Kitchen cabinets are a crucial component of every kitchen. However, although the process doesn’t have to be expensive, cabinets are one of the last things people choose to replace. This is likely because it is very easy to be overwhelmed by choices when searching for new kitchen cabinets and it may just seem simpler to settle with what you already have.
If you’re in the market for buying new kitchen cabinets, here’s a buying guide to help you know what you need to consider.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Kitchen Cabinet
Material
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a Orlando cabinets for your kitchen is the materials. You must know that your material choice will impact the cabinets appearance, strength, longevity, safety and price. Something to keep in mind is often, the cabinet doors, frames and drawer boxes will be made from different materials to cut down on costs.
For the inner parts of the cabinets, it is not only necessary to consider what materials will last over years of use but also how the materials will affect your kitchen’s air quality. Some less expensive cabinets will be finished with trace amounts of formaldehyde, which can be toxic in the long run.
When choosing a material for the outside, you should not only consider appearance, but also what material will remain durable and resist scratches, water damage, and stains to remain attractive.
Stock vs. Custom
The next factor to consider, which will greatly impact the price of your cabinets, is whether you are searching for stock, semi-custom or custom cabinets. Stock cabinets refers to, as the name implies, cabinets that stores already have in stock. These will be more standard designs, sizes and shapes, meant to fit in a variety of kitchens. This means your options will be limited but they are affordable.
If you are searching for slightly more unique cabinets, you may want to opt for semi-custom ones. Semi-custom cabinets refer to cabinets which you can make slight alterations to with the help of the manufacturer, perhaps choosing the shapes, sizes, materials or designs, and then they will be crafted after customizing.
Finally, the last cabinet option is custom, which allows you to completely customize and personalize the cabinets to fit your design, no matter how complex. Custom cabinets are more expensive, but if you have a unique kitchen configuration or you are searching for a very specific design, custom may be the best route.
Style
When buying kitchen cabinets, there will be an overwhelming amount of design options. That being said, there truly are only two main kitchen cabinet styles. The first style is frameless, which refers to cabinets that simply have a door covering the interior. When opened, it allows you full access to the inner cabinets.
The second style is framed, where the door fits into a frame, which is essentially a few inch wide border. The frame covers the edges of the cabinet opening, limiting your reach within the inside of the cabinet.
Kitchen Cabinet Configuration
Another crucial factor to keep in mind is your kitchen’s configuration. Examine your kitchen and make a list of what cabinets you need such as corner cabinets, sink cabinets, cabinets with countertops and/or cabinets which reach to the ceiling.
To make things easier, take into account the configuration of your previous kitchen cabinets and ask yourself what is necessary and what you would like to change. Depending on how unique your kitchen cabinet configuration is, you may need to resort to custom cabinets to find what you are looking for.
Features
One of the best parts of replacing your kitchen cabinets is that all of the features included will be up to you, so you can select features that will genuinely help you in the kitchen. Kitchen cabinet makers have various ideas but some additional features you may want to choose are; lazy susans, display lights, wine/spice racks and pull out shelves.
Accessories and Details
Although all of the other factors are crucial to consider, the accessories, design and details are important. Think bright colors, fancy handles, glass doors and other elements that may make your cabinets more attractive or functional.
Conclusion
Overall, buying new kitchen cabinets may seem complicated as there are so many options out there. However, the process can be truly simple once you narrow down what you are looking for. If you keep in mind the factors above, replacing your kitchen cabinets can be a stress free process and you will be able to give your kitchen a facelift while making your kitchen more functional, personalized and a place you actually want to spend time.
