What Types of Kitchen Cabinets Are Best for You?

Determining the types of kitchen cabinets to install during your remodel is a huge task. Use this guide to decide which ones are right for you.

Are you planning on remodeling your kitchen? You’ve got lots of decisions to make, from the color of the walls to the appliances that you’re going to install. A big part of your remodel will be your kitchen cabinets.

Think they’re all the same?

Think again.

Here are the different types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose, and which one is best for you.

1. RTA Cabinets

RTA, or Ready-To-Assemble cabinets, are becoming a more popular choice with homeowners looking to save money on their kitchen remodel. It’s understandable, as remodels become expensive quickly, and you want to save money wherever you can.

As the name implies, these cabinets are ones that you install yourself, rather than buying from a company and having them come to install the cabinets for you. In the past, RTA cabinets weren’t as appealing as they are today. They came in a much smaller array of styles, and they didn’t look as nice as their more expensive counterparts.

Now, you can buy cabinets that look just as good. Once they’re installed, you won’t be able to tell if they were created by experts or a DIY enthusiast.

2. Repainted Cabinets

Are you remodeling, but your current types of kitchen cabinets are of a good size, and are in the right position? Then you can save money by repainting your cabinets, rather than replacing them.

There are a lot of benefits to repainting your cabinets:

• You’ll save money, as you won’t need to buy new cabinets.
• You won’t have to put up with more of your kitchen being ripped out and replaced, creating less mess in your home.
• You’ll also save time on your project too, as repainting is quicker than remodeling.

There are plenty of guides online that will help you paint your cabinets, so the paint job will last over time. If you’re not sure or don’t have time, you can call in a painting company to handle it for you.

As a bonus, they’ll often guarantee the paint job that they do for a certain amount of time.

3. Pre-Fabricated Cabinets

Yet another way of saving money on your cabinets is to use pre-fabricated cabinets instead of custom-made ones. They’re already made and ready to install, so you’re saving a lot of costs by picking these.

Again, the choices you have today look much better than the versions they have had in the past. If you’re put off by the idea thanks to older models you saw, look at what’s available now. You’ll be amazed at what’s out there.

There are a couple of downsides to these, though. First, you’ll have to design your kitchen to fit the cabinets, not the other way around. If you have a forgiving kitchen space, you should be able to make them work. Also, you may not be able to get all the features you want, such as matching end panels and decorative options.

4. Custom Cabinets

Finally, you have custom cabinets. If you want to design your dream kitchen, custom cabinets are important.

You can get cabinets in any style, size, or configuration that you want. They’re also brilliant for kitchens that have odd shapes, as you’ll be able to fit the cabinets to make the most of the space you have.

The downside to custom cabinets is that, as you’d imagine, they are more expensive than pre-fabricated or RTA cabinets. More work is put into making them, so you’ll need to spend more to get what you want. If having these cabinets is important to your remodel though, it will be money well spent.

Styles and Types of Kitchen Cabinets

These are most of the basic types of kitchen cabinets available, and they all come in an array of styles. The style that’s best for you is one that fits with your personal tastes as well as the needs of your kitchen.

Here are some of the more popular styles that you’ll want to consider for your remodel:

– Shaker:

This is probably the most common style today in modern kitchens. It’s not hard to see why, as it features a simple design that fits in with almost anyone’s decor. Shaker cabinets have a five-panel design, with the outer four panels creating a frame that the fifth panel sits in, recessed slightly.

– Flat Panel/Slab:

This style is also seen in modern style kitchens. These cabinets have a flat front to them, creating clean lines and sometimes looking like a ‘slab,’ as the name implies. They usually don’t have frames, so the style flows uninterrupted. The cabinet can be finished with minimalist touches such as simple handles that lend themselves again to the modern aesthetic.

– Louvered:

These cabinets have horizontal slats within the frame of the door. It’s a simple design, but they look fantastic when they’re installed in your kitchen. A good reason for picking this style is that it allows for greater air flow within your cabinets. You may have areas in your kitchen that need air flow, such as in your air-drying cabinet – having that extra ventilation makes all the difference.

– Distressed:

An antique or shabby chic style kitchen will look nice with distressed cabinets in it. These cabinets have a rough, or distressed style finish to them. For example, the design is created to look as though the paint has been rubbed off in specific areas, such as the corners. They come in all kinds of styles, so you can customize the doors as you see fit.

– Bead-board:

These cabinets are made with planks that have indentations on the edges, known as beads. These give texture and visual interest to your cabinets, and they are often used for country or cottage style kitchens.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to the different types of kitchen cabinets for your remodel. The style you choose will depend on your needs, your budget, and what you want from your kitchen.