Choosing the proper cabinets for your kitchen can majorly affect the room's efficiency, appearance, and resale value. Cabinets, one of the room's most eye-catching features, play a significant part in a kitchen's functionality and aesthetics. However, picking the best kitchen cabinets can take time due to the vast array of alternatives available in terms of materials, styles, and combinations.
Some important considerations should be given your full attention before settling on a kitchen design. This manual will take you by the hand and lead you through the most important considerations when choosing kitchen cabinets.
Considerations To Make When Choosing A Kitchen Cabinet
Assess Your Kitchen's Design
Before you begin shopping for kitchen cabinets, it is essential to consider your kitchen's overall design. Are you aiming for a traditional, classic appearance or a contemporary, modern feel? The cabinets you select will set the tone for the remainder of the room, so they must reflect your aesthetic preferences.
Establish A Budget
Establishing a budget early on is important because kitchen cabinets can range in price from cheap to expensive. It's important to remember that cabinets can easily eat up 40–50% of your kitchen remodel budget. Keep in mind that cabinets are a long-term investment, so choose wisely.
Think About Your Storage Needs
Storage is one of the main purposes of kitchen cabinets. Consider what you need to store in your kitchen and how much room you need. Think about how many people live in your home, the size of your kitchenware, and how much food you regularly store.
Form And Purpose
A kitchen should prioritise both visual appeal and practicality. Therefore, the first step in interior design is evaluating your current use of the area.
Think about the features you need and want in a kitchen and how those can change depending on your needs and preferences. Recognise your tastes in aesthetics.
What Kinds Of Kitchen Cabinets Are You Looking For?
Easy To Assemble
Kitchens with ready-to-assemble cabinets are a breeze to put together. All necessary holes have indeed been drilled, and the maker has included all the tools you'll need to get the job done.
Hardware stores and kitchen cabinet storage areas are good places to stock up on them in large quantities. For those who are handy in the kitchen and on a strict budget, ready-to-assemble cabinets are the way to go. Unfortunately, there is not a wide selection of ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinetry. Materials, dimensions, finishes, and general aesthetic appeal are all strictly limited. The durability of RTA kitchen cabinets, however, could become an issue in the future.
Prefabricated Kitchens
Stock shelves are a simple and inexpensive option for your kitchen. They are only available in predetermined sizes and cannot be customised. Because of this, the rest of your kitchen's layout will need to be adjusted so that it works better with your new stock cabinets. While stock kitchen cupboards are the most practical option, they don't offer the same level of customization as custom-made cabinets.
However, stock kitchen cabinets offer numerous door styles, but few hardware selections. Particleboard, melamine, and real wood are the common materials for stock cabinets.
Modular Kitchen Storage Systems
When it comes to materials, coatings, and styles, semi-custom kitchen cabinets offer the widest variety. Their cabinetry is of higher quality than the average kitchen cabinet. Standardized semi-custom cabinet dimensions can be adjusted to meet specific requirements. You can adjust things like their height and depth. There is some wiggle room for you, but not much.
Semi-custom cabinets may be the best option for a kitchen remodel due to their adaptability, extra storage innovations and artistic solutions, low cost, and extensive finish options.
Made To Order Kitchen Cabinets
You should go with custom kitchen cabinets if you want total say over the components, wood, and design of your cabinetry. Based on the dimensions of your home, the colours you like, and the needs of your family, anything can be tailored to your exact specifications. It's possible to create a plan that's unique to your family's needs and works with the way you live.
You have the option of constructing it as either a base cabinet or a wall cabinet. Everything from the type of wood used to construct the cabinets to the hardware, finishes, and colours can be customised to your liking. In addition, custom kitchen cabinets give you a wide range of options in terms of materials, finishes, items, and design.
Construction Of Cabinets
Frame and frameless cabinetry are the two main options available to you.
Framed cabinets have a frame affixed to the front of the cabinet box. It adds depth and robustness to the cabinet and makes it possible to use a wider variety of door mounts.
Cabinets without a frame have a more solid box design. Frameless cabinets have been a fad in recent years due to their modern aesthetic, but they are not without their faults. For example, you can only utilise complete overlay doors for mounting, which severely limits your options compared to framed cabinets.
