Best Kitchen Cabinets Brands for the Money

Selecting new kitchen cabinets can be an exciting yet daunting process. With so many options to consider from styles to materials to quality, it's easy to be overwhelmed. But what if you don't have an unlimited budget? Is it still possible to get beautiful, durable cabinets without breaking the bank?

The good news is that several cabinet brands combine affordability with quality construction. While you may need to scale back on some custom options compared to true high-end cabinetry, you can still end up with a kitchen you love at a price you can afford.

Kitchen Cabinet Materials

The type of material your cabinets are constructed from impacts both aesthetics and price. Here are some of the most common kitchen cabinet materials to consider:

• Wood : Classic cabinetry material prized for its beauty and durability. Popular wood species choices include oak, maple, and cherry.
• Thermofoil : Made by bonding thick vinyl over composite wood products. More affordable but less durable over time.
• Metal : Typically stainless steel or aluminum. Modern material often used for accent cabinets.

While solid wood cabinets are considered the gold standard, quality engineered wood products with wood veneers can provide the look of wood at a more affordable cost. Durability and ease of repair should be weighed against initial price.

Cabinet Door Styles

Along with materials, the style of your cabinet doors also impacts cost. Simple slab door styles tend to be the most budget-friendly. More intricate inset door designs have a built-in price premium for their complex construction and hand-crafted details. Here are a few popular kitchen cabinet door styles:

• Slab : Flat panel set into the cabinet frame is the most affordable and contemporary option.
• Shaker : Classic and clean style defined by a flat recessed center panel bordered by a frame.
• Inset : Door sits inside the cabinet face for a seamless, polished look.

Budget Considerations

When shopping for new kitchen cabinets to fit your budget, be realistic about what you can afford. As a general rule, allot 10-15% of your total kitchen remodel budget for cabinetry. Factors that add cost include abundant cabinets with specialty storage options, intricate custom designs, and premium materials and finishes.

Some smart strategies for affording quality cabinets on a budget include:

• Opt for stock cabinetry over fully custom for cost savings.
• Mix and match a few statement-making custom cabinets with more affordable stock cabinetry.
• Save on rarely used spaces like pantry cabinets.
• Seek contractor discounts for ordering during seasonal sales.

Top Affordable Brands

Several leading cabinet brands offer quality construction paired with reasonable prices. Here are some of our top picks for beautiful cabinets without sacrificing affordability:

Crown Point Cabinetry is a family-owned business based in New England with over 40 years of experience. Their custom and semi-custom cabinet lines offer a wide range of options, from beaded inset doors to on-site hand-painted finishes. They have a direct-to-consumer business model, eliminating the middleman and offering wholesale pricing on high-quality cabinetry.

They have a less-custom but still high-quality cabinet line, Crown Select, with fewer options and lower prices. Crown Point's prices are significantly lower than comparable cabinet lines from other major kitchen cabinet companies, with an estimated cost of $25,000 - $35,000 for Crown Select cabinets and $40,000 - $50,000 for regular Crown Point cabinets, depending on the size of the kitchen.

KraftMaid offers a range of cabinet collections to meet various style preferences and budgets without compromising quality construction. Their mid-priced Everlast cabinet line provides thickness and durability similar to their premium cabinetry at a more affordable cost starting around $5,000 for a 10x10 kitchen.

Hampton Bay by Home Depot provides an accessible stock cabinetry option with staple shaker and slab door styles. While not fully custom, their mid-priced product line offers classic design choices made from quality materials with prices starting as low as $1,000 for a 10x10 kitchen.

Quality and Value Analysis

Beautiful cabinets at lower prices may seem too good to be true. So how do savvy shoppers spot quality cabinets that offer genuine value? Here are signs that cabinetry provides enduring good looks that justify the investment:

• Durable plywood boxes and solid wood doors and drawers.
• Sturdy drawer glides and door hinges that easily open and close through years of use.
• Precision-cut parts with strong corner blocks and joinery without gaps or weak points.

While everyone loves a bargain, be wary of deals that seem drastically underpriced compared to cabinets of similar caliber. Carefully vet discounts to ensure product quality and construction aren't compromised.

Getting Quotes

An informed shopper is a savvy shopper when requesting quotes for kitchen cabinets. Come equipped with measurements and room layouts along with a realistic maximum budget. Compare not just door samples but also cabinet box construction between quotes. Don't be shy negotiating pricing for large orders while staying conscious of material expenses and craftsmanship costs.

Extra Tips for Affordable Cabinets

For even more opportunities to keep quality cabinet costs reasonable, keep these additional pointers in mind:

• Shop seasonal sales and discontinued closeout styles for healthy discounts.
• Opt for classic shaker or recessed panel doors over ornately carved doors.
• Resist abundant specialty pull-outs to minimize costs.
• Inquire about trade or contractor discounts.

Going Custom Within Budget

Custom cabinetry might seem out of reach, but designers can employ smart techniques for incorporating specialty details into kitchens on a budget:

• Semi-custom cabinetry modifies existing cabinet boxes and fronts for a more customized look.
• Mix stock and custom by using custom fronts on more affordable stock boxes.
• Custom only visible areas like an accent beverage station or intricate range hood cabinet.

Prioritizing Investments

Stretch your cabinet dollars strategically across your new kitchen for beautiful results. Invest in upscale cabinetry finishes and storage amenities for high-traffic spaces around cooking zones, sinks, and countertop appliance garages. Save on utilitarian pantry cabinets concealed behind closed doors.

For cabinet components that handle frequent use, durability deserves extra dollars. Opt for full extension soft-close glides for heavily accessed drawers and doors near sinks and stoves. Quality hinges on lower cabinets bearing heavier items merit small splurges as well.

Avoiding Pitfalls

When navigating the process of selecting and purchasing new cabinets, a few missteps could result in lackluster cabinets or blown budgets. Here are key pitfalls to sidestep:

• Unexpected fees for shipping, delivery, installation, or alterations tacking on dollars.
• Attempting overly complex designs without an experienced kitchen designer.
• Choosing inferior materials or construction quality that won't endure.

Thorough planning and coordination between suppliers, designers, contractors, and homeowners minimizes unwelcome surprises down the road.

Discovering beautiful kitchen cabinets without draining bank accounts requires balancing priorities. Optimize spending by focusing investments in quality materials and refined aesthetics for functional high-traffic areas. Simple stock cabinetry concealed in lesser-used spaces offsets those small splurges.

Vet brands thoroughly and identify value based on durable construction paired with fair pricing. With smart planning and strategic distribution of resources, homeowners dreaming of glorious new kitchens can discover quality cabinetry that fits both design visions and budgets.