Acrylic vs laminate kitchen cabinets: Which is the more suitable for your kitchen?

Types of Acrylic Sheeting for Kitchen Cabinet

•  Clear Acrylic Sheeting

A popular choice for kitchen cabinets, clear acrylic sheets offer a sleek and modern look. They provide a highly polished, smooth finish that can enhance the overall aesthetic of any kitchen. Not only are they visually appealing, but these sheets are also known for their durability and resistance to scratches, making them perfect for kitchens that see a lot of activity.

•  White Acrylic Sheeting 

White acrylic sheets are frequently chosen for kitchen cabinets due to their clean and minimalist appeal. They can help create a sense of brightness and spaciousness in a kitchen. Just like their clear counterparts, white acrylic sheets are durable and easy to maintain, adding to their popularity in kitchen design.

•  Colored Acrylic Sheeting

For those looking to add a splash of colour to their kitchen, coloured acrylic sheets are an excellent option. Available in a wide variety of hues, these sheets allow for a high degree of customization to suit personal tastes or match the existing decor of the kitchen. Despite their vibrant colours, they retain the high-gloss finish and robust nature of other acrylic sheets.

•  Mirrored Acrylic Sheeting

Offering a unique and luxurious feel, mirrored acrylic sheets have a reflective surface that can give a sense of depth and dimension to a kitchen, making it appear larger than it is. Additionally, they are lighter and more shatter-resistant than traditional glass mirrors, adding a safety factor to their list of benefits.

•  Light Diffusing Acrylic

Light diffusing acrylic sheets are specifically designed to distribute light evenly, helping to reduce glare and prevent the formation of hotspots. This makes them an ideal choice for cabinets situated under lights or in parts of the kitchen with abundant natural light. Beyond their practical advantages, they also contribute to a cosy and warm ambiance in the kitchen.

Types of Laminate Finish for Kitchen Cabinet

1. Matte-Finish Kitchen Laminates

Matte-finish kitchen laminates are a popular choice for kitchen cabinets due to their non-reflective surface. They offer a subtle, understated look and are excellent at hiding fingerprints and smudges, making them an ideal choice for busy kitchens. However, they may not be as resistant to scratches as their glossy counterparts.

2. Glossy Kitchen Laminates

If you're looking for a high-shine finish, glossy laminates for kitchen are the way to go. They reflect light beautifully, adding brightness and a sense of spaciousness to your kitchen. Glossy laminates for kitchen are also easy to clean, although they tend to show fingerprints and smudges more easily than matte finishes.

3. Textured Kitchen Laminates

Textured kitchen laminates add a tactile dimension to your kitchen cabinets. They come in a variety of patterns that mimic the feel of materials like wood or stone, adding a touch of nature to your kitchen. These laminates can add depth and interest to your cabinets, but keep in mind that they may require a bit more effort to clean due to their textured surface.

4. Metallic Kitchen Laminates

Metallic laminates lend a sleek, modern look to your kitchen cabinets. They mimic the appearance of metals like steel, copper, or brass, adding a touch of industrial chic to your kitchen. Metallic laminates are durable and easy to maintain, making them a practical as well as aesthetic choice.

5. Decorative Laminates

For those who want to make a statement with their kitchen cabinets, decorative laminates are the perfect choice. They come in a wide range of designs, laminate kitchen colours, and patterns, allowing you to express your personal style and creativity. Whether you prefer bold, vibrant patterns or subtle, elegant designs, there's a decorative laminate to suit your taste.

Advantages of Acrylic Kitchen Cupboards

When it comes to designing a modern kitchen, one popular option is an acrylic modular kitchen which offers a sleek and glossy finish that can elevate the overall aesthetic of the space. While both acrylic kitchen cabinets and laminate cabinets are pretty popular today, making a choice boils down to the advantages each of them have over each other.

• Acrylic lacquer is available in various colours that offer a mirror-like effect and retains its colour and brightness for years.
• Acrylic cupboard renders a sophisticated look to your kitchen, making it look classy, elegant and chic.

• Acrylic cabinets for kitchen are easy to maintain as you can clean them with plain water.

• It is highly resistant to moisture, is heat-resistant, non-toxic and anti-bacterial, making it safe for kids, you and pets at home. 
• It has a much better lifespan because it is UV resistant, making it an ideal choice for Indian climate conditions.
• They are entirely water-proof so do not create bubbles or cracks on the surface of acrylic cabinets for kitchen.

Disadvantages of Acrylic Kitchen Cabinets

Despite several advantages, high-gloss acrylic cabinets for kitchen also have their set of disadvantages..