After settling on a prefered form of structure, you can move on to further considerations such as material, colour, and hardware. Deciding where your cabinets will go and what design you envision for the room will make settling on cabinet construction much easier.
Doors And Drawers For Kitchen Cabinets
Here's where your sense of aesthetics can shine, and you can truly get creative in crafting one-of-a-kind cabinetry for your home! Three primary methods for installing cabinet doors are full overlay, partial overlay, and inset. Only the full overlay option is available for frameless cabinets, while the others can be used with framed ones. The key distinctions are as follows:
Full Overlay
The doors and drawer fronts of full-overlay cabinets are designed to cover the entirety of the cabinet front. This style is a great complement to modern or transitional decor. Because more material is required to create full-overlay cabinets, their price is higher than that of their partial-overlay counterparts. Larger things can be stored easily in full-overlay cabinets because there is no vertical face frame structure.
Partial Overlay
Partial overlay cabinetry was the norm in the business for a long time. This style is known as a "standard" or "traditional" overlay. The cabinet face frame is entirely exposed in Partial Overlay since the door only covers a section. This design is commonly utilised to save production costs because the doors and drawer fronts are scaled-down versions of full overlay and use less material. It is typical in older homes and kitchens.
Inset
The inset style of cabinetry is considerably distinct from the overlay styles. The doors and drawer fronts of inset cabinets fit snugly within their respective apertures in the cabinet frame rather than resting against it. Due to the high expertise and unique hardware required to manufacture the flush panel, it is the most expensive alternative to cabinet doors. Traditional, transitional, and craftsman-style homes all benefit from inset cabinetry.
Styles Of Cabinet Doors
Shaker Style Cabinet Doors
A shaker typically has a flat panel, plain squares, and rails with vertical and horizontal borders, respectively. So a flat panel making up the door's centre and being flanked by raised styles are what you would see if you were to cut a conventional shaker cabinet door in half.
Slab Cabinet Doors
The flat-panel door design is simple and stylish. The door is made from a single, solid plank of wood. Ideal for modern-style cooking spaces. Modern cabinets come in various materials and are characterised by minimal decoration and clean lines.
Raised Paneled Cabinet Doors
A raised panel door is a type of cabinet door characterised by an inset panel that stands proud of the rest of the door's frame. The versatility of raised panel cabinet doors makes them popular for classic and contemporary kitchens. The panel is either inserted into grooves cut into the door frame or adhered to the frame to complete the door. Doors with raised panels might have rounded or square corners. In addition, they could have glass or metal inserts to distinguish the cabinet unit further. Incorporating raised panel doors into a kitchen is simply because they can be made with any number of different woods and finishes.
Beadboard Cabinet Doors
Beadboard cabinet fronts, resembling traditional panelling, are a great choice for any kitchen design. Their vertical panelling adds visual interest and texture to the kitchen cabinetry.
Louvered Cabinet Doors
Louvered kitchen cabinets, in contrast to beadboard, include horizontal wood slats rather than vertical ones. Additionally, they add visual interest and texture to the space. If high humidity and mould are a problem with the food you're storing (potatoes, garlic, onions), the ventilation provided by these bins will come in handy.
Glass Front Cabinet Doors
Displaying glassware or ornamental dishes requires a combination of solid and glass front cabinets. In a variety of kitchen decors, it might look stunning.
Open Shelving
Having shelves that can be opened is a terrific way to show off your belongings or keep them handy. Open shelving is a modern technique to spice up a wall and is often used with cabinets.
Choose Your Unit Type
It's important to consider what kind of storage units you need while researching kitchen cabinet styles. Freestanding and wall-mounted cabinets with single or double doors and spacious interior compartments are available. Consider the following kitchen cabinet essentials to determine which units will round out your kitchen.
Base Unit
Base units are kitchen cabinet designs installed on the floor (unless otherwise specified). Base cabinets comprise a single- or double-door system with an interior compartment and are available in various sizes. They compose the lower kitchen cabinets when installed directly next to one another. Base cabinets support the weight of your countertop and offer storage space beneath it. Pots, pans, small culinary appliances, bakeware, and utensil drawers are stored in base cabinets.
