Get to Know 8 Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles
Decisions, decisions! Let this guide to door styles take you through the choices you have
Your cabinet door style can be one of the most important factors in your kitchen’s new design. Not only are cabinet doors one of the most visible design elements in a kitchen, but they can also be one of the most expensive. From the elaborate to the simple, there’s a door style for every home design. Take a look at some of the better-known styles here and see which will work for your home’s style and your budget.
2. Flat
Simple but stylish, the flat-panel cabinet door is void of any expensive details. Its hard lines and minimalist form make it a great fit for modern interiors.
Many flat doors come in decorative laminate or wood. Laminate tends to be more budget friendly and offers a greater variety of colours and sheens.
Simple but stylish, the flat-panel cabinet door is void of any expensive details. Its hard lines and minimalist form make it a great fit for modern interiors.
Many flat doors come in decorative laminate or wood. Laminate tends to be more budget friendly and offers a greater variety of colours and sheens.
3. Inset
The inset door gets its name because it is set inside of the cabinet frame – typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame. The door is designed and constructed with extremely precise measurements so that it nests inside the frame and opens and closes properly, even when the wood expands and contracts.
This door style usually requires exposed hinges rather than the typical concealed hinges of other door styles that are included in the cost of the cabinet box. Make sure that your budget takes this into account – two hinges per door will quickly add up.
The inset door gets its name because it is set inside of the cabinet frame – typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame. The door is designed and constructed with extremely precise measurements so that it nests inside the frame and opens and closes properly, even when the wood expands and contracts.
This door style usually requires exposed hinges rather than the typical concealed hinges of other door styles that are included in the cost of the cabinet box. Make sure that your budget takes this into account – two hinges per door will quickly add up.
4. Distressed
If you’ve always dreamed of having an antique-style kitchen, then you’ll love the distressed-looking cabinets. Choose any door style and opt to have the corners rubbed off or have other distressing techniques done for that age-old feeling. All this extra work will cost you, though; there’s usually an upcharge for a carpenter to actually destroy your brand-new doors.
Find a carpentry professional
If you’ve always dreamed of having an antique-style kitchen, then you’ll love the distressed-looking cabinets. Choose any door style and opt to have the corners rubbed off or have other distressing techniques done for that age-old feeling. All this extra work will cost you, though; there’s usually an upcharge for a carpenter to actually destroy your brand-new doors.
Find a carpentry professional
5. Beadboard
Love cottage style? It doesn’t get more cottage chic than beadboard. The centre panel of the cabinet doors in this style are made to look like traditional beadboard paneling. Beadboard was used in the past as a decorative wall treatment before plaster, drywall and paint became common.
While all-white beadboard cabinetry can give your kitchen a bright and clean feel, all the little cracks and crevasses on this door style can be a pain to keep clean.
Vertical Panelling in Kitchens Goes From Country to City Cool
Love cottage style? It doesn’t get more cottage chic than beadboard. The centre panel of the cabinet doors in this style are made to look like traditional beadboard paneling. Beadboard was used in the past as a decorative wall treatment before plaster, drywall and paint became common.
While all-white beadboard cabinetry can give your kitchen a bright and clean feel, all the little cracks and crevasses on this door style can be a pain to keep clean.
Vertical Panelling in Kitchens Goes From Country to City Cool
6. Thermofoil
These doors are moulded out of MDF (medium-density fibreboard), wrapped in a plastic-type coating and then baked under intense heat to create an impervious seal. Durable and cost effective, they come only in solid colours and imitation wood grain.
Often mass-produced, thermofoil cabinetry comes at very competitive price points. It’s durable, but it’s also extremely difficult to repair any damage to it. Some lighter colours can also yellow from sunlight and heat over time.
These doors are moulded out of MDF (medium-density fibreboard), wrapped in a plastic-type coating and then baked under intense heat to create an impervious seal. Durable and cost effective, they come only in solid colours and imitation wood grain.
Often mass-produced, thermofoil cabinetry comes at very competitive price points. It’s durable, but it’s also extremely difficult to repair any damage to it. Some lighter colours can also yellow from sunlight and heat over time.
7. Louvered
Horizontal wood slats are typically used on windows, furniture pieces and interior doors, but they add a distinct architectural style to kitchen cabinetry. However, be aware that these beauties come with a heavy price tag.
Many louvered doors have spaces between each slat, making them great for cabinets that require ventilation – like a dedicated clothes drying cabinet in a laundry room or cabinetry for cable boxes and hifi equipment.
Browse Singapore kitchen designs
Horizontal wood slats are typically used on windows, furniture pieces and interior doors, but they add a distinct architectural style to kitchen cabinetry. However, be aware that these beauties come with a heavy price tag.
Many louvered doors have spaces between each slat, making them great for cabinets that require ventilation – like a dedicated clothes drying cabinet in a laundry room or cabinetry for cable boxes and hifi equipment.
Browse Singapore kitchen designs
8. Custom
Can’t find any door style on the market that really complements your unique design intention? Design your own!
An interior designer or carpenter can help you create a personalised design. This Shaker-style cabinet door has a centre panel of corrugated metal instead of wood for an industrial and utilitarian look that can stand up to years of abuse.
TELL US
What kind of cabinet door do you like best and why? Share in the Comments below.
MORE
How to Choose the Right Finish for New Kitchen Cabinets
Can’t find any door style on the market that really complements your unique design intention? Design your own!
An interior designer or carpenter can help you create a personalised design. This Shaker-style cabinet door has a centre panel of corrugated metal instead of wood for an industrial and utilitarian look that can stand up to years of abuse.
TELL US
What kind of cabinet door do you like best and why? Share in the Comments below.
MORE
How to Choose the Right Finish for New Kitchen Cabinets
The Shaker-style cabinet door is gaining popularity in country-inspired kitchens today. The original Shaker door is a five-piece flat-panel style with a frame made from four pieces and a single flat centre panel for the fifth piece.
Shaker cabinetry gets its name from the distinctive Shaker furniture style, which uses simple, clean lines and emphasises utility. Shaker-style doors became popular because their simple style lends itself to just about any decor – from contemporary to traditional – with variations in wood species, stains, paint colours and hardware.