I have maple cabinets and I just put that clear, plastic shelf liner called Life Liner (I think). It should last longer than me! I also did my whole pantry which is also maple. IMHO this liner does not look tacky and I feel better knowing my cabs are protected.

I think this has been discussed before. Maybe try a search. I took great care to line the shelves and drawers and even a double decker silverware drawer. Not worth the effort. I will probably only keep in drawers for noise control

Having put them in years and years ago when I first got married and wanted everything pretty and nice, I've not done it since. I'm not sure what the point of them is. If you get crumbs or dust or whatever, you still have to wipe the cabinets. Not wishing to offend anyone who does it and loves it, in my own opinion, I agree with your DH - tacky looking.

I put shelf liner in any cabinets that contain things that could spill and damage the shelves, particularly under the sink. I don't line my dish cabinets.

I think we'll compromise and just do the surfaces that might get spilled on. In my old kitchen, which we knew we were going to remodel when we moved in (it only took us 17 years!), I never lined anything and they were really fine. I got in the habit of putting away wet dishes (bad dw, since replaced) and there was some damage in the glasses cabinet. I'm going to be scrupulous about drying everything now, of course.
Thanks everyone!

I was never into lining my drawers although I did line the old cabs here with contact paper--I was too skeeved to put my things in them without it. They weren't very nice.

In the new kitchen cabs I used Cushy Cupboards in the drawers/pull-outs that have pots/pans, glass baking dishes or some small appliances, in order to muffle clanking noises, prevent scraping, or sliding around. I also used it in the pull-out with oils and vinegars, and my wood cutting boards (which I oil after use) in order to avoid oily build up in/on the drawers. Otherwise, everything goes right into/onto the au naturel drawers and cabs.

I prefer lining the drawers and cabs... at least the ones for pots, pans, utensils, garbage etc. I use a almond colored contact paper that is neutral and just disappears in the background (I've got pale honey colored cabinets). I never notice it at all.
My kitchen is 25 years old now, friends with houses of similar age who have never lined have banged up messes for the bottoms of drawers and in the cabinets. Years of putting cast iron skillets away, throwing utensils in drawers and spilling granules of dishwasher detergent under the sink can take it's toll.
Of course, I guess that once you get to the scraped up point in your kitchens age then you can line.... I just prefer to have a smooth slick surface that one in a while I can wipe out.

One cabinet that I think "should" be lined no matter what is the area under the sink. If you use a contact type paper (use the good brand and not the repositionable stuff) and run it about 1/2" up the wall along the back and sides, you can avoid damage if anything under there ever springs a leak. I've had this happen in bathrooms and the kitchen... a slow drip... each time I've been lucky enough to catch it soon enough that the paper has kept it from damaging the cabinets.

"I use a almond colored contact paper that is neutral and just disappears in the background"

Wait till you try to remove it.

It will make a mess of the finish.

No.... I've removed it about three times over the past 24 years....Never had a bit of trouble. Doesn't remove finish and comes up in one nice piece.

I've only ever used Contact brand though.... maybe an off brand would cause problems. Or if you put it on a painted surface that wasn't completely cured. Tried the repositionable Contact once and that wouldn't stay put.

We are using the soft, quilted shelf paper in our new cabs.Not sure what it is made of,but it won't slip around. He bought it at Wal-Mart ....his haunting place..lol
I don't want scratch marks or any residue to get on the shelves. We are not using anything decorative, just a simple white to match cabs and interior.

I discovered The Container Store. Now I'm addicted. I think I've spent $200 there already and I'm not done yet!
They have some nice shelf liner that is clear plastic with ridges to give room for drips to collect without mildewing. I lined the cabinet under the sink and now, I've decided to do the pantry shelves, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Check it out!

Cork looks nice, but not sure how practical it is. Definitely would muffle the sound, not sure about helping with areas that get spilled on. It's also a bit expensive. There was a whole thread on this several weeks ago I think...

On the shelves I am using a cushy vinyl liner that comes on a roll that you can cut to fit. They have it at Walmart, Home depot and Lowes. It is not contact paper which is a mess to remove. I have a softer liner in the drawers that I can get at the $1 store, also at Walmart.

I started using Cushy Cupboards about 3 years ago and I think they are so much better than any other liner and not doing anything. They keep the cupboard looking nice and when I clean out the pantry and wipe off the oil or spices that have spilled they look like new. The inside of my cupboards are painted and they keep the pots and pans from leaving behind black marks from sliding across the paint. You can get Cushy Cupboards from Denaults True Value Hardware, I would highly recommend it!

I won't shop at Wal-Mart, but Costco has rolls of the clear vinyl liner. And Bed, Bath, and Beyond has cushy mesh liners in red which is the color of my interiors of my cabinets. I'm not using shelf lining in the upper cabinets but do use it in the pots and pans drawers and under the sinks.

I’m not going to line anything but my utility shelves and drawers. Too.expensive for my large (finally!) new kitchen. Also I use various organizers for knives, silverware, etc and it becomes redundant to line and then put the organizers over LINER! I guess it just depends on how much time & $$$ you want to spend!

Lining material is quite inexpensive - far less expensive then having to have cabinet insides repainted! I get mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I use the clear ribbed vinyl for most things, but the cork for utensils that clatter.

ZOMBIE thread.