Sink Base Unit
Floor-mounted sinks are a special kind of base unit. Kitchen sink basins can be easily installed into the pre-cut top of sink units. Storage for things like cleaning supplies and plumbing openings for the sink is also integrated into the design.
Wall Unit
The upper cabinets in a kitchen are the wall cabinets, which are located above the kitchen island. Wall cabinets come in various heights to allow for variations in ceiling height while making the most of available storage space over your head. Therefore, they are essential in cramped kitchens with lots of food to store. You can store dishes and glassware in wall units with one or two doors. Everyday dishes, serving pieces, and glasses can be stored in wall cabinets.
Corner Unit
L-shaped kitchens require corner cabinet units to make the most of the available space. Therefore, double-door corner cabinets with plenty of storage space are the norm. Because of this, corner cabinets are an absolute necessity for storing large cookware and serving utensils. You can get corner cabinets as either a wall or a base model.
Pantry Unit
Kitchen pantry cabinets are tall and slim, making efficient use of vertical space. Floor-standing pantries are an option. Some, however, are standalone pieces of equipment that don't call for any special setup. A pantry unit is a terrific addition to any kitchen, whether you already have a pantry closet or need more room to store your dry items.
Full Kitchen Unit
Kitchen makeovers can be accomplished rapidly and easily with the help of fully assembled or ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinetry. In addition, base cabinets, sink bases, wall cabinets, and niches for major home equipment like fridges and microwaves may be found in these storage systems.
Conclusion
When choosing kitchen cabinets, it is crucial to consider your overall design, budget, storage needs, and form and purpose. Ready-to-assemble cabinets are a popular option for those on a tight budget, but they may not offer the same level of customization as custom-made cabinets. Stock cabinets are simple and inexpensive, but they can be repurposed to fit your kitchen layout. Semi-custom cabinets offer a wide variety of materials, coatings, and styles, but they may not be as adaptable as standard cabinets. Custom cabinets allow for complete control over the components, wood, and design, allowing for a unique plan tailored to your family's needs and lifestyle.
There are two main options for cabinet construction: frame and frameless. Framed cabinets have a frame affixed to the front of the cabinet box, adding depth and robustness, while frameless cabinets have a more solid box design. Frameless cabinets have a modern aesthetic but may have limitations, such as limited mounting options.
After deciding on the preferred structure, it is essential to consider material, color, and hardware. Deciding where and designing the room will make the process of choosing the right kitchen cabinets easier. Kitchen cabinet doors offer a variety of styles and designs to complement your home's aesthetics. Full overlay, partial overlay, and inset are the primary methods for installing cabinet doors. Full overlay cabinets cover the entire cabinet front, making them suitable for modern or transitional decor.
Partial overlay cabinets are scaled-down versions of full overlay, saving production costs and being popular in older homes and kitchens. Inset cabinets fit snugly within their respective apertures in the cabinet frame, making them the most expensive alternative to cabinet doors.
There are several styles of cabinet doors, including shaker style, slab, raised paneled, beadboard, louvered, glass front, open shelving, and base units. Base units support the weight of the countertop and offer storage space beneath it, while sink base units provide storage for cleaning supplies and plumbing openings. Wall units, located above the kitchen island, allow for variations in ceiling height and make the most of available storage space. Corner units are essential for L-shaped kitchens, with double-door corner cabinets providing ample storage space. Pantry units are tall and slim, making efficient use of vertical space. Full kitchen units can be easily completed with fully assembled or ready-to-assemble cabinetry, including base cabinets, sink bases, wall cabinets, and niches for major home equipment like fridges and microwaves.
Incorporating these cabinet styles into your kitchen can enhance its aesthetics and functionality. Choose the right cabinetry type to complement your kitchen's design and create a functional and stylish space.
Content Summary:
- Choosing the proper cabinets for your kitchen can majorly affect the room's efficiency, appearance, and resale value.
- Cabinets, one of the room's most eye-catching features, play a significant part in a kitchen's functionality and aesthetics.
- However, picking the best kitchen cabinets can take time due to the vast array of alternatives available in terms of materials, styles, and combinations.
- Some important considerations should be given your full attention before settling on a kitchen design.
