Learn About Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

Kitchen cabinets are a major component of any kitchen design. They are a key element in determining your kitchen layout, provide essential workspace and storage, and they set the tone for your kitchen style. The interior of your kitchen cabinets is purely functional, and should be comprised of a combination of drawers, shelves, and customized storage accessories. The outside of your cabinetry, on the other hand, is where the fun happens. The combination of style, material, and finish define your kitchen design style and set the backdrop for other elements like the hardware, countertop, and backsplash 

In this blog we will explore kitchen cabinet door styles. While color and finish are an opportunity to set the tone in your kitchen design, cabinet doors really define your style. The lines of your cabinetry will take you from a traditional kitchen design to transitional to modern, so consider the style of your home when selecting cabinetry.

The following guide is simply meant to give you an overview of the styles available, and a brief explanation of the terminology and how it is typically used.

Flat or Slab

These cabinets are sleek and contemporary, and best of all are very low maintenance.  The minimalist design suits contemporary or modern kitchen designs well, and the flat panel makes it easy to wipe the cabinet face clean. These cabinets can be found in a variety of materials and finishes, from natural stained wood to high gloss modern doors.

Recessed Panel, Including Shaker

Recessed panel cabinets, exactly as the name suggest, have a central panel that is set back with a frame around it. Shaker cabinets are one of the most popular styles, dating back to the 1800s when the Shaker community made high-quality, simple furniture. In the case of Shaker style cabinets, the door profile is very simple with no ornate features.  Other recessed panel styles have the flat central panel but a frame with decorative details making it more ornate than Shaker cabinetry.

Beadboard

This cabinet door style is ideally suited to a more rustic style kitchen design. They are constructed in a similar way to Shaker cabinetry but have a beadboard insert instead of a flat panel. They are not as easy to maintain, since you have to clean between the slats, but if you are willing to put in the extra effort they offer a unique look that is perfect for country style designs with farmhouse sinks and natural materials.

Raised Panel

Like the recessed panel cabinets, this kitchen cabinet door style starts with four pieces of wood framing a central panel. In this case, however, the central panel is raised with a profile or contour, making it more decorative and typically better suited to a traditional or perhaps transitional style kitchen design depending on how ornate it is. The central panel can also have different shapes that create a unique style, ranging from cathedral style doors to arched to square.

Glass Front

A variation on flat panel cabinets is the glass front door, where the central panel is replaced by clear or frosted glass. These kitchen cabinet doors are often used in upper cabinets or only in one area such as a beverage bar. They may be paired with in cabinet lighting making them the perfect place to display favorite glassware and dishes. The glass front helps create a more open, airy feel in your kitchen design.  Glass panels can be plain or broken up by a more decorative mullion style frame.

The terminology used in describing cabinet doors can be confusing, and often you will find terms used interchangeably. It helps to have a basic understanding of the types of cabinet doors available and how the terminology is used before you shop around for cabinets. More importantly, focus on what you like and do not like, browse ideas online, and save pictures to help guide your choices.

Use these pictures when talking to your kitchen design expert, who can also help steer you in the right direction. Check out more kitchen cabinet styles in our kitchen remodeling gallery. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our designers. We are now available for online appointments to kick start your kitchen design plans!