
Kitchen cabinets play a key role in defining a kitchen’s style and are often the most expensive part of a kitchen remodeling project. With this in mind, it’s important to know how to choose the right kitchen cabinets to ensure they fit your space perfectly.
To choose the right kitchen cabinets, start by evaluating your kitchen layout. Then, decide on your design and style preferences, select the cabinet material, and pick the appropriate hardware and accessories. Additionally, explore your cabinet storage options and set a budget plan.
One way to ensure your cabinets fit seamlessly into your kitchen design is by working with a professional planner or using specialized design tools.
As CEO Eric Elford of Habidex explains, “Kitchen layout planning usually involves working with a layout planner at a kitchen outlet. You take your kitchen measurements and input them into a CAD program and build the design into a 3D model.”
He adds, “The 3D program lets you pick sizes and designs and produces a pick list for all the components necessary. This is also something a professional kitchen designer or contractor would do with you.”
Evaluate Kitchen Layout

Your kitchen layout is the starting point for your design. The structure of the room and the placement of appliance hookups will determine the shape and size of your cabinets. To begin your project, take precise measurements of your kitchen, including the floor space, walls, and ceiling height.
Read more: How to Measure Kitchen Cabinets
This step is especially important in smaller kitchens, where understanding the layout can help you make choices that maximize your storage space with a limited footprint. You also want to assess the amount of cooking you plan to do and the size of your family when making tradeoffs between storage space and room to move around.
Choose Your Design and Style Preferences
Your preferred design and style are vital in selecting suitable kitchen cabinets. You can choose from many kitchen cabinet styles and designs, and your selection should be based on the overall look and feel you want to create in your kitchen. Whether it is a traditional style, contemporary, or exotic look, your style preference will help you select the perfect kitchen cabinets for your space.
Learn more about various types of cabinets according to construction and kitchen cabinet placement:
Finally, because replacing kitchen cabinets can be costly, you should choose a simpler, more timeless cabinet style. Cabinets with complicated or detailed patterns can look outdated faster and gather more dust and dirt, which makes them harder to maintain.
Explore Various Door Styles
Choosing the style of your cabinet doors is where your kitchen design really starts to come together. You are not just picking cabinets. You are selecting an important part of the overall look of your kitchen space. Among the different door styles that you can select include slab, shaker, flat panel, and raised panel.
Read more: 7 Types of Kitchen Cabinets: What’s the Difference?
Select the Best Cabinet Material for Your Needs

The material you select for your kitchen cabinets impacts their look and how long they last. You can choose from various materials, but when making your selection, consider their durability, ease of maintenance, and whether they reflect your personal style. Here are some of the most commonly used materials today.
- Solid wood kitchen cabinets are made from real, natural wood, like cherry, maple, oak, pine, and mahogany. Homeowners often choose these woods for their durability, timeless look, and long-lasting quality. Even though they can be pricey, the ability to customize them makes them a popular choice.
- Plywood is a strong and reliable material, which makes it a good choice for kitchen cabinets. Homeowners know it for being affordable and easy to customize to fit different designs. While plywood cabinets are durable, they are not quite as sturdy as solid wood but still offer great value for the price.
- Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood made from the combination of wood fibers and resin. Furniture and interior designers often choose it because it is stronger and more durable than plywood. However, MDF is not as tough as solid wood.
In addition to the three common materials, kitchen cabinets can also be made from thermafoil, particleboard, laminate, and melamine.
Choose the Right Hardware and Other Accessories
The hardware and accessories are key elements that give your kitchen cabinets their finishing touches. From knobs and handles to pulls, the hardware should complement your appliances and other finishes for a cohesive look.
Hardware comes in a wide range of styles and finishes to give you plenty of options to personalize the look of your cabinets. You can easily swap out hardware for a new design if you want to change or update the look.
Meanwhile, by improving their functionality, cabinet accessories can transform inexpensive cabinets into more luxurious ones. Adding features like spice organizers and pull-out pantries can give moderately priced semi-custom cabinets a high-end feel.
Establish Your Budget Plan

Since kitchen cabinets come in a range of prices, it is important to find a balance between your budget and the features you want in your cabinets.
Before finalizing your kitchen cabinet selection, you should set a budget ahead of time to understand which materials and options fit within your range. You should also consider additional expenses, such as installation costs and any hardware and accessories you plan to include.
This approach will help you make both practical and financially sound decisions, and with numerous budget-friendly options available, you can still achieve your desired style without overspending.
Hire a Pro to Take the Guesswork out of Cabinetry
A full-scale kitchen remodel is a lot of work, and cabinetry is one of the most complicated parts. Consider hiring a professional with a free quote from Home Gnome. From the design process to the finished product, hiring a professional is the best way to ensure the job gets done the right way.
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