaminates. There are people who might go solo and choose either cosmetic or the laminate.
However, if you are someone who likes glossy, mirror-like finish, then definitely go for acrylic coating because of the acrylic coating offer shine and glossy finish.
Tip: As knife plays a major role in the kitchen, its always safe to use cosmetic finishes for top cabinets than base cabinets.
But if you are looking for a more durable option, than laminates will do the job. You can also opt for a combination of two in which go for acrylic for upper cabinets and for base use laminates.
Read More: Which material is best for a modular kitchen?
Scratches:
Acrylic finishes are easily prone to scratches while the laminate finishes are less likely to get scratches on its surfaces.
However, you may also get some scratch proof cosmetic finishes in the market but they will be a little bit costlier than regular cosmetic finishes.
Pricing:
Acrylic finishes price will be generally 30% on the higher side than regular laminate finishes like High glossy and matte finishes. This depends on one vendor to another too.
Some of the most asked questions about cosmetic coating and Acrylic vs Laminate with their answers.
Which laminate is best for kitchen cabinets?
There is a wide range available in laminate and some of the best are:
- Matte finish laminates
- Gloss finished laminates
- Textured laminates
- Solid color laminates
- Metallic color laminates.
Is acrylic good for kitchen cabinets?
Acrylic is bright and shiny so it works best for upper cabinets as light, mostly focused on the upper part of the kitchen, but lower cabinets face more wear and tear so go for laminate as it is durable.
Which finish is best for kitchen cabinets?
Semi-gloss, gloss, or satin is the preferred choice for the kitchen cabinets as they are practical, easy to maintain, and look timeless as well as do not need maintenance soon after the installation.
Does acrylic turn yellow?
Acrylic is derived from the natural gas and exists in the inert form so it does not react with sunlight so no, it won’t turn yellow. However, you can paint your cosmetic finish using cosmetic paints.