When designing or remodeling your kitchen, choosing the right type of cupboards is crucial for both functionality and aesthetics. Kitchen cupboards are more than just storage spaces; they help define the style and feel of your kitchen. Whether you prefer a sleek, modern look or a more traditional, rustic feel, the right cupboard style will be a foundational piece of your feel and functionality.
With so many types of kitchen cupboards available, from classic shaker to modern flat-panel designs, it’s important to find the one that complements your home’s style and meets your organizational needs. In this guide, we’ll explore various types of kitchen cupboards to help you select the perfect option for your space.
Shaker-Style Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Shaker-style cupboards are one of the most popular and versatile choices for kitchen cabinetry. Characterized by their simple, clean lines and recessed center panels, these cupboards offer a timeless design that fits well with many kitchen styles.
Best For: Shaker cabinets work well in traditional, farmhouse, and transitional kitchens. Their clean, minimalist look also allows them to blend seamlessly into more modern kitchen designs, depending on the choice of finish and hardware.
Advantages: Timeless Appeal: Shaker cupboards have a classic, unembellished design that has remained popular for decades. Their simplicity makes them a safe choice for homeowners looking for a style that won’t go out of fashion.
Versatility: Shaker cupboards can be customized to suit various design aesthetics. You can go for natural wood finishes to emphasize a rustic, cottage core look, or opt for sleek, painted finishes in neutral colors like white, gray, or navy for a more contemporary feel.
Easy to Customize: With a wide range of colors, finishes, and hardware options available, Shaker-style cupboards can be tailored to match your kitchen’s color scheme and design preferences.
Raised-Panel Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Raised-panel cupboards have a center panel that is raised above the rest of the door, giving the cabinets more depth and dimension. This type of cupboard is often seen in more traditional and formal kitchen designs.
Best For: Raised-panel cupboards are best suited for traditional, classic, and formal kitchens, where detailed craftsmanship and elegance are emphasized.
Advantages:
Elegant Detailing: The raised center panel adds a level of sophistication and depth to the cabinets, making them a great choice for kitchens that aim to feel more refined and decorative.
Variety of Finishes: Raised-panel cupboards can be finished in a wide range of colors and wood stains, allowing them to match various kitchen styles, from traditional wood finishes to more contemporary painted versions.
Timeless Appeal: These cupboards provide a classic look that never goes out of style, making them a long-lasting choice for homeowners.
Glass-Front Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Glass-front cupboards feature doors with glass panels that display the contents of the cabinet. These are often used to showcase decorative dishware, glassware, or other aesthetically pleasing kitchen items.
Best For: Glass-front cupboards work well in transitional, eclectic, or vintage kitchens, where homeowners want to combine different styles or add a touch of elegance.
Advantages:
Display Option: Glass-front cupboards are perfect for displaying beautiful dishes, glassware, or decorative pieces, turning your kitchen storage into a design feature.
Visual Openness: These cupboards help make a kitchen feel more open and airy, especially in smaller spaces where solid doors might feel heavy or closed off.
Customizable: You can choose between different types of glass (clear, frosted, textured) to match your kitchen’s style while still allowing a peek into the cupboard’s contents.
Louvered Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Louvered cupboards are made with horizontal slats, which offer a unique and textured appearance. They are less common in kitchens but are favored for their distinctive style and ventilation benefits.
Best For: Louvered cupboards are ideal for coastal, cottage, or tropical kitchens, where a light, breezy aesthetic is desired.
Advantages:
Ventilation: The slats in louvered cupboards provide ventilation, making them a great choice for cupboards that store food or linens, where airflow is needed to prevent mustiness.
Distinctive Look: The unique design of louvered cupboards adds texture and interest to a kitchen, helping it stand out from more common cupboard styles.
Durability: Louvered cupboards are typically made from sturdy wood and are built to last, adding long-term value to your kitchen.
Inset Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Inset cupboards feature doors that are set inside the cabinet frame, offering a flush, seamless look. This design is known for its precision and high-end craftsmanship, making it a popular choice in custom kitchens.
Best For: Inset cupboards are ideal for high-end, traditional, or classic kitchens, where attention to detail and a clean, finished look are important.
Advantages:
Seamless Design: The doors sit perfectly within the frame, creating a smooth and polished look.
Durability: Inset cupboards are built with strong construction methods, which ensure long-lasting durability.
Customizable: These cupboards can be designed with various finishes, making them a versatile choice for different kitchen styles.
Flat-Panel (Slab) Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Flat-panel cupboards, also known as slab cupboards, are characterized by their smooth, sleek doors with no additional detailing or paneling. This minimalist design makes them a popular choice for modern and contemporary kitchen styles.
Best For: Flat-panel cupboards are ideal for modern, contemporary, and minimalist kitchens. Their clean lines and simple form make them perfect for homeowners who prefer a streamlined, clutter-free look.
Advantages:
Sleek and Modern: Flat-panel cupboards provide a clean and seamless appearance, which fits well with modern kitchen designs that emphasize simplicity.
Easy to Clean: Without intricate detailing or recessed panels, flat-panel cupboards are much easier to wipe down and maintain, making them a practical choice for busy households.
Versatile Materials: These cupboards come in a variety of finishes, including wood, laminate, and high-gloss materials, allowing homeowners to choose a look that matches their design vision.
Finishes & Fixtures
Overview: Distressed or rustic cupboards feature an antiqued, weathered finish that gives the kitchen a cozy, lived-in feel. This style is often used to create a farmhouse or country-style kitchen, adding warmth and character to the space.
Best For: Distressed cupboards are perfect for farmhouse, cottage, or rustic kitchens, where a relaxed, cozy atmosphere is desired.
