Your kitchen is a hugely important room in the home. It is the place where you are going to be cooking meals every day. It is the place where you may socialize with guests. It is the place where hygiene plays a prominent role. Plus, it is also the place that can have a huge impact on the overall value of your property.
With that being said, every element of your kitchen needs to be considered carefully, from the beautiful picture frames you hang in the room to your choice of kitchen countertop.
Your kitchen cabinets certainly play a huge role because they take up a large amount of space within the room. Therefore, it is vital that you choose with care. In this guide, we are going to reveal plenty of kitchen cabinet ideas by taking a look at the different factors that you should consider when you are searching for kitchen cabinets for your home.
Cabinet style
The first thing you need to think about is what sort of style you are going to go for. There are a number of different factors that are going to play a role here. Of course, personal preference is going to be a big factor. Only you know what sort of interior design looks you like. In addition to this, though, there are some other elements you are going to need to factor in as well. For example, the current style of the kitchen is important. You also need to consider the size and the layout of your kitchen as well. Your layout does not need to impact the style of unit you select.
However, there is no denying that some styles look better with bigger kitchens while others work better with smaller kitchens. For example, if you want to maximize light and space, you could benefit from a sleek, modern, and streamlined design, as well as a high gloss finish, which will reflect light into the room and open up the space. However, if you have a big family kitchen, you may want to consider a farmhouse-style table or a kitchen island in the center of it with country-style, rustic wood cabinets to finish the look.
Type of cabinet
Not only do you need to consider the style of the cabinet but you need to think about what type of cabinet you are going to choose. Generally, you will have three main options to select from. These are as follows:
- Stock – Stock cabinets are those that are prefabricated and ready to install. They are the most affordable option of the three. With some of these cabinets, you will need to put them together yourself. You are not going to have a large number of accessories, color or style options either, as everything is essentially premade.
- Semi-custom – This option is the middle ground between stock and fully custom cabinets. With these models, there is a limit on construction materials. However, you are going to have some customization options available to you, for example, you will typically have a number of different sizes and colors to pick from.
- Fully custom – Finally, we have fully custom cabinets, which do exactly what they say on the tin. With these cabinets, you are going to be able to select every aspect and element of the cabinet, ending up with something that is exactly to your taste. From the hinges and fixtures to the color; you can pick whatever your heart desires. Needless to say, this is also the more expensive option of the three.
Frameless or framed cabinets?
Another decision you are going to need to make is whether to go for framed or frameless cabinets. Most people go for framed cabinets. These cabinets have about an inch and a half ‘face’ that frames the cabinet itself. This is a more traditional cabinet style. It creates the impression of a flat surface, which gives a feel of or add dimension. Frameless cabinets are more popular in Europe. They are the more modern of the two. With this approach, the doors attach directly to the box itself. The box tends to be thicker, which is why it is often made of plywood. Additional support will be needed because of the fact that there is not a frame. If you want the best of both worlds, i.e. a frame yet a modern appearance, you should look into the option of a full overlay door.
Material for the carcass of your cabinets
The carcass basically refers to the internal framework of your cabinets. This is important because it plays a great role when it comes to the durability and strength of your cabinets. If you opt for a light or flimsy material, you are going to need to get your cabinets replaced a lot sooner than you would like to. The lifetime of your kitchen cupboards is going to be dictated by the density of the material that is used, and so it is important to consider this carefully. The most basic material used is low-density chipboard. This is affordable yet it is much more likely to experience warping on a permanent scale in damp conditions, which could be a real problem. Some of the preferred options include plywood, timer-faced MDF, and MDF, which stands for medium-density fiberboard.
Material for the cabinet doors and other decorative elements
You also need to think about what material the cabinet doors are going to be made from. This is an opportunity for you to show off your taste and add some personality. There are a lot of different options available but wood has long been considered the best. There are a number of different reasons why this is the case. However, there is no denying that one of the great things about wood is that it has an appearance that has stood the test of time. You never have to worry about your kitchen cabinets coming across as dated. Not only this but there are a lot of customization options with wood and it will create an inviting and warm atmosphere. In addition to this, wood is a durable and strong material, and so you can expect it to last for many years to come and for you to get a lot of use out of your cabinets.
Kitchen cabinet features
You also need to give thought to the features of your kitchen cabinets. The doors are the most obvious starting point. However, you also need to think about the drawers too, as well as the shelving. You need to consider this from both a practical standpoint and in terms of durability. When it comes to shelves, think about what you are going to be placing in your cabinets to determine whether the setup is going to work. You will also want to consider elements like the door handles, as well as the quality of the joinery, and also the hinges used.
The company you are going to be purchasing the cabinets from
Aside from the points that have already been mentioned, it is important that you put a lot of thought and consideration into the supplier of the kitchen cabinets. After all, this is going to have a direct impact on the quality. Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever before to find out information about a company you are considering doing business with. Review websites and platforms mean that we can easily read comments and feedback that have been left by others that have already purchased items from the company in question. You should take your time to read through the comments. This will help you to get a better understanding of the level of quality you can expect. Some customers will even upload photos of the cabinets they have purchased. This can be very helpful because you can see how they really look compared to the professional photos on the company’s website.
While it can be tempting to go for the cheapest company you can find, this is not recommended. This will only end up costing you a lot of money in the long run because cheap-looking cabinets can actually cause the value of your home to decrease. This means you will lose out much more significantly on a financial scale in the long run. Aside from this, take the time to familiarize yourself with the companies terms and conditions, including their delivery and review policies. You should also find out whether or not you are going to get a warranty or some form of guarantee with the cabinets you purchase.
Hopefully, you now feel like you have all of the information you need when it comes to kitchen cabinet design. There is no denying that there is a lot that needs to be taken into consideration when you are choosing cabinets for your kitchen. However, it is vital that you do put the effort in because the cabinets you select are going to have a huge impact on the functionality of the room as well as its overall style. Therefore, you really cannot afford to cut any corners.
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