Kitchen Cabinets Style Guide: Exploring Types, Designs, and Trends 2024

Cabinets are essential in kitchen design because they define the space’s look and utility. Understanding the differences between cabinet types and styles is necessary before embarking on a restoration project or creating a custom kitchen.

This detailed book delves into the complexities of kitchen cabinets, from construction to door designs, and provides insights into current trends and design components.

What Is A Kitchen Cabinetry?

Cabinets are built-in pieces of furniture that have shelves or drawers. These furniture elements are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. They can be made in various ways, but they are often attached to a wall and suspended over another piece of furniture, such as a counter or sink.

Cabinets can be manufactured from either wood or stainless steel. These storage units are often large enough to hold pots, pans, and bottled hygiene supplies.

However, there are times when a cabinet is not built-in or floating, such as a filing cabinet. This criterion is subjective because a filing cabinet is a separate entity.

What Are Cupboards Kitchen?

Cupboards are free-standing furniture or tiny rooms equipped with shelves. They store items within a room. They can be tall furniture in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, or little doored chambers beneath stairs. However, they are usually tall and reach from the floor to the ceiling in some capacity.

Cupboards, especially those with glass doors, are frequently used to display expensive cutlery or dishware. These tall storage cabinets are often large enough to hang clothes or food bags.

Best Kitchen Cabinet Colors Design 2024

Greige

Greige, a combination of gray and beige, is a versatile color that complements various countertops and backsplash materials.

“This cabinetry color also complements any metal finishes, so hardware, appliances, and fixtures can be changed as the homeowner desires,” explains Alexandra Peck, owner of Alexandra Peck Design.

The perpetual hue’s flexibility allows you to make minor modifications to stay in style without repainting your cabinets.

Navy

If you favor the look of darker cabinets but are concerned about their timelessness, use navy—a color that will never go out of style. “Navy is a classic color that dates back to the old sculleries of England and France in the 1800s,” Peck said.

“While this color skews more traditional, it also looks elegant in a transitional or modern design aesthetic.” Because of its versatility in kitchen aesthetics, navy can endure as different design styles come and go.

White

While all-white kitchens are losing popularity after having a big moment, the hue will never go out of style—especially when it comes to cabinetry. “Honestly, the only color, in my opinion, that will never go out of style is white cabinets,” says Shaolin Low, principal and founder of Studio Shaolin.

The shade effortlessly matches various design themes, from conventional to coastal granny, ensuring that your cabinets will not be outdated due to a particular trend. Furthermore, the neutral tint allows you to be creative with metal finishes, décor, and countertop materials.

Sage Green Cabinets

When looking for a classic kitchen cabinet paint color, consider natural colors. “Organic shades never go out of style because they make up our natural environment and complement our interior spaces,” explains Kerrie Kelly, creative director of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab. One color that accomplishes this is sage green cabinet, similar to the greenery surrounding us.

Pale Gray

Pale gray, like greige but without warm overtones, is a timeless, neutral color that complements most countertop and backsplash materials. “Pale gray cabinets paired with silver-toned or black hardware will give a more modern feel, while pairing these same cabinets with warm-toned hardware, like brass, will give the kitchen a more traditional or transitional feel,” Peck said.

Cream Cabinets

The cream is a versatile color with a little more personality than white. According to Kelly, “A warm, inviting cream shade can add a touch of elegance and versatility to the kitchen. “It effortlessly complements various design styles, creating a canvas for endless backsplash, countertop, and hardware possibilities.”

Black Kitchen Cabinets

Despite its dramatic hue, black may function as a neutral in the house when utilized correctly. “Classic and bold, black transcends trends, bringing sophistication and drama to kitchen interiors,” according to Kelly.

“Whether used on base cabinets, perimeter cabinets, an island, or throughout the kitchen, it stands the test of time pairing seamlessly with various design elements.”

Dark Green Cabinets

Dark green, sage green’s cozier cousin, brings nature’s tranquility into the kitchen while providing a timeless connection to the outdoors. “It pairs beautifully with neutrals, metallics, and wood tones, adding a refreshing touch to kitchen cabinetry,” said Kelly.

Light Blue Kitchen Cabinets

Calm and soothing, light blue is a perennial favorite for kitchen cabinetry. “It brings a sense of tranquility and openness to spaces, creating a backdrop that stands fresh and serene through the years,” Kelly said.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets

SHAKER-STYLE

There’s a good reason why Shaker-style cabinets are so popular when people update their kitchens. This cabinet style is unique but ageless. Shaker cabinet doors and drawers feature a flat surface with a recessed panel in the center.

This style is available in a wide range of materials and colors. Because shaker cabinets are so simple to build, they can complement almost any interior style. The icy white shaker cabinets are a client favorite and are ideal for rustic or modern kitchens.

The same approach might elevate a bohemian or industrial design in a dark green or matte black color. With shaker-style cabinets, the possibilities are unlimited.

This pattern also works well in laundry rooms and bathrooms, allowing you to carry the same decor throughout your home. Because shaker cabinets are so popular, they will almost always be in stock and competitively priced, making them an excellent choice for your makeover project.

RAISED PANEL

Aside from shaker cabinets, raised panel kitchen cabinets are among the most popular design options. These kitchen cabinet doors‘ three-dimensional construction is timeless and visually engaging, making them suitable for any home design style.

The middle panel of these cabinet doors is slightly elevated, adding dimension to the appearance. This exquisite cabinet style is typically used in classic homes and looks great in any color or wood type.

Dark espresso cabinets combined with light granite worktops provide a comfortable traditional room, while two-toned white and blue raised panel cabinets transform your kitchen into a coastal fantasy.

