How do you choose kitchen cabinets that will stand the test of time, increase the value of your home, and (most importantly) make you happy? It’s all about considering the right factors like material, color, function, and style.
Details matter, too, like your cabinets’ finish, pulls and knobs, and shelves and drawers.
Let’s walk through the process.
What to Look for in Kitchen Cabinets
Selecting kitchen cabinets isn’t all about picking the ones that simply catch your eye. Functionality is just as important as form when preparing for a kitchen remodel project.
Kitchen Cabinet Materials
Since the 1860s, wood kitchen cabinets have been a staple for home renovations, and many cabinets today are made of wood, which comes in a variety of styles and finishes.
However, with advances in material engineering, other materials like alloys, stainless steel, glass, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), high-density fiberboard with high moisture resistance (HDF-HMR), and durable particle boards can make for contemporary-looking cabinets that offer more durability and moisture resistance.
If you’re looking for a timeless look and feel, solid wood is still the safest bet. From stained pine to lacquered mahogany, your choices in wood materials are practically limitless.
To help you make an informed decision, here’s a quick comparison of various kitchen cabinet materials:
| Material | Durablity | Cost | Care |
| Solid Wood | High | High | Average |
| Plywood | High | Average to High | Easy |
| MDF | Average | Low to Average | Easy |
| HDF-HMR | High | Average | Easy |
| Particle Board | Low | Low | Easy |
| Stainless Steel | High | High | Easy |
| PVC | Low | Low | Easy |
| Alloys | High | High | Easy |
| Glass | Average | High | High |
| Durable Particle Board | Average | Low to Average | Easy |
Customizing Kitchen Cabinets
Are you after those dreamy pantry cabinets you’ve seen on Pinterest? Or maybe a more practical, narrow-depth base cabinet is what your small kitchen remodel calls for. Whichever it is, there are plenty of ways to customize your choice to make the most of cabinet styles and trends.
Here are some trending customization choices that could suit your home’s style:
- Cabinet door designs: The style of your cabinet doors, from shaker to flat panel, raised panel to beadboard, establishes the overall aesthetic of your kitchen.
- Color schemes and finishes: Looking past traditional wood stains, painted cabinets in vibrant colors or combining two shades are becoming increasingly popular.
- Cabinet hardware: Your choice of knobs, pulls, and hinges can bring a new dynamic to the look of your cabinets. Mixing metals could add an interesting twist.
- Inside storage choices: Custom dividers, pull-out shelves, and built-in tidy-ups maximize your storage effectiveness.
- Intelligent storage solutions: Features like adjustable spice racks, segmented tray holders, and corner cabinet approaches such as lazy Susans can be included.
- Coordinated appliances option: Custom panels similar to your cabinetry can be created for a neat appearance by hiding appliances within them.
- Lighting styles: Lighting located under cabinets or inside cabinets, as well as accent lighting, supports functionality while improving the atmosphere. Consider this as part of your overall kitchen lighting plan.
- Specialty cabinets: For individual lifestyle preferences, there are wine racks, appliance compartments, and built-in pet food areas.
Stock vs. Custom Cabinets – Are They Worth It?
Stock cabinets or custom-made ones? Tough call. It’s all about weighing the quality versus your budget constraints. The cost to install kitchen cabinets depends on your home renovation budget and lifestyle needs.
Stock cabinets: Stock cabinets might be just what you’re looking for if you’re seeking a budget-friendly quick fix. These standard-size options sold at big-box stores are quite wallet-friendly, with limited design and color variants, but they may not give much leeway for uniqueness.
Semi-custom cabinetry: Moving up a notch, semi-custom cabinetry could strike an attractive middle-ground, often made in sets that allow for adjustments when necessary. They offer a broad range of features like materials, finishes, colors, and hardware to fit better into your space and lifestyle without smashing through your bank.
Custom cabinetry: If money is not your main concern, why not indulge in all-out custom cabinetry? This option means your cabinets will be tailored to match your exact likes and needs. While this calls for a heftier upfront investment, you get personalized design, long-term use, and added value to your property.
Paint vs. Stain – How to Choose a Finish
Once the material and type of cabinets are sorted, it’s time to select a finish that will make them pop or blend into your kitchen’s overall aesthetic design.
Painted cabinets: Painted cabinets, with their smooth surfaces, bring modernity to your space while hiding dust well. However, lower-quality paint can easily chip if not adequately cared for, and repairing wear and tear requires specific effort.
Consider the following pros and cons if you’re leaning toward painted cabinets:
- ✓ Offer a wide range of color options to match any kitchen style
- ✓ Provide a clean, modern look that can brighten up the space
- ✓ Hide imperfections in the wood grain
- ✗ May require touch-ups over time due to chipping or wear
- ✗ Generally more expensive than staining
Stained cabinets: If a more traditional look is what you’re after, stained wood, highlighting the natural grain of the solid material, is an excellent choice. These will need a bit of maintenance to preserve their vibrant color over time due to exposure to liquids and oils.
Here are some pluses and minuses when considering stained cabinets:
- ✓ Highlight the natural beauty and grain of the wood
- ✓ Offer a warm, traditional look
- ✓ More forgiving when it comes to scratches or dents
- ✗ May darken over time due to exposure to light and oils
- ✓ Usually less expensive than painting
Laminate veneer: Laminate veneer offers easy upgrades as it easily sticks on cabinet doors and drawers. It provides a glossy look and is easy to clean, but due to wear and tear, it may start peeling off along the edges in high-energy kitchen environments.
