From shaker to tongue-and-groove, the possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing your kitchen cabinet door style. So which one is right for you?
Kitchen cabinets, tapware, benchtop surfaces, splashback tiles. If you’ve ever considered renovating your kitchen, you will know that there are a lot of decisions to be made, and the choices really are endless (read: overwhelming). One of the most visible, yet least considered aspects of kitchen remodel is often the choice of kitchen cabinet door.
Cabinet doors – or cupboard door profiles – come in a variety of designs, textures and materials. From shaker style to glass cabinet doors, it’s best to let the interior style of your home and kitchen – whether it is minimalist, country or contemporary – guide your choice of cabinets, there are a whole new range of considerations, including durability and exposure to the elements.
Read on to discover more about eight of the most popular kitchen cabinet door styles, and which one is right for you and your kitchen layout.
1. FLAT KITCHEN CABINETS
Flat kitchen cabinets are best suited to contemporary, or modern style homes. Easy to clean and usually the most affordable style, flat cabinet styles can also be produced with or without handles.
Go without handles for a cleaner, minimalist look or take kitchen hardware as an opportunity to show off your individual style. For a more vibrant look, consider choosing a bold kitchen cabinet colour for the heart of your home. Or do it later down the track bu painting your kitchen cabinets.
2. SHAKER STYLE KITCHEN CABINETS
Renowned for their simplicity and elegance, shaker style cabinets are named after a religious sect known as the Shakers who, during the 1800s, became known for their well-made simple and functional furniture. When it comes to cabinetry, shaker cabinets can be identified by their five piece design: a single piece of timber as a baking, with four small slats forming a boarder around the outer edge.
The principle behind Shaker furniture design later went on to inspire generations of Scandinavian furniture designers, bringing us both the Scandinavian and mid-century modern design movements.
This means that shaker style cabinets work as well in a Scandi style home as they do in a sleek modern home or even a country style kitchen. Opt for this style of cabinetry if you’re looking to add subtle detail to your kitchen. This is a classic style that will never date.
3. BEADBOARD COUNTRY STYLE KITCHEN CABINETS
Beadboard cabinets with a boarded edge are best suited to country style homes and kitchens. Their likeness to wall panelling also makes them look right at home in modern Hamptons-style homes too.
If you have a heritage home with stained-glass windows or have views of farmland from your kitchen window, these cabinets will also look right at home in your place. Keep in mind though, that this style of cabinetry – while undeniably charming – can require a little more dusting than other options.
4. TONGUE AND GROOVE KITCHEN CABINETS
Related to beadboard cabinets, but differentiated here by their lack of outlining border, tongue-and-groove – or v-groove cabinets – are currently having their moment in the spotlight. It’s amazing how quickly the country style cabinet can go from cottagecore to something that suits more industrial kitchens, and even coastal homes – simply by removing the border from the design.
Kitchen remodels aimed at creating a minimalist aesthetic will find exactly what they’re looking for with tongue-and-groove cabinets. That’s because this design adds texture and interest to a space without looking cluttered. This type of cabinet lends itself well to bold colour choices, but is also very stylish in neutral shades as part of a coastal-style kitchen.
5. SLIDING KITCHEN CABINET DOORS
If you have a compact kitchen, consider whether sliding cabinet doors will work as part of your kitchen’s design. Depending on the materials and colour chosen, this style would work beautifully in a Scandi style home, or even as a throwback to retro kitchen design.
If you dream of someday renovating a vintage caravan then keep this cabinet style in mind to save a little head room in the kitchen.
6. HERITAGE STYLE KITCHEN CABINETS
Heritage cabinets can be thought of as the more ornate cousin of Shaker cabinet fronts. Characterised by a raised central panel with more intricately detailed woodwork, this traditional style of cabinet door is most often seen in Hamptons style homes.
This style works best in large kitchens, because the extra and more ornate detailing can quickly look cluttered in a small space.
7. GLASS DOOR KITCHEN CABINETS
Why keep your good China, ceramics and crystal glassware hidden away when you can put it proudly on display in a glass-fronted cabinet? Glass cabinets are a great way to add interest to your kitchen. Suited especially to Hamptons homes and country kitchens, glass cabinets will require a little bit of styling effort to begin with (to ensure the contents of the cupboards are nicely arranged) but will never fail to wow your dinner guests.
These cabinets also have the added benefit of allowing you to find which items you need without having to search through multiple cupboards. If you’re worried about the look becoming cluttered, consider opting for frosted glass, or even coloured glass.
8. INSET KITCHEN KITCHEN CABINETS
Inset cabinets may look just like other regular cabinets, but on closer inspection you will notice that they feature exposed hinges and doors to sit inside the cabinet frame.
As inset cabinets fronts require bespoke fitting and custom joinery, they can be a costly option when it comes to kitchen design. With so many affordable fully overlay cabinets available, you’ll rarely see inset kitchen cabinets unless you’re in a luxury home or grand estate.
Inset cabinets are generally selected for their overall smoother appearance, but with the door sitting within the frame, can reduce the amount of available cupboard space.
INSET OR OVERLAY CABINETS?
INSET
- Sit flush inside the cabinet, creating a seamless look.
- One of the more expensive kitchen door options because it requires custom cabinetry.
- Tend to have less storage space, so keep that in mind if you intend to store bulky or large items away.
- Require more hardware as the doors cannot be opened without pulling on a handle, and this style often features visible hinges.
OVERLAY
- The most common type of kitchen cupboard door for modern kitchens, with plenty of affordable and sleek varieties available.
- Fully overlay cabinets are easy to install yourself and can be ordered in.