Cabinets are the heart of any kitchen. They can make a dramatic impact on your home’s interior design and offer a variety of options to customize your space.
On Angi’s list of 6 best cabinets, KraftMaid has great customer service, solid construction and a wide range of styles. It is available at most major stores and has an outstanding lifetime warranty.
Size
When shopping stock cabinets, it’s important to make sure your measurements are precise. This will avoid any costly mistakes that could occur.
For wall cabinets, it is standard for them to be 36 to 42 inches from the floor. This allows them to sit comfortably against the countertop without obstructing counter space or making it difficult to reach items in the back.
Tall cabinets are used for pantries or storing tall appliances like mixers, griddles, vacuums and ironing boards. They can also be used for end caps in bank of cabinets or as an island base cabinet.
They are usually 36-inches wide with a single door or 24-inches wide with double doors. The depth of tall cabinets is generally 24 inches to match the depth of traditional base cabinets.
Style
Aesthetic styling is a big part of kitchen cabinet choice. If you choose a door style that matches the architecture or interior design of your home, cabinets should blend seamlessly into the space.
Cabinet depth is also important to consider. Stock base cabinets are usually 24 inches deep, but if you have a short person in your household, that might be too high to reach items in blind corners and plug-in appliances.
Custom kitchen cabinets can be built to accommodate extra storage options like a roll-out tray or narrow racks that make it easy to grab the right pan in a hurry. Special hardware for corner or other “blind” cabinets helps you access the contents of these difficult-to-reach spaces. Push to open hardware enables doors to be opened without handles for a clean, handle-less look.
Materials
The materials used to create cabinets can have a big impact on the cost and durability of your kitchen. There are solid wood options as well as man-made materials like medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood.
MDF avoids warping, is lighter than plywood, and takes paint well. It is also cheaper than solid wood.
Plywood is stronger than MDF, can withstand the weight of heavy countertops, and resists damage from moisture. It is also easy to manipulate, and doesn’t off-gas like particle board.
Other less expensive cabinet materials include wood veneers, melamine, and thermofoil. Thermofoil is a foil-like material vacuum sealed with heat over MDF and can be prone to peeling. Wood veneers have the look of real wood but can be more prone to water damage than other cabinet materials.
Finishes
Cabinet finishes can be opaque paints, stains, or lacquers. Finishes can affect the color, sheen (from flat to high gloss), and feel of a cabinet.
If you don’t want to spring for a complete replacement of your existing cabinets, cabinet refacing is an alternative. This costs less, creates less environmental waste from trash disposal, and moves much faster than a complete replacement.
To ensure that your new kitchen cabinets match the footprint of the old ones, measure from the floor to the highest point on the cabinet. Using accurate measurements will help you avoid cabinets that are too short or tall.
Installation
Cabinets are a kitchen’s foundation, and their quality determines how the rest of the space is ultimately finished. It’s worth spending extra for a better product that will last longer and provide greater value down the road.
During installation, there will be wood shavings and other debris that can cause walls to dinge or scuff. During this time, it’s best to keep pets and young children out of the work area. This will ensure their safety and the integrity of your home. Having a clean, clear workspace will also help speed up the process.