- This manual will take you by the hand and lead you through the most important considerations when choosing kitchen cabinets.
- Before you begin shopping for kitchen cabinets, it is essential to consider your kitchen's overall design.
- The cabinets you select will set the tone for the remainder of the room, so they must reflect your aesthetic preferences.
- Establishing a budget early on is important because kitchen cabinets can range in price from cheap to expensive.
- It's important to remember that cabinets can easily eat up 40–50% of your kitchen remodel budget.
- Keep in mind that cabinets are a long-term investment, so choose wisely.
- Storage is one of the main purposes of kitchen cabinets.
- Consider what you need to store in your kitchen and how much room you need.
- Therefore, the first step in interior design is evaluating your current use of the area.
- Think about the features you need and want in a kitchen and how those can change depending on your needs and preferences.
- Recognise your tastes in aesthetics.
- Kitchens with ready-to-assemble cabinets are a breeze to put together.
- Hardware stores and kitchen cabinet storage areas are good places to stock up on them in large quantities.
- For those who are handy in the kitchen and on a strict budget, ready-to-assemble cabinets are the way to go.
- Unfortunately, there is not a wide selection of ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinetry.
- Materials, dimensions, finishes, and general aesthetic appeal are all strictly limited.
- The durability of RTA kitchen cabinets, however, could become an issue in the future.
- Prefabricated Kitchens Stock shelves are a simple and inexpensive option for your kitchen.
- Because of this, the rest of your kitchen's layout will need to be adjusted so that it works better with your new stock cabinets.
- While stock kitchen cupboards are the most practical option, they don't offer the same level of customization as custom-made cabinets.
- However, stock kitchen cabinets offer numerous door styles, but few hardware selections.
- Particleboard, melamine, and real wood are the common materials for stock cabinets.
- When it comes to materials, coatings, and styles, semi-custom kitchen cabinets offer the widest variety.
- Their cabinetry is of higher quality than the average kitchen cabinet.
- Standardized semi-custom cabinet dimensions can be adjusted to meet specific requirements.
- You should go with custom kitchen cabinets if you want total say over the components, wood, and design of your cabinetry.
- Based on the dimensions of your home, the colours you like, and the needs of your family, anything can be tailored to your exact specifications.
- It's possible to create a plan that's unique to your family's needs and works with the way you live.
- You have the option of constructing it as either a base cabinet or a wall cabinet.
- Everything from the type of wood used to construct the cabinets to the hardware, finishes, and colours can be customised to your liking.
- In addition, custom kitchen cabinets give you a wide range of options in terms of materials, finishes, items, and design.
- Frame and frameless cabinetry are the two main options available to you.
- Framed cabinets have a frame affixed to the front of the cabinet box.
- After settling on a prefered form of structure, you can move on to further considerations such as material, colour, and hardware.
- Deciding where your cabinets will go and what design you envision for the room will make settling on cabinet construction much easier.
- Three primary methods for installing cabinet doors are full overlay, partial overlay, and inset.
- The doors and drawer fronts of full-overlay cabinets are designed to cover the entirety of the cabinet front.
- The inset style of cabinetry is considerably distinct from the overlay styles.
- The flat-panel door design is simple and stylish.
- The door is made from a single, solid plank of wood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Light grey, dark grey, or greige (a blend of grey and beige) are all suitable neutrals for kitchen cabinetry. These understated colours will serve as a solid foundation while letting you add pops of colour with accessories and appliances.
Create a workable layout. The working triangle is a three-point rule of thumb for arranging a kitchen sink, refrigerator, and stove. The most important features of a kitchen should be located near one another.
Floors can be lighter or darker than cabinets; there are no hard and fast rules, but darker floors generally go with lighter cabinetry and vice versa. Contrast can help you find the sweet spot between your kitchen cabinetry and flooring.
The Shaker style is currently the most popular choice for cabinetry. Five flat panels comprise the Shaker style; four form the frame, while the fifth is a single central panel.
PureStyle combines the long life of laminate with the painted aesthetic. There will be no loose joints or shrunken centre panels like wood, which expands and contracts as the weather does. Likewise, you won't have to worry about loose connections or thinning middle panels as you would with wood, which expands and contracts as the temperature and humidity outside change.