Choosing the right kitchen cabinets should be easy

Let’s face it: Choosing the right kitchen cabinets is one of the most arduous and nerve-racking decisions you have to make in your kitchen.

Cupboards are expensive at first; and they can really spoil the aesthetics of your kitchen. They can change both the look and feel of your kitchen and must be extremely functional at the same time.

Even more challenging is that for a good kitchen cabinet, neither price nor appearance are decisive. The reason for this is that fashion is changing and there are always new materials and construction techniques that are classified as features of excellent quality.

Image source: DesignArt Memphis by Leslie Cetingok

Not to mention that all cabinets look different: they can come with soft closing hinges, carved heavy wood doors, or fully extendable drawers. Yes, you are right – it will take some time!

Check out some basic tips that can alleviate your concerns about choosing kitchen cabinets:

It’s not just an open / shut matter

Image source: Jennifer Fordham

There are many factors that influence the choice of kitchen furniture. There are also many different styles, materials, sizes, and prices, and you need to do excessive research before deciding on one of them.

The most important factor, of course, is the price, since cupboards often make up more than 50% of your kitchen equipment costs.

List your priorities

Image source: Great rooms!

The market is full of amazing pieces with endless features, but you need to know what you can really afford. Ultimately, all cabinets serve the same purpose, and you need to define what specific requirements the cabinet should meet.

The first thing to consider is the price: how much are you willing and able to spend? How much space do you need? Do you prefer drawers? The answers to these questions differentiate between all materials, sizes, colors and durability aspects.

Think about the layouts

Image source: RZOwens constructions

When buying additional furniture, first think of the layout. Parts that match your style and decor are useless unless they match layouts first. Therefore, you need to analyze the layout of your kitchen and then decide which cabinets you need.

Part of the analysis should also be whether there is enough space for activities and storing items. You should also take this into account when choosing accessories.

What should be the primary attraction or the high-quality construction?

Image source: Cheryl Scrymgeour Designs

While looking good can really add to the price of kitchen cabinets, it’s really questionable whether you should be throwing insane amounts on something that doesn’t work for you.
All interior magazines and catalogs that prefer a particular brand will try to convince you to make a high-end choice, but you should really focus on quality.

Image source: BRAND Interior Design, LLC

With a limited budget, you can’t go for the best materials (high quality wood, exotic finishes), which doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality: there are amazing mid-range solutions that will last for years!

Choice of standard, semi-custom or custom cabinets

Image source: Taylor Lombardo Architects

Many people find these terms interchangeable. The truth is that there is one big difference, more related to design and manufacturing than quality and ease of use.

• Storage – Storage cabinets are prefabricated and manufactured according to a catalog with no more than 3 sizes and limited customization options. In simpler terms, these are the cabinets that you couldn’t change. But some people were lucky enough to find exactly what they needed on the local store shelf. Another option for storage cabinets is RTA kitchen cabinets. These cabinets are not delivered assembled, so there is a certain sweat balance. Some RTA manufacturers make minor adjustments and usually have a pretty good selection of different furniture sizes.
• Semi-Custom – Semi-custom cabinets are similar to standard cabinets in the sense that they are pre-built. However, they offer significantly more options, from sizes and colors to delivery requests. You can always customize them to your needs, which means that you can actually handle customization options well.
• Custom – Custom cabinets are designed to meet your needs and specifications. and they have no restrictions on color, size, style, material or workmanship. In fact, these are the original ideas you ordered.

The quality of your closets should be your priority. We recommend that you go for semi-custom cabinets with the following features:

• Dovetail drawers
• Fully extendable drawers
• Doors and drawers with “soft” closing
• A wide range of high quality surfaces

Design and construction

Image source: Five-star interior

There are two basic types of cabinets: with or without a frame. Framed cabinets are provided with a wooden frame, the purpose of which is to outline the front door of the cabinet.

Frameless cabinets, on the other hand, do not have this function. They are much easier to assemble carpentry and support techniques, which is why they are made of plastic, metal or wood.

The carpentry (in both cases) is done with staples, nails, hot glue or certain woodworking techniques (dadoes, dovetails, etc.).

The role of your current style

Image source: 2id Interiors

The choice of furniture also depends on your previous solutions. The rule is simple: your kitchen shouldn’t look too different from the rest of your home as it may not look connected.

You can choose your style freely, but if you follow our advice, you can narrow down the choices and focus on some basic tips that you can give to your carpenters or designers in general.

Image source: Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bathroom

If you’re having trouble finding the right style for your furniture, we recommend visiting a local showroom or simply looking for solutions online.

Once you’ve made up your mind, you can move on to less time-consuming solutions, such as: B. to choose wood, color or pattern.

Wood is the main choice

Image source: Kitchens from Rose

You may have preferences for the type of wood over the other, but it is your kitchen area that “decides” in the end.

You have to adapt your choice to the number of square meters and the lighting conditions (dark cupboards, for example, make a small kitchen feel even smaller).

One of the best solutions is to combine MDF (medium density fireboard) and maple tops for colored cabinets to minimize the risk of cracks.

Image source: Pickell architecture

Stained cabinets, on the other hand, could benefit from cherry and maple or a unique mixture of hickory and walnut.

The hardware

Image source: Epic development

Pay as much attention as possible to the selection of suitable hardware. Remember that hardware is the jewelry of your kitchen:

Before you buy furniture, consider the following:

• Your hardware should come with fully adjustable doors that are installed so that the gap between them remains unique. The floors should be deepened or there should be valence to cover the lights placed under the cabinets.
• With cabinets, the quality does not have to depend on the price. With a moderate budget, you can purchase semi-custom cabinets that are great for their numerous room solutions (pull-out pantries, room organizers, etc.).
• What about the “dead space” in the corners behind your closets? Did you even think about it? Sometimes the room is completely covered. If not, you can opt for an old-fashioned cupboard that can “pull out” the space and use it. For example, you can save frequently used items so that they are always within reach.

The doors

Image source: NDA kitchens and construction

There are many door styles to meet every taste or requirement. The options range from very traditional to ultra-modern, either simple or detailed (carved wings, raised panels, painted motifs). However, keep in mind that these decorations cost a lot more and are difficult to clean at the same time.