Cabinets serve as the backbone of any kitchen and are probably one of the kitchen elements that demand much attention from us. The cooking experts in your household use kitchen cabinets to arrange items they use daily and keep your kitchen neat, preventing clutter from becoming visible. Kitchen cabinets help you to express your lifestyle and add functionality to the kitchen. For in-house gatherings and holiday parties, you want customized cabinets that will wow your visitors and spruce up your kitchen. However, kitchen cabinet installation can be pricey or reasonable, depending on the materials and style you want or the type of cabinets. Read on to learn how to fit new kitchen cabinets into your kitchen interior design and determine the cabinetry that suits your kitchen space.
Cabinet Materials
The following are some of the materials used to make kitchen cabinets:
- Solid wood - Hardwood is the most common material used to create cabinets. It's resistant to scratching and denting, but it's quite expensive than other materials due to its overall quality and durability. With hardwood, you can pick rich, warm patterns and colors to match your kitchen atmosphere.
- Plywood - Plywood is another common kind of cabinet material. It comes in several different grades, where grade AA is the most expensive one. Grades D and E don't have an attractive appearance, but they can create beautiful cabinets as long as you find a professional contractor to work around their flaws.
- Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) - Medium-density fiberboard is a high-quality composite material obtained from recycled wood resin and fibers. It's resistant to peeling and cracking, meaning you can easily paint it. It has a finer texture than plywood.
- Metal - Metal is durable and affordable, but keeping it in top shape can be challenging. You can install metal doors with wooden frames to enhance the appeal. Although metal isn't commonly used, it doesn't expand or contract like wood, thus becoming a perfect option for humid areas.
Popular Cabinet Styles
Here are the most popular cabinet styles:
- Traditional - Traditional is the most formal cabinet style, often decorated with lavishly carved details. The doors have raised panels which may feature a curved design. Colors range from creams and whites to tans and red and a variety of wood hues.
- Shaker - Shaker is the most stylish cabinet style. It can pair with either a contemporary or traditional look, thanks to its panel structure and frame. For an enhanced look, you can paint the lower cabinets one color and then use a different wood stain or paint for the uppers.
- Country - Designed to provide a cozy, timeless vibe, country cabinets, similar to conventional styles, come in bead-board, raised panel, shiplap, reclaimed wood, and other decorative features. Wood is a popular material for country cabinets. Although white is the most popular color, other hues such as red, yellow, black, and charcoal gray are growing in popularity too.
- Contemporary - Contemporary cabinets have flat surfaces, simple hardware, and fewer decorations, giving your kitchen a neat, unfussy look. It's an ideal choice for small kitchens. Materials used to make them include concrete, metal, glass, plastic or processed wood. White is the most popular color for contemporary kitchens.
Using a Contractor vs DIY
When installing new cabinets, one of the questions to ask is, "Should I hire a contractor?" Both options have their merits and the decision can be pretty confusing. Before deciding, there are several factors you need to consider, including the cost, time limit, available resources, desired outcomes, and your level of confidence. But the good news is; you can find a lot of learning materials on the internet that can help you execute the installations. Even if you're an amateur, you can handle some things like assembling ready-to-assemble cabinets and painting walls. Concurrently, there's a limit to what you can attain as a DIYer. If you're not cautious, your work can turn out to be shabby, and you might end up spending more on correcting those errors than what you could have paid for professional services. Since you probably don't have several kitchens in your home, consider hiring a contractor who can complete the work within the shortest time possible.