Advantages:
Character and Warmth: The distressed finish adds unique character to each piece, giving the kitchen a warm, inviting feel.
Customizable Levels of Distress: Homeowners can choose how much distressing they want, from lightly weathered to heavily worn.
Perfect for Traditional Styles: These cupboards pair well with other rustic design elements like wood beams, farmhouse sinks, and vintage fixtures.
Custom-Made Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: A growing trend in modern and industrial kitchen designs is the replacement of upper cupboards with open shelving. This option creates a light, open feel and allows homeowners to display their kitchenware as part of the décor.
Best For: Open shelving is ideal for modern, industrial, or eclectic kitchens, where a minimalist or airy look is preferred.
Advantages:
Openness: Removing upper cupboards and opting for open shelving creates a more open, spacious feeling in the kitchen.
Display: Open shelves allow homeowners to display decorative kitchenware, plants, or other items, adding personal touches to the space.
Easy Access: Without doors, it’s easy to grab items from the shelves, making them functional for everyday use.
Beadboard Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Beadboard cupboards are characterized by vertical paneling, offering a cozy, textured look that adds warmth and charm to any kitchen. They are often seen in farmhouse, cottage, and country-style kitchens, where a casual, homey atmosphere is desired.
Best For: Beadboard cupboards work best in farmhouse, cottage, or country-style kitchens that aim for a cozy, inviting feel.
Advantages:
Textured Appearance: The vertical paneling adds texture and depth to the cupboards, creating visual interest.
Casual and Cozy: Beadboard cupboards lend a welcoming and relaxed feel to the kitchen, perfect for creating a comfortable and homey atmosphere.
Customizable: Available in various colors, beadboard cupboards can be painted to fit the style of the kitchen, with lighter tones like white or pastel often used to enhance the casual aesthetic.
Custom-Made Kitchen Cupboards
Overview: Custom-made cupboards are tailored to fit your specific kitchen layout, style, and design preferences. With custom cupboards, homeowners have complete control over the materials, finishes, and sizes to suit their unique needs.
Best For: Custom-made cupboards are ideal for kitchens with unique dimensions or homeowners looking for a completely personalized design. They are particularly useful in luxury kitchens or for those with specific storage or design requirements.
Advantages:
Complete Personalization: Custom cupboards are made to order, allowing homeowners to choose everything from the material and color to the size and hardware.
Perfect Fit: Custom cupboards are designed to maximize space and fit perfectly into any kitchen layout, regardless of unique dimensions or design challenges.
High-End Materials: Homeowners can select premium materials and finishes, ensuring that the cupboards not only fit their style but are also built to last.
Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) Kitchen Cabinets
Overview: Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) kitchen cabinets are a budget-friendly option for homeowners who prefer a more hands-on approach to kitchen design. These cabinets come in flat-packed boxes with all the necessary parts and hardware for easy assembly at home. RTA cabinets are pre-cut and pre-drilled, making them relatively simple to assemble with basic tools, and they can be an excellent choice for DIY enthusiasts or anyone looking to save on labor costs.
Best For: RTA cabinets are ideal for budget-conscious homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, or those who need to complete a kitchen renovation quickly and affordably. They are available in a variety of styles, making them a versatile option for both traditional and modern kitchens.
Advantages:
Affordability: One of the biggest advantages of RTA cabinets is their low cost compared to fully assembled or custom cabinets. Because you do the assembly yourself, you save on both the production and labor costs.
Quick Delivery: Since RTA cabinets are flat-packed, they are easier to ship, which often results in faster delivery times. This can be a major benefit for homeowners working with tight renovation timelines.
Variety of Styles: Despite their budget-friendly nature, RTA cabinets come in a wide range of materials, finishes, and designs, allowing you to find a style that suits your kitchen’s aesthetic.
Easy Assembly: Most RTA cabinets are designed for easy assembly with common tools. Clear instructions are usually provided, and no specialized skills are required, making them accessible for homeowners who want to take on a DIY project.
Customization Options: While RTA cabinets aren’t fully custom, many manufacturers offer semi-custom options, allowing you to choose from different door styles, finishes, and configurations.
Considerations:
Quality Variations: While there are high-quality RTA cabinets available, there can be significant differences in material quality. Be sure to choose a reputable brand that offers solid wood or high-quality plywood construction for durability.
Assembly Time: Although RTA cabinets are designed for easy assembly, they do require time and patience. If you’re not comfortable with DIY projects or have a large kitchen, it may be worth hiring a professional to assist with the assembly.
Limited Customization: While there are many styles and finishes available, RTA cabinets typically don’t offer the level of customization that fully custom cabinets do. If your kitchen has unusual dimensions or you need a very specific design, RTA may not be the best choice.
Can you pick any wood for any type of cabinet style?
When selecting the perfect wood for your kitchen cabinets, it’s important to consider both the style and functionality you desire. While most cabinet styles can be made from a variety of wood types, certain woods are better suited for specific aesthetics or practical needs. Here’s a look at how different types of wood pair with various cabinet styles:
Conclusion
Choosing the right kitchen cupboards is important for both the functionality and style of your space. With so many options, from classic Shaker cabinets to modern flat-panel designs, it’s important to select a style that complements your home’s aesthetic while meeting your storage needs. If you would like to see what these styles look like in kitchens, this gallery showcases several of the cabinet installs we’ve done here at Green Group Remodeling.
Whether you’re drawn to the timeless appeal of raised-panel cupboards, the casual feel of beadboard, or the sleekness of custom-made cabinets, there’s a perfect cupboard style for every kitchen. By carefully considering your kitchen layout, design preferences, and practical needs, you can choose cupboards that will enhance both the look and functionality of your kitchen for years to come. Contact us today to get started with picking out the best cabinets for your home.
