Your kitchen cabinet door style will often play a large part in the overall look and feel of your kitchen and will also impact the price. In planning your kitchen remodel, your kitchen cabinet door style is going to be one of the most important things you’ll select.
Shaker Cabinet Doors
The Shaker Cabinet Door is the most popular right now and that falls somewhere in the middle of the price range. It can work for traditional styles, transitional styles, modern, farmhouse, and more. A shaker cabinet door is recognizable by the square recessed panel of the door. It has a square frame around the outside of the cabinet, with a flat panel in the center.
Pros of the Shaker Cabinet Door Style:
- Simple and classic look
- Versatile…which goes with many décor types, including traditional and modern.
- Can work with a variety of woods, stains, paint colors, and hardware.
- Can be achieved with a variety of budgets.
Cons of the Shaker Cabinet Door Style:
- There are no specific cons for this style
Slab Cabinet Doors
A slab door is going to be completely flat. It is more expensive because typically, you’re going to see those in solid wood with a nice grain. It’s either going to be horizontal or vertical grain. While the word “slab” usually means modern, it also means expensive.
Ironically, it could also be the least expensive if you have a laminate door. Laminate is often not very durable, so it’s not my typically my first choice. But, if you are on a budget, you can still get nice-looking laminate cabinets.
There are some higher-end laminate cabinets, though, so it can be tricky. You just need a remodeler that knows all the brands and product details to help guide you to the right choice for your style and budget.
Slab doors work best in modern or contemporary kitchens, as the clean lines work very well with the style.
Pros of the Slab Cabinet Door Style:
- Slab doors can paradoxically create two different looks in a kitchen
- If you’re remodeling a modern kitchen or changing your kitchen into slab cabinet door style, consider using solid hardwood or wood veneer
- Slab doors create the smooth, clean, uncomplicated lines of contemporary design
Cons of the Slab Cabinet Door Style:
- A common worry with slab doors is the danger of warping. While this can be a problem with some construction methods, it is generally not much of a problem under normal conditions.
- Solid hardwood, if properly sealed with stain or paint, should not warp.
Flat Panel Cabinet Doors
A flat panel cabinet door is a cabinet in which the center panel is flat rather than raised or contoured. Flat-panel doors are favored by those who prefer sleek, clean designs. Flat-panel cabinet doors can be traditional, transitional, and even contemporary.
Pros of the Flat Panel Cabinet Door Style:
- Smooth
- Clean lines
- Great for showcasing a particular color or finish
- Often Lower cost
Cons of the Flat Panel Cabinet Door Style:
- It can look plain if not done right, but no other specific cons for this style
Raised Panel Cabinet Doors
The center panel of the cabinet door is raised with a profile or contour. Raised panel cabinet doors work well for traditional and transitional looks. In this style, the middle section of the door is raised, creating a groove between the frame and the central panel. This gives an extra depth to the cabinetry (Image below using Square Raised Doors from Shiloh Cabinetry).
Pros of the Raised Panel Cabinet Door Style:
- It comes in many different styles.
- Shadows created by the extra details fit well with traditional kitchens with more ornamentation.
Cons of the Raised Panel Cabinet Door Style:
- The more details you add, the more expensive, in comparison to the flat panel door styles.
Customizing Cabinet Options
Many people want to customize their kitchen cabinets, especially their doors. Luckily, you have a ton of customization options for your kitchen cabinets.
You may want to get something really elaborate like a rope detail on your cabinet door. That is typically going to increase the cost as it’s out of the ordinary. You can get very “glam” cabinets or very distressed cabinets, as well as cabinets in bold or unique colors. The choice is yours, as long as you allow room in your budget to accomplish it. However, getting the cabinets you REALLY want is always worth it. This is a long-term investment.
We work closely with Shiloh Cabinetry, which offers custom cabinet selections (Image below shows custom glass cabinet doors with X Mullion detail). You can take a look at them HERE!
Custom Cabinet Door
You can also customize them by adding glass to your cabinet doors. You can do this on all doors, or on some doors, and there are a variety of glass options, as well, to fit your space! No matter what you’re looking for, you can achieve it. This is a price upgrade, but also a style enhancer. It looks very custom and high end.
Pros of the Custom Cabinet Door Style:
- You can get your cabinets made locally.
- They will fit perfectly for your space.
- You can play a role in the design of your cabinet doors.
- There is no limit to what you can do.
- Custom cabinets do not have to be prohibitively expensive since you are buying straight from the source without any middlemen.
Cons of the Custom Cabinet Door Style:
- Usually the more lead time
- Cost varies widely
The other thing you need to know is that it’s not always as simple as saying “I want a partial overlay, but I want it in this door style.” Sometimes, the door style and the overlay cannot be changed. A specific door may only come in a full overlay, so that is something else to consider.
If want a specific style with a specific overlay, you might have to explore more cabinetry makers and lines. Ask the question, “Where can I get this cabinet that I love in the overlay that makes sense for my budget or taste?”
Look For Professional Help
I hope you now understand the different options you have when it comes to the construction of your kitchen cabinet. Kitchen cabinets are the largest expense material-wise when it comes to your kitchen. You want to make sure you choose the best quality material so that you can enjoy your cabinets for the next few decades!
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line kitchen remodeling design and build firm, you’ve come to the right place. We know everything there is to know about kitchen remodeling, and we’re ready to help you!
Click here to schedule your free kitchen design consultation today!