Cabinets set the budget and the look
Cabinets are usually one of the largest costs in a kitchen remodel, and they define how the kitchen looks and how well it stores things. Understanding the options helps you decide where to spend and where to save.
Stock, semi-custom and custom
- Stock cabinets come in standard sizes and a limited range of styles and finishes. They're the most affordable and often available quickly. Fillers are used to fit them to the room.
- Semi-custom cabinets start from standard sizes but offer more choices in sizes, finishes, door styles and interior options.
- Custom cabinets are built to fit your kitchen exactly, in nearly any style, size and material. They cost the most and take the longest to build, but they make the best use of awkward spaces and odd dimensions.
Construction matters
Look inside the cabinet, not just at the doors:
- Box material. Plywood and solid wood resist moisture and hold screws well. Particleboard and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are common and can be fine in dry areas but are more vulnerable to swelling if they get wet, especially under sinks.
- Joinery. Dovetailed or doweled drawer boxes last longer than stapled ones.
- Drawer slides. Full-extension, soft-close slides let you reach the back of the drawer and close quietly.
- Hinges. Adjustable, soft-close hinges are standard on quality cabinets.
- Framed versus frameless. Framed cabinets have a face frame around the opening; frameless (European-style) cabinets offer slightly more interior space and a clean look.
Door styles and finishes
Shaker, flat-panel slab, raised-panel and glass-front doors suit different kitchens. Painted finishes show chips more than stained wood but are easy to touch up. Thermofoil and laminate finishes are durable and affordable but can be harder to repair. Ask to see finish samples in your kitchen's light.
Plan storage around how you cook
- Deep drawers for pots and pans instead of base cabinets with doors.
- Pull-out trash and recycling near the sink.
- Tall pantry cabinets with pull-out shelves.
- Corner solutions such as blind-corner pull-outs or lazy Susans.
- Vertical dividers for baking sheets and cutting boards.
- Cabinets that reach the ceiling, or a soffit, to avoid dust-collecting gaps.
Refacing or refinishing
If your cabinet boxes are sound and the layout works, refacing (new doors, drawer fronts and veneer on the frames) or refinishing can update the kitchen at lower cost and with less disruption than replacement.
Installation
Cabinets must be installed level, plumb and securely fastened to wall framing. Walls and floors are rarely perfectly flat, so installers shim and scribe to fit. Upper cabinets carry heavy loads and must be anchored properly. Ask who measures, who installs, and how the installer will handle uneven walls and floors.
Questions to ask
- Are these stock, semi-custom or custom, and what's the lead time?
- What are the boxes, drawers and back panels made of?
- What slides and hinges are included?
- Who measures and installs, and what's the installation warranty?
- What happens if a cabinet arrives damaged or the wrong size?
Lead times
Stock cabinets may be available quickly; semi-custom and custom cabinets can take weeks or longer to build. Order cabinets early, and make sure appliance choices are final before the order is placed, because appliance sizes set cabinet sizes.
Cabinet hardware
Knobs and pulls are small details that affect daily use. Larger pulls are easier to grip, and consistent hardware across the kitchen looks cleaner.