Kitchens are often the first thing people see when entering your home and can either make or break its appearance. In fact, the kitchen actually can dictate the look and feel of the rest of the house. So if the kitchen is outdated and stale, there’s a good chance the rest of the house will follow suit.
The team at Home Pride Construction Inc can help you learn more about shopping for kitchen cabinets since the cabinets themselves help give the kitchen its aesthetic. So if the kitchen is the heart of the home, the cabinets are the heart of the kitchen which makes them a pretty important part!
What to Think About Before Buying Kitchen Cabinets
There are a ton of different options when it comes to kitchen cabinets. So much so that it can potentially be overwhelming because aside from looking at the price, it’s not always obvious what makes one cabinet different from another. We’ve laid out things to consider when you’re looking for new cabinets:
Your Budget
As with any home improvement project, or any purchase for that matter, the first thing most people focus on is their budget. The budget sets the tone for what styles, finishes, and materials we should even be looking at.
When you do look up individual pricing, be aware that some prices are just for the cabinets while others can include installation costs. So just keep an extra eye on that when comparing one cabinet to the next.
Our recommendation is to add about 10% – 15% of the cabinet price you’re looking at just to have a cushion when purchasing your cabinets. While you may never need to spend the additional money, if you plan on installing the cabinets yourself (or have a friend who is “handy”), things can go wrong and you may end up needing to repair some things!
Your Storage Needs
How much cabinet space do you really need? The actual function of the cabinets is super important. In larger kitchens with a lot of cabinet space, this may not be a huge factor since you’ll have extra cabinet space anyway. However, in smaller kitchens, cabinet space is everything. The last thing you’ll want is to buy cabinets that don’t fit how you use your kitchen and then you’re stuck putting everything on the counters anyway.
Be selective when it comes to the cabinet sizes you’re considering choosing. If you choose cabinets that are shorter in height, you may limit the ability to store appliances or tall glasses within them. Taller cabinets allow you to fill them without worrying about whatever is in them not fitting, but now you’ve decreased the number of cabinets you have.
Wall-mounted cabinets are a great choice for maximizing countertop space. This is another fantastic option because it’s usually more of a blank canvas that you get to work with for your cabinets instead of having to fit new cabinets into an existing space.
The Choices of Cabinet Materials
The cabinet material you pick will be significantly impacted by your budget. Most modern cabinets are made from one of these five types of materials:
Medium-density fiberboard
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is made from broken-down wood fibers and synthetic materials. MDF is pliable but stronger than particleboard (mentioned below).
High-density fiberboard
High-density fiberboard (HDF) is similar to MDF but has a higher resin concentration. This makes it a significantly stronger material than traditional MDF. So if you’re looking for a stronger material, this is a great option.
Particleboard
Particleboard is popular due to it being cheap and easy to work with. However, just like most things in life, something that is cheap typically doesn’t last long. Particleboard is no exception to this. It’s made using recycled wood and synthetic materials that are put under high heat and pressure.
Plywood
Plywood is another great option because it’s durable and lightweight. It’s made out of very thin layers of wood stuck together with a very strong adhesive.
Solid wood
Solid wood cabinets are a popular option due to the traditional aesthetic. Before all of the other manufactured materials listed above, all we had was solid wood. It’s very durable and really does have a look that is challenging to replicate. This is a more expensive option due to its timeless look, durability, and its ability to age over time which will give it a more rustic finish.
Walnut, hickory, oak, and birch are the most common types of wood cabinets.
Cabinet Hardware
When we talk about cabinet hardware, we specifically mean the knobs, pulls, and hinges.
Choosing the right type of hardware not only enhances the aesthetic of the cabinets, it also enhances the functionality. This hardware can potentially make or break the look of the cabinets. These should match the look that you’re going for within your home.
Choosing The Right Hardware
Not all cabinet hardware should be used in every room. Larger cabinets with larger knobs are ideal for kitchens, and knobs that are vertical are typically found in the bathroom.
Drawer knobs are a more simplistic installation choice than cabinet handles because they can be screwed in using one screw and don’t need to be levelled. They’re also cheaper!
Types of Finishes
Colors and finishes are a huge part of getting the cabinets you want just right! Just like with the hardware, there is practically an endless number of variations possible here.
Most people go for one of three options:
- Natural – Great choice if you’re going for a rustic look (popular in farmhouse style kitchens)
- Stained – Just like the natural, another good choice if you want a more traditional look
- Painted – Very common because of the number of possibilities at your fingertips
As trends change over time, the finish and color of the cabinets will also change!
Framed vs. Frameless Kitchen Cabinets
If you prefer the aesthetics of the cabinet over function, frameless cabinets might be exactly what you’re looking for. They have a more modern look. They’re also known as European cabinets.
Framed cabinets have a structure on the front of the cabinet doors that sticks out slightly, giving them a very specific depth. These cabinets are more durable than the frameless cabinet because of the reinforcement from the frame itself.
Overall, frame and door styles determine your kitchen’s aesthetic and functionality. Make sure to choose wisely to complement the other elements of your kitchen, such as flooring, countertops, and sink design.
Contact Home Pride Construction Inc To Discuss Your Project Today!
You can trust the expert installers at Home Pride Construction Inc with your kitchen remodeling project. We have many happy clients who now have the kitchens of their dreams. We hold our work to a high standard of quality, so you can count on us for incredible results!
Contact us online today to talk about your project.