The most prominent part of your kitchen are the cabinets. Taking up a majority of the visual space, cabinets set the tone for your entire kitchen. When it comes to choosing new kitchen cabinets, it is important to think about all of the factors involved in order to find the type that best suits your lifestyle. The three main factors to consider include durability, function, and of course, style. Considering these factors will help you find the perfect cabinets to match your kitchen.
Durability
When choosing your kitchen cabinets, it is important to plan for the future. If you are planning on staying in your current home for the foreseeable future, then investing in strong, durable materials is important and will save you money in the long run. The most common durable materials used for kitchen cabinets are MDF (medium density fiberboard), plywood, and stainless steel.
Think about how often you use your kitchen and if durability is more important to you than style. For example, if you order in and entertain more than you actually cook, investing in durable cabinets might not be the right choice for you. Instead, you may want to focus your budget on style over durability. Kitchens are an area of the house that experience a lot of use, regardless of cooking, so it is important to choose the right material for your lifestyle. Get in touch with a kitchen cabinets professional to discuss your options.
Function
The function of your kitchen is a crucial aspect to think about when deciding on your cabinets. You want to make sure that you are maximizing the space you have while organizing them in such a way that the cabinets flow with the way you use your kitchen. How many, the size, and the location of each individual cabinet should be carefully thought through. As we are not all kitchen planners, it’s always a good idea to consult with a pro on the best layout and function of your cabinets.
Depending on your space, there may be certain ways cabinets can be placed, and that’s okay. As long as you choose the right size and style of cabinets, you won’t have any issues with using your space accordingly. Hidden storage, such as lazy susan’s, are a simple way to create more storage within your space.
Organization can be difficult to think about, especially if you are creating a brand new space. Try to think about your current kitchen and how it flows. Simple things like putting a spice cabinet next to the stove, or keeping the glasses near the fridge are simple, yet important design aspects to think through that will help your kitchen flow easily. Understanding how you currently use your kitchen will make this thinking easy and will help you create a perfectly functional kitchen.
Style
The style of your kitchen cabinets includes all of the aesthetic aspects of the cabinets. Being on the outside, the outer face of the cabinets is what pops and what everyone will see. Often the most expensive aspect of kitchen cabinets, selecting the right profile style, material, colour, and hardware is essential in choosing the right cabinets for your kitchen.
Profile
The profile of a cabinet door is made up of the styles of the edge on the outside, the centre panel, and stile and rail. This is what makes up the texture and character of the cabinet. The most common types of profiles used are recessed miter, raised arch, recessed square, and slab. However, when choosing your profile, if none of these styles work, you can customize your edges to your own preference. Speak with your pro about creating a custom look just for you.
Materials
There are many materials used for kitchen cabinets. The material that you choose depends on your budget, style, and long-term use of your kitchen. All the different materials have their own pros and cons. For example, different materials have different reactions to things such as heat and wear and tear, like dents and scratches. The maintenance required depends greatly on the material.
Hardware
The final touch for your aesthetics is the hardware. The hardware refers to the handles and drawer pulls that are selected. While they may seem like they go unnoticed, knobs and drawer pulls add an accent to your cabinets that catches the eye and brings everything together. You can get really creative with choosing your knobs as there is such a wide variety — you can keep it simple or add something fun.
Choosing new kitchen cabinets can be a quick task, however, putting the time in to make thorough decisions will ensure that you choose the right cabinets for your kitchen. If you want to explore more options, check out this article all about kitchen cabinet trends for 2019. When you’re ready to get started, HomeStars has kitchen cabinet experts with the experience and know-how to help you design, create, and complete your dream kitchen. Contact a pro today to get started!