The surface painted appearance of a cabinet, usually indicating its glossiness or reflectiveness. They range from most shiny to flat: Glossy, Semi-Glossy, Satin, and Matte. This can also apply to the hardware, such as handles and hinges, as well.

Glossy finishes have reflective surfaces and amplify light in a room, making the interior brighter. Matte or flat finishes add more calm to a space. Homeowners can mix and match the handle finish with the cabinet paint finish. Matte cabinets with shiny hardware draws more attention to handles. Glossy cabinets with matte hardware emphasize the cabinetry. Glossy paint with shiny handles draw the kitchen focus to all of the cabinetry. Matte finishes to both the cabinets and hardware will make the cabinets a solid part of the overall look of the kitchen.