The kitchen is considered the hub of the family home; it is where people entertain, connect at the end of the day, and prepare meals. As such, this room deserves extra care and attention to ensure it is laid out intuitively and fashionably to increase your enjoyment and usability of the space. A functional kitchen should offer creative and stylish storage solutions that truly unify the space. Carefully curated kitchen cabinets are the foundation of any great kitchen renovation. Here are some tips to choose the right cupboards for your kitchen.
Set a Budget
First off, it is important to set a budget you are comfortable with and adhere to it. Don’t let anyone discourage you. There are a multitude of stylish options for every budget, it just may take a little more dedication to find what you are looking for. When setting your budget, don’t forget to factor in installation costs, which can be in the range of $1500 to $3000.
Know Your Options
You can then decide which type of cabinets you want depending on your budget. On the lower end of the spectrum, there are pre-assembled stock cabinets, which you can install yourself if you have the skillset. Mid-range options include semi-custom cabinets, where you can personalize the hardware or finish. Made-to-order cabinets are the most customizable, however, they are also the most expensive. If you are handy, you can also build and install your own cabinets, which will only cost you the price of your materials.
Consider Maintenance
There are many different types of cabinets that you can choose from—when making your selection, consider how the design and finish of your cabinets will affect how easy it is to clean and maintain throughout its lifespan.
Cabinet Styles
Shaker – A shaker cabinet features simple lines and a door with a recessed centre panel. They are the most popular choice due to their versatility and low-maintenance design, which makes them easy to clean and customize.
Flat Panel – These cabinet doors are as minimalist as you get. They feature a flat panel door with no detail or decoration of any kind. Flat panel cabinets lend themselves to more contemporary designs.
Raised Panel – Raised panels have a beveled frame with a raised centre panel and fit in nicely with more traditional kitchen layouts.
Glass Doors – Glass Doors add a hint of elegance to any kitchen design. Just be sure to opt for frosted glass if you are worried about kitchen cabinet clutter.
Beadboard Cabinets – Beadboard cabinets feature adjoining planks for a more rustic cottage-style kitchen.
Finishes
Natural Wood – If you love the look of wood grain and don’t want to overcomplicate things then this finish is for you. A clear varnish is applied to your cabinets to protect them from dirt and damage and let their natural beauty shine through.
Painted – Painting your cabinets offers a great deal of versatility as you can customize them each time you update your kitchen. You can also add visual interest by mixing and matching coordinating colours or add weight and dimension to the space by painting your base cabinets dark and your upper cabinets white.
Stain – Staining your cupboard allows you to maintain the beautiful wood grain of your cabinetry, while still customizing the colour for your space. There are many colours to choose from, so you are sure to find something that suits your vision.
Laminate – A thin piece of laminate is adhered to the outside of your compressed wood cabinets for a modern finish. Laminate is one of the more affordable options for cabinetry, is easy to clean and durable.
Functionality
Functionality is another important consideration when selecting kitchen cupboards. Think about details that offer added convenience, such as soft-closed hinges to prevent noise and damage, fully extendable rails for ease of use, or creative organizational add-ons like under-cabinet wine racks, or under-mount lighting.
Hardware
When selecting your hardware, be sure to consider not only the style of the hardware and how it complements your cupboards, but also its ergonomic potential. You want to select hardware that will be user-friendly and comfortable since you will use it every day. You should also consider the proportion of the knob or pull to the size of your cabinet. Finally, you should consider the finish of the hardware you choose; there are several options to choose from including metal alloys like brass and bronze, stainless steel, pewter, glass and ceramic to name a few.
Jessica Gardner | Contributing Writer