SLAB KITCHEN

Slab kitchen cabinets, or flat-front or panel-front cabinets, are one of the simplest design options for your kitchen makeover. The main advantages of this design are its inexpensive cost and ease of upkeep due to the flat surface and absence of design features in the wood.

Unless you want a very minimalist kitchen (in which case this is the ideal cabinet style for you), you can jazz up this cabinet style with a distinctive paint color, stain, or hardware.

Oversized handles instead of knobs will lend depth to otherwise plain cabinet doors.

GLASS-FRONT

Glass-front kitchen cabinets, also known as open-frame doors, are ideal for anyone looking to exhibit their kitchen items openly. Whether you want to display rare dishes, crystal vases, or your collection of exotic beer mugs, glass-front cabinets allow you to keep these objects secure while remaining visible.

Unlike open shelves, glass-front cabinets offer additional storage space and keep belongings dust-free. This cabinet design is commonly used in specific kitchen or dining room portions rather than the entire kitchen.

Wall cabinets or a tall cabinet with glass-front doors can heighten your area and complement the shaker, raised, or inset-style doors that cover the rest of your kitchen cabinets.

While more fragile and difficult to maintain, glass-front cabinets are ideal for homeowners who prefer to keep things neat and want to add a personal touch to their kitchen.

BEADBOARD

If you want to add a Scandinavian touch to your home, beadboard cabinets are the way to go. The vertical slats that make up the cabinet fronts may not be the best design choice for a minimalist home, but they add a nice touch to a cottage or rustic kitchen.

A kitchen island with beadboard cabinet doors can offer a unique touch to any primary or modern kitchen design. Behind glass-front cabinet doors, the vertical slats are also aesthetically pleasing. So, if you want to create a genuinely distinctive kitchen design, this style for the inside of your cabinets is also a possibility.

You may create a stunning high-end cottage or farmhouse kitchen in a space with exposed wood beams, beadboard cabinets, and distressed furnishings.

INSET KITCHEN

Inset doors are a stylish design alternative to framed cabinets. These doors are flush with the face frame of the cabinet, resulting in a smooth and clean appearance. However, this kitchen cabinet door style can be more expensive due to its installation difficulty. Minor faults during installation can lead to an untidy end. However, a well-built inset cabinet would look stunning in your modern or rustic kitchen. Because they will be exposed between the doors and the face frame of your cabinets, it is critical to choose hinges that you like and that are made of the same material as the knobs or handles.

If you don’t want the hinges visible, beaded inset cabinets feature an extra layer that lines and conceals the door or drawer.

PLYWOOD

While cabinet boxes traditionally comprise plywood, engineered wood is becoming a standard design material for cabinet doors. A clear finish will highlight the grain while protecting the already resilient and sturdy material from damage.

This cabinet will look excellent in a minimalist, bohemian, or Scandinavian home. It complements simple design elements like a white subway tile backsplash or marble worktops.

LOUVERED

Finally, louvered cabinets are an excellent way to personalize your kitchen. Louvered cabinet doors are made of layered horizontal slabs that create the illusion of space in your kitchen. While challenging to maintain, this airy style catches attention and can lift an otherwise uninteresting kitchen design.

This door type is ideal for a boho, Asian zen, or coastal kitchen. Louvered doors can look excellent and cover the base, upper, or even tall kitchen cabinets, adding depth to your area.

Modern Kitchen Cabinet Doors Styles 2024

1. Shaker Cabinet Door

Shaker kitchen doors’ ageless beauty makes them ideal for contemporary and transitional kitchens. The word “shaker” stems from the shaker furniture style, noted for its simple and practical design. Shaker kitchen cabinet doors include a recessed center panel and four square borders.

Their simple, clean lines and traditional style set them apart. Shaker kitchen cabinet doors can be customized with various finishes and hardware, providing a unique touch to complement any kitchen decor.

2. Raised Panel Door

A raised kitchen cabinet door has a raised center panel enclosed by a frame, which adds depth and refinement to the design. This classic design has a refined appeal, making it suitable for traditional kitchen settings.

The raised panel is commonly paired with an authentic wood finish, which enhances the classic kitchen appearance. Furthermore, the raised panel design efficiently conceals cabinet contents, resulting in a clean and polished kitchen appearance.

3. Slab Cabinet Door

Slab kitchen cabinet doors have a flat panel style, providing the cooking area with an appealing and modern appearance. The lack of frills or accents on the door surface results in a modern, minimalist design.

These cabinet doors are great for a busy kitchen setting because of their smooth surface, which makes them easy to clean and maintain. Their clean lines and understated elegance make a significant, uncluttered kitchen appear. Slab cabinet doors are a modern, low-maintenance, and versatile choice for kitchen cabinetry.

4. Beadboard Cabinet Door

The beadboard cabinet door is distinguished by vertical slats with indentation grooves between them. It resembles a shaker cabinet door but has features on the central panel. A simple alteration converts the entire door style into an antique one. This cabinet door style gives a pleasant and traditional appearance reminiscent of a classic cottage or farmhouse style.

5. Mullion Framed Door

A Mullion Framed Door is a cabinet door type that includes decorative components such as glass panels or grid patterns, known as mullions, which divide the door into portions. This sort of door gives beauty and sophistication to every room, including the kitchen and bathroom.

Mullion-style cabinets, which store dishware or ornamental items, add visual appeal while creating a more open and airy sense. Furthermore, mullions can give your cabinets a classic, timeless appearance, making them a fantastic alternative for individuals looking to improve the aesthetic appeal of their kitchen, bathroom, or living space.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Near Me

The kitchen cabinets trend emerges and fades yearly, making it critical to stay current. Residents must provide a safe and joyful cooking environment in their homes. By following some of these suggestions, you can construct the kitchen of your dreams while adding significant value to your desired home. For more kitchen tips and tricks, visit the Woodyart website or call a designer.