Aside from their utilitarian benefit of providing storage space, cabinets are an important decorative element and can be used to provide a unique style. If you have a particular design in mind for your cabinets, you will need to analyze each element of your desired look in order to select the right cabinets.
Below are some of the different cabinet options available. You will need to have an understanding of your options in order to make the right decision.
Custom-Built Cabinets
Typically, the quality of construction with custom cabinets is higher when compared to all the other options. In most cases, the cost is higher as well. However, with custom cabinets, you get more flexibility when it comes to the design. The most important factor in the success of a custom cabinet project will be the skill of the designer and the cabinetmaker. Custom cabinets often involve the use of dovetail, dowel or mortise-and-tenon joints. Those are more durable than the glued, screwed or nailed joints found on lower-quality cabinets. You also will not find particleboard in a custom cabinet; the result is that a custom cabinet may remain functional for many years.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
These are the most commonly used type of cabinet and are sold in a variety of home improvement stores. Most homeowners find that these cabinets are able to do an adequate job though they are not quite as durable or versatile as custom cabinets. One of the realities of modern real estate is that many homeowners want their home’s look to be trendy and fashionable. A custom cabinet may have an extremely dated design despite being perfectly functional. If this is the case, a modern semi-custom cabinet is a perfectly reasonable option for replacing it. There is no need to go to the expense of installing custom cabinets if they will just be ripped out and replaced in a few years.
Stock Cabinets
These widely used in garages and sometimes in bathrooms and kitchens as well. Stock cabinets are mostly known for being cheap, but there are upscale options available. The main benefit of stock cabinets is that you can just go into a store and buy them right off the shelf for much less money than you would pay for custom or semi-custom cabinets. Unfortunately, they may be lacking in the area of construction quality and your size options may be limited.
About Door Styles
There are numerous options when it comes to door styles and all of them will be available to you if you get custom cabinets. Semi-custom cabinets have fewer options but still get a significant variety. With stock cabinets, obviously your only option will be the door that comes with the cabinet.
Materials and Finishes
If you intend to stain your cabinets, find out how they will look before you start since staining is not reversible. Different types of wood have different grain patterns and take stains differently. Note also that trendy materials come and go; therefore, you will want to choose carefully. If you decide to paint your cabinets, then the type of wood you use is irrelevant. Note that whether you choose stain or paint, the finish can make or break your cabinets. Most homeowners who decide to paint opt for a semigloss product but there are premium finishes available that offer durability and uniformity.
No one item can have as much of an impact on your kitchen’s décor or its longevity as much as your cabinets. This means that it is rarely ever a good idea to go with the cheapest option.