Common Kitchen Cabinetry Types

When designing or renovating your dream kitchen, choosing the right cabinetry is one of the most important decisions. With so many options for styles, materials, and customization, settling on the cabinetry can feel overwhelming. To make the process easier, here's an overview of the most common kitchen cabinetry types.

Inset Cabinet Doors

Inset kitchen cabinets feature doors that fit flush within the cabinet face frame. The hinges and door edges are not visible from the front since the doors recede into the cabinet box by about 1/4 inch.

This seamless, built-in look creates a polished, upscale aesthetic. Inset cabinet doors require precise measurements and expert installation to achieve their signature fitted style.

Benefits of Inset Cabinets

• Sleek, built-in appearance
• Timeless and elegant style
• Easily customized with panels, carvings, and finishes
• Matches well with traditional or contemporary kitchen designs

Inset cabinets pair beautifully with materials like stainless steel, quartz, or granite. Their versatility allows them to fit modern, transitional, or Old World decors. Keep the rest of the kitchen simple to let the refined inset doors shine.

Slab Cabinet Doors

Slab cabinet styles feature flat, smooth panel doors without any decorative grooves or detailing. The plain slab surface gives them their minimalist, modern aesthetic.

Since the door lacks recessed panels or framing, the center panel can display creative materials like wallpaper, photography prints, or faux finishes.

Benefits of Slab Cabinets

• Streamlined and contemporary appearance
• Lends itself well to creative customization
• Durable and easy to clean
• More budget-friendly than ornate cabinet options

The simple slab cabinet design serves as a blank canvas. Have fun choosing eye-catching colors, patterns, and textures to make them pop. Their pared-down look complements other modern kitchen elements.

Shaker Cabinet Doors

A perennial favorite, Shaker cabinets never go out of style. Their signature recessed center panel and distinct framing offer a flexible blend of traditional meets contemporary.

The clean lines and basic styling adapt well to any kitchen layout. Tailor Shaker cabinets easily with hardware, paint colors, and mixed materials.

Benefits of Shaker Cabinets

• Iconic, versatile style
• Works in modern and traditional kitchens
• Many customization options
• Budget-friendly pricing

Shaker cabinets pair nicely with textures like marble, granite, concrete, or butcher block. Keep them looking current with updated knobs or handles and fresh paint colors.

5-Piece Cabinet Doors

Like their name implies, 5-piece doors contain separate components that come together to form the cabinet front.

These include the outside frame, inside panel, and sloped bevel connecting the two. The extra detailing adds lovely dimension and visual interest compared to flat slab styles.

Benefits of 5-Piece Cabinets

• ornate appearance with extra design elements
• Beveled edges catch and reflect light beautifully
• Adaptable style works with various decors
• Stained finishes display 5-piece frames and panels

Five-piece cabinet doors suit formal areas like dining rooms and studies. Their elevated aesthetic also fits perfectly in upscale kitchen spaces meant for entertaining.

Glass Insert Cabinet Doors

Another way to infuse kitchen cabinets with dimension is by adding glass inserts. The transparent glass lets you show off beautiful dinnerware displays while softening the look of wall-to-wall cabinetry.

Choose clear, frosted, stained, or even colorful glass to complement your decor. Fronts can combine glass and wood frames or feature all-glass inserts.

Benefits of Glass Insert Cabinets

• Displayed contents become part of the decor
• Glass types offer plenty of custom looks
• Light and views can penetrate solid cabinet runs
• Glass shelves inside expand display space

The transparency of glass cabinet fronts prevents kitchen walls from feeling too imposing or dark. Mix with windows and skylights to keep the space bright and airy.

Along with the cabinet door style, the materials used to construct cabinets play a big role. Building materials impact aesthetics, durability, ease of cleaning, and overall quality.

Wood Kitchen Cabinets

Natural wood ranks among the most popular kitchen cabinet materials. Options like oak, maple, cherry, and hickory bring warmth along with durability.

Wood holds up well to decades of regular use. Its porous, layered composition even allows for sanding and refinishing to repair damage or apply fresh stains.

Benefits of Real Wood Cabinets

• Beautiful natural grain patterns
• Warm, inviting aesthetic
• Holds up well to heavy usage
• Easy to repair, sand, and refinish

Keep wood kitchen cabinets looking like new by using cutting boards and taking care to wipe spills quickly. For a budget-friendly alternative, opt for veneer-covered cabinets.

Laminate Kitchen Cabinets

Laminate cabinets offer an affordable, low-maintenance alternative. Manufacturers build them using particleboard or MDF covered in plastic laminate sheets.

While not as durable as solid wood, laminates resist moisture, stains, impact, and scratches rather well. The waterproof surface also cleans up easily.

Benefits of Laminate Cabinets

• Durable, scratch-resistant surfaces
• Moisture-resistant material
• Huge variety of colors and patterns
• More budget-friendly than solid wood

From solids to wood grains, patterns, and glossy finishes, laminate options abound. Use them creatively to add pops of color or textural interest.

Beyond their outward appearance, kitchen cabinets contain storage that enables homeowners to organize cooking tools, dishware, pantry items, and more.

Specialized fittings like pull-out shelves, lazy Susans, and rollout trays make items easier to see and access. Here are some top storage solutions for kitchen cabinets.

Pull-Out Cabinet Shelves

Pull-out shelves offer optimized storage through full-extension slides. The shelves extend fully outside the cabinet to provide complete access.

Built-in ledges keep items from sliding around. The easy-access design is great for housing appliances, bakeware, or mixing bowls.

Lazy Susan Storage

Lazy Susans consist of round, rotating trays set inside corner cabinet spaces. A slight push sets the whole tray spinning for convenient access.

The efficient use of awkward corner spaces provides easy access to spices, sauces, canned goods, and more. Lazy Susans eliminate having to move items to reach what's behind them.

Rollout trays allow full access to cabinet interiors without the lifting and reaching of stationary shelves. They're excellent for storing cookware and small appliances.