• Its glossy finish reflects the tiniest of defects, smudges, scratches, and fingerprints. It is especially true for darker acrylic finish kitchen cabinets.
• While acrylic kitchen cabinets accentuate the look of the kitchen and your home, it comes at a cost. It is more costly as compared to laminate kitchen cabinets. The general price range starts at ₹1000 to ₹1600 per square foot, depending on the gloss level. The entire modular kitchen may take around ₹1.75L and upwards to complete.
• It requires regular cleaning and maintenance.
• It is better to not rough use it as it may be prone to damage.

Advantages of Laminate Kitchen Cupboards

Laminates have been in use in Indian kitchens for several years. Let us take a quick look at a few advantages over other materials.

• Cupboard designs come in various laminate kitchen colours such as matte laminate, high-gloss laminate and natural textures that give you a wooden finish laminate feel. It has more variety as compared to acrylic kitchen cabinets.

• It is budget-friendly and cost-effective compared to acrylic kitchen cabinets and wood cabinets. Because of its relatively low price, it is a preferred material of choice for kitchen designs in most households.
• They are easy to maintain and can be wiped with a wet cloth.
• They can sustain rough use and wear and tear more than acrylic finish cabinets.
• The general price range starts at ₹2000 per sheet, and the total cost of the kitchen on average can be anywhere between ₹30,000 to ₹1,00,000, depending on the area that needs to be covered.

Disadvantages of Laminate Kitchen Cupboards

While there are several advantages of using laminate finish kitchen cupboards, there are a few disadvantages.

• Since they are pressed on MDF or particleboard, a slight inconsistency in pasting it can create bubbles in the laminate. It needs to be pasted smoothly and left to dry for a minimum of three to four days.
• Low-pressure laminates are not as durable as high-pressure laminates. The seams of the particleboard tend to be visible or uneven in a low-pressure laminate finish kitchen that does not compliment your home décor.
• There are fewer colours in low-pressure laminates and may need to change a few years.
• They are not as water-resistant and durable as acrylic finish cabinets. Constant exposure to water along the seams may lead to loosening of the glue, making the laminate come out before time.

Acrylic vs Laminate Kitchen Cabinet: Which are Perfect According to Your Need?

Acrylic and laminate modular kitchen designs have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, there is no thumb rule that one can follow in choosing one over the other. While several homeowners prefer laminate kitchen cabinets, a few prefer acrylic because of its sheer lustre and finish.

If you are looking for a cost-effective solution and want to renovate your kitchen after a few years, you may opt for laminate modular kitchen designs.

On the other hand, if you love the look and feel of a kitchen and don’t mind spending a little more, acrylic kitchen design may be a good choice for you.

You can, alternatively, opt for a combination of both materials to complement the look of your home. You can give it the best of both worlds. Your decision is totally influenced by price, budget, look and style.

Which Finish for Kitchen Cabinets is Suitable for Indian Kitchens? 

Choosing between acrylic and laminate finishes for kitchen cabinets in Indian kitchens depends on your specific needs and preferences. Acrylic finishes, known for their glossy and modern look, are heat and water-resistant. However, they show smudges more easily and are generally more expensive. On the other hand, laminate finishes are durable, easy to maintain, and come in a wide range of designs. They are also heat and moisture-resistant. In conclusion, if you prefer a high-end, glossy finish and don't mind regular maintenance, go for acrylic. But if you're looking for a cost-effective, low-maintenance, and highly customizable option, laminate would be a better choice.

How can Beautiful Homes help you with beautifying your kitchen?

Every kitchen is different, as is the emotion attached to each. Asian Paints Beautiful Homes can help you get the desired look and style as per your preference. With a team of skilled interior decorators and home stylists, we offer you a range of kitchen cabinet designs that will transform your kitchen and make your dream come true.

We guide you with the perfect kitchen cabinet material as well as kitchen cabinet colour combinations to design your personalized modular kitchen within your budget. You can book a 3D consultation call with our design experts or walk into our showrooms to get a first-hand look and feel of the kitchen designs and materials. 

AP Beautiful Homes currently has its showrooms in Raipur, Jaipur, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, Nashik, Amritsar, Tumakuru, Coimbatore and Karur. In addition, we are in the process of expanding our network of stores to other cities of the country, bringing your designs closer home. 

At Beautiful Homes Service by Asian Paints, what we’re best at is partnering with you to craft the home of your dreams. If you’re eager to get started on creating that perfect haven we’re here for all your interior design, home décor & renovation needs – reach out or find one of our state-of-the-art stores near you.

We’re currently available in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Pune and Kolkata, with new locations coming soon!