Cabinet Door Styles
Choosing the right style for your kitchen cabinet doors can really transform the essence of your space. There are plenty of options to consider, whether you’re pulling toward a modern look with shaker-style doors or eyeing raised panels for a more traditional feel.
Let’s dive into the details of some popular cabinet styles:
Shaker style: This is all about simplicity and adaptability, defined by its five-piece door with a recessed center panel. The Shaker style suits both contemporary and traditional kitchens.
Raised panel: These doors have an elevated middle panel often surrounded by decorative edge profiles, making them a perfect fit for classic or traditionally styled kitchens.
Flat panel (slab): With their smooth surface free from panels or ornamentation, flat panels or slab doors invoke a minimalist aesthetic ideal for modern or contemporary kitchen spaces.
Glass front: These incorporate see-through features like clear glass, frosted or textured. These can be great for highlighting special items in cabinets while also embellishing your kitchen.
Beadboard: The vertical grooves featured on beadboard-style doors enhance texture in any room, making them especially suitable for cottage-style homes or country farmhouse kitchens.
Louvered: Reminiscent of window shutters, these doors feature horizontal wood slats. They introduce a unique architectural component to the space and can make your kitchen stand out.
Framed vs. Frameless vs. Inset vs. Overlay
Are you confused as to which type of cabinet look you should choose? Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between framed, frameless, inset, and overlay kitchen cabinets.
- Framed cabinets are more traditional in style, with a surface area that is larger than the doors, so they require an additional frame. This is often ¾-inch wide by 1½ inches thick and gives these cabinets a timeless look while still allowing them flexibility when design schemes change. Their thicker frames help provide stability and are budget-friendly — but they can be difficult to install in oddly shaped spaces.
- Frameless cabinets come without a frame. This makes installation easier and more efficient. However, frameless cabinetry requires advanced craftsmanship, which generally means higher labor costs. They tend to have a more modern look compared to their framed cousins and offer easy access, especially for corner units, thanks to their lack of doors, which may look great in certain settings.
- Inset and overlay cabinets work nicely with framed or frameless designs, depending on the space available. Inset is when the cabinet doors are installed inside the frame of the cabinetry, while overlay is when they are located outside the frame.
Moldings
Moldings give your cabinets that extra touch, providing a smooth finishing look and increasing their visual appeal.
Crown molding: Crown molding is typically used between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling or wall. This type of molding may come in one piece or several smaller ones that need to be nailed together.
Light rail molding: This is often used at the bottom of upper cabinets to conceal under-cabinet lighting and provide a decorative finish. Baseboard or quarter-round moldings may also be used just above the plinth to create a larger, robust look if you prefer.
Baseboard molding: Serving a dual purpose, baseboard moldings cover up gaps and protect your cabinets from damage while adding a finished look. Toe kick molding is also commonly used in this area.
Pulls and Knobs
A lot can hinge on the pulls and knobs you choose for kitchen cabinetry. An elegant handle or snazzy knob can lend just the right polish to a great set of cabinets. Each type comes with its pros:
Knobs: They have a smaller profile than handles and usually cost less, making them great for creating the illusion of space in your kitchen. They’re ideal for:
- Cabinet doors
- Small drawers
- Furniture pieces
- Creating a traditional or vintage look
Pulls: Pulls, particularly those made out of metal, are designed to create a statement. Whether you’re looking for something to spice up plain cabinetry or simply seeking to bring a bit of your charm, pulls offer an easy solution. They’re best for:
- Drawers
- Larger cabinet doors
- Creating a modern or contemporary look
The material you choose can also significantly impact the final look of your cabinets. Each material has its own style and practical benefits.
- Brass: Offers a warm, classic look and develops a patina over time
- Copper: Provides a rustic or industrial feel and changes color as it ages
- Nickel: Durable and versatile, with a subtle sheen
- Stainless steel: Modern and easy to clean, resistant to corrosion
- Bronze: Rich, dark finish that works well in traditional kitchens
- Glass or crystal: Adds sparkle and elegance, great for vintage-inspired spaces
Shelves and Drawers
We’ve covered the “pretty stuff;” now let’s get into the heart of your cabinets: shelves and drawers. They keep your cooking space clean and organized.
Shelves: Often adjustable to accommodate items of different heights, these space-givers need a good material that won’t warp under weight. From wire to wood varieties, your choice can set the tone for your kitchen—wire shelves present a more industrial look; wood shelves offer warmth and appeal.
Drawers: Since drawers are heavily used (read pulled out and pushed in multiple times a day), they should be sturdily built with smooth-sliding mechanisms. Dovetailed joints add strength to drawers without the need for additional hardware or fasteners—an excellent upgrade.
Drawer hardware: Consider investing in side-mounted drawer slides with soft-close functionality. No one likes a slamming kitchen drawer, and this feature prevents that. Plus, it increases the life of your drawers.
Pull-out trash cans: Pull-out trash cans housed within cabinetry are a winning choice for kitchen design. They aid easy disposal and stay hidden when not needed — promoting a cleaner look to the space.
Kitchen organization extras: Customize according to what works best for you — spice racks, utensil organizers, tray dividers, or pot pull-outs can give everything the right place.
Choosing Kitchen Cabinets: Lots of Factors to Consider
Picking out kitchen cabinets is a task that can take some time. Before you know it, you’ll be knee-deep in different types of cabinetry, materials, finishes, and sizes.
From semi-custom cabinets to fully custom designs, weighing your options when selecting the right cabinets for your specific needs will help make sure that whatever design plan or budget you have in mind works well with what’s available.
Main Photo Credit: Pexels
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