Kitchen cabinetry can make or break the overall aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen. Even if you have already chosen a color, you need to pair that with a door that fits the look of the kitchen. And juggling those variables with cost and size can become a stressful task. With this guide, we can help reduce the stress of deciding by guiding you step by step through the different decisions you may come across when trying to pick the perfect kitchen cabinets.
Important Factors to Consider:
Color:
The first thing most people notice when walking into any room will be the color, as it sets the mood for most spaces. It will be important to select a color that compliments the overall look and feel of your kitchen. Kitchens with a “modern” design will go for a neutral cream or white. However, if you want a more exotic or classic aesthetic, you can go for different wood shades such as mahogany, bamboo, or Sapele. You can also make your kitchen seem larger than it is by choosing lighter colors to bounce the natural lighting around. The existing wall paint color will also be a key factor in choosing a color. Keep in mind the design style of the cabinets and choose a color that you believe will compliment it.
Durability:
Typically, kitchen cabinets are made from wood and wood-like materials. Depending on your budget and personal preference, you can opt for something more durable but expensive like hardwood and plywood. Or for the more cost-friendly alternatives, you could consider fiberboard, veneer, and particleboard.
Hardwood is the most durable but most expensive option, coming from solid wood. Cabinets made from solid wood, normally hickory or maple, will be more scratch and dent-resistant than other softwood trees, like walnut or mahogany. However, the former will be more costly due to its durability and overall cabinet quality.
Plywood is another wood-like material. It is made from glued and laminated wood that is overlaid with a hardwood veneer. However, not all plywood is created equal. There are different grades of plywood, from AA being the most expensive, to A, B, C, D, and E. As you descend in letters, the durability decreases along with the price.
Other Wood Types:
Fiberboard does not contain any wood material, but rather consists of recycled fibers, resin, and wax that has been pressed together under high pressure. It is not quite the same quality as plywood, but it does have a smooth surface that is ideal for painting. It also offers good strength, but it is somewhat susceptible to damage from moisture.
Particleboard is created in the same way as fiberboard, but it is not as densely compressed. It is made up of recycled wood products formed into sheets and then pressed together. Once together, it is then layered with laminate or wood veneer. As it is one of the least durable cabinet options, it is also susceptible to moisture damage.
Veneer is a thin layer of solid hardwood that has been peeled from a log. It is then glued to the surface of particleboard or fiberboard, creating flat panels. Rather than an entire cabinet composed of veneer, it is more-so a finish material than a building material. It is known to be inexpensive and have a lightweight build. The overall look is of course similar to that of hardwood, however the composition is can be a bit thin.
If you would prefer a non-wood option, there are other materials that can make kitchen cabinets. These options include glass, high-gloss, aluminum, stainless steel, glass, and polyethylene. While they are viable options, some of these cabinets have trade offs. Aluminum and stainless-steel cabinets are practically impervious to damage, but they are susceptible to scratches and fingerprints. Glass cabinets offer a chic and luxurious look and allow the viewer to glimpse the contents within. They are well-suited to display china and silverware, but are extremely fragile in comparison to other materials.
Size/Shelf Space:
Different families and cooking styles require different cooking utensils. Assessing what all you need to store in these cabinets is key to determining the right size of your cabinets. Taking inventory of your current kitchen will give you a good idea as to what size of cabinets will be suitable to hold all your cooking ware. Your typical kitchen will consist of these five functional storage areas: consumables, non-consumables, cleaning, preparation, and cooking.
If there is something that you find that does not fit into one of these categories, chances are it should not be in the kitchen. Items normally used for a common task or that share a similar shape should normally be stored together to save space. Once you have all of these different objects partitioned off into similar groups of similar size, begin working your way down from the largest to the smallest storage spaces that will be required. But do not calculate it to the exact size – leave enough room to place and remove the different materials with ease.
Doors & Drawers:
Along with color, the doors and drawers are another major design aspect of your kitchen cabinets. Pairing these designs with the color as well as the overall feel of your kitchen will give you many different visual options to choose from, as well as overall functionality.
Shaker-style cabinet doors currently dominate the market for kitchen cabinet doors. With their simple five piece flat-panel design, this door is compatible with just about any kitchen design, modern or classic. It is able to be varnished and look good with many different variations of wood, stains, paints, and hardware. Depending on its makeup, this style is accessible to a variety of budgets.
Flat doors are a simple but stylish choice, void of any expensive details or labor. With their hard lines and minimalist form, these doors make for a great fit for contemporary and modern interiors. With a simplistic design, these doors can also come in a budget-friendly laminate. This allows for a large variety of colors and sheens.
Inset doors are the most expensive style, but they have a classic look that homeowners find appealing. Rather than being a cover that exists on the outside of the cabinet frame, inset doors sit on the inside. These doors are constructed and designed with extreme precision. This ensures that the door opens and closes properly, even during different temperatures when it may expand or contract. Unlike the other two-door styles, inset doors will require an exposed hinge from the outside. These costs will normally not be compensated in the overall price like the other two. Adding a mere two hinges to each door will quickly add up in price, so make sure to manage your budget accordingly.
Movement Features:
Now with the outside appearance of the cabinetry chosen, there are even more options to choose from for the functionality of the drawers. While it may seem to be a somewhat mundane function, the open/closing mechanism of drawers can come in three different types.
Self-close is the most classic and budget-friendly option. These drawers go all the way back into the cabinet when pushed in that direction. Push-to-open drawers are slightly more expensive, but they eliminate the need for draw handles or pulls. All that is required is a slight nudge to the front door. Since they do not require a handle or pull, this is a popular option for modern style kitchens where you want to limit any hardware exposure. Soft-close slides add a dampening effect when closing the drawer, and they are the most pricey option. No matter how hard you slam the drawer to a close position, the hinge will absorb the motion. Then the door will close slowly.
Where to Buy:
There are many different cabinet vendors that you may choose from, but not every carpenter has the same diligence as the other. These different options will of course come with different price tags, so make sure to find the fine balance between cost and quality. The Amish are famous for their excellent attention to detail and overall fine carpentry, as well as different local cabinet vendors, such as J&N Distribution & Design.
We know that picking cabinetry can be a daunting task. Hopefully this article will help you pick a fitting cabinet set that will be pleasing to the eye in both color and style.
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