Kitchen Cabinet Types

Kitchen Cabinet Types

The kitchen cabinet you choose will ultimately define the design style of your space. Before picking cabinets, it's important to consider the differences and advantages of the types, categories, and styles that are available to you.

 

THE 3 CABINET TYPES

Two men checking their notes on a piece of paper during kitchen cabinet installation.

There are three main types of cabinet types: Custom, semi-stock, and stock cabinets. While all have their pros and cons, it's up to you to decide what type of cabinet is the right choice for your project. The following breakdown should give you a better idea of the three types:

  • Custom cabinetry is specifically built to fit your space. The process usually includes having a designer assess your space and style to create a kitchen that's perfect for you. If you live in a home with an odd layout, custom cabinets are a great way to maximize the space you have and build a kitchen that fits your unique interior design style. The extra labor and time that go into custom cabinets are reflected in the higher price point (starting at $500 per linear foot). 
  • Semi-stock cabinets (or semi-custom cabinets) won't be tailored to your unique space as much as custom cabinetry but offer you a large variety of custom features such as decorative additions, custom finishes, or the option to change certain dimensions. The cabinet boxes are delivered in the standard sizes but you can request drawers, door fronts, and the cabinet depth to be tailored to your needs. While much more affordable than custom cabinets (starting at $150/linear foot), they're still going to require a bigger chunk of your remodel budget.
  • Stock cabinets are hands-down the most affordable way to turn your dream kitchen into reality, starting at $80 per linear foot. At Venus Cabinetry, we offer two types of stock cabinets: ready-to-assemble (RTA) and assembled cabinets. Below are the most important factors to consider when choosing a cabinet type for your kitchen remodel. 

READY-TO-ASSEMBLE OR RTA CABINETS

PROS

  • Cost-efficient, allowing customers to purchase higher quality cabinets
  • Provide a variety of options in color, style, and trim
  • Easier and quicker to ship

CONS

  • Assembling the cabinets typically takes novices 30–45 minutes for the first cabinet
  • Risk of scratching finish when assembling cabinets

ASSEMBLED CABINETS

PROS

  • Arrive pre-assembled
  • Easy and quick to install

CONS

  • Higher price point because shipping is more expensive
  • Longer shipping time

THE 4 CABINET CATEGORIES

Elegant white kitchen with shaker cabinets marble floor and dark blue kitchen island in the center under golden light fixtures.

Before diving into the different styles, it's helpful to know the four basic categories of kitchen cabinets: Base cabinets, wall or upper cabinets, tall cabinets, and specialty units. Let's explore the sizes and characteristics of the different types:

  1. Standard base cabinets are 24” deep and 34.5” tall without countertops. Custom cabinets may have different measurements but a cabinet that is no deeper than 27” allows homeowners to still reach the back of the cabinet. Any deeper, and the space would likely be wasted.
  2. Wall (upper) cabinets are 12" to 24" deep depending on whether you pick standard or custom cabinets. They're usually attached on the wall above the base cabinets with enough space to install an 18” tall backsplash.
  3. Tall cabinets usually serve as a pantry and are 84” to 96” tall. Custom cabinets may be higher or lower depending on ceiling height and kitchen style.
  4. Specialty units are customized cabinets to maximize the space in your kitchen. A variety of features fall under this category, such as corner cabinets, hutches, bottle racks, or appliance garages.

8 MOST POPULAR STYLES OF KITCHEN CABINETS

Now that we've established the types of kitchen cabinets you can choose from, let's get into the fun stuff: picking a style! There are many different cabinet door styles to choose from and they all come in different colors and materials. To create a kitchen design, you'll appreciate for a lifetime, you should first fall in love with a cabinet door style. Here are the most trendy kitchen cabinet styles for your kitchen remodel.

Kitchen with white shaker cabinets and marble countertop.

1. SHAKER-STYLE KITCHEN CABINETS

Shaker-style cabinets are among the most popular choices for kitchen remodels — for a good reason! This cabinet style is distinctive yet timeless. Shaker cabinet doors and drawers have a flat surface with a recessed panel in the middle.

This style is available in an array of materials and colors. Because shaker cabinets are so simple in design, they can fit with virtually any interior style. The ice white shaker cabinets are a customer favorite and are the perfect choice for farmhouse or modern kitchens.

The same style can elevate a bohemian or industrial design in a dark green or matte black shade. With shaker-style cabinets, the possibilities are endless.

This style also transfers well into laundry or bathrooms so you can carry the same design throughout your entire home. Because it's such a popular choice, shaker cabinets will likely be in stock at all times and reasonably priced, making them a great choice for your remodel project.

PROS

  • Fits with almost every design style
  • Matches any hardware
  • Easy to combine with slab style cabinets
  • Widely available due to popularity

CONS

  • Regular cleaning required to prevent dirt from collecting on the recessed panel of the cabinet
Kitchen with white raised panel cabinets and gray granite countertops.

2. RAISED PANEL KITCHEN CABINETS

Besides shaker-style, raised panel kitchen cabinets are among the most popular design choices. Timeless yet visually stimulating, the three-dimensional structure of these kitchen cabinet doors fits well with any interior design style. The center panel of these cabinet doors is slightly raised and adds dimension to the look.

Most commonly used in traditional homes, this elegant cabinet style looks beautiful in every color and wood type imaginable.

Blue cabinets paired with light gray will result in a cozy traditional space while two-toned white and blue raised panel cabinets can turn your kitchen into a coastal dream.

PROS

  • Timeless and elegant style that seamlessly fits into any design
  • Lots of decorative options

CONS

  • More expensive than shaker cabinets
  • Less frameless options available
  • Easy to maintain
Minimalist kitchen with white and light wood slab cabinets.

3. SLAB KITCHEN CABINETS

Slab kitchen cabinets, also commonly referred to as flat-front or panel-front cabinets are among the most simple design styles to choose from for your kitchen remodel. The biggest advantages of this design are the low-price tag and the easy maintenance due to the flat surface and lack of design details in the wood.

Unless you're looking for a truly minimalist kitchen (in which case this is the perfect kitchen cabinet style for you), you can spice this cabinet style up with a unique paint color, stain or hardware.

Oversized handles instead of knobs will add depth to the otherwise bland cabinet doors.

PROS

  • Easiest to clean because of the flat surface
  • Oftentimes least expensive because of the lack of details in the wood

CONS

  • Can look bland but easy to spice up with interesting hardware, stain, or paint
White kitchen with glass front upper cabinets and warm wood accents.

4. GLASS-FRONT KITCHEN CABINETS

Also called open frame doors, glass-front kitchen cabinets are the perfect choice for anyone who wants to openly display their kitchen items. Whether you want to show off unique plates, crystal vases, or your collection of international beer mugs, you can keep items like these safe yet visible behind glass-front cabinets.

Unlike open shelves, glass-front cabinets provide more storage space and will protect your possessions from collecting dust.

Oftentimes, this style cabinet is used for certain areas in your kitchen or dining room and not throughout an entire kitchen. Wall cabinets or a tall cabinet with glass-front doors can elevate your space and will pair well with shaker, raised, or inset-style doors covering the remaining cabinets in your kitchen.

While more delicate and difficult to clean, glass-front cabinets are the perfect choice for homeowners who like to keep things tidy and want to add a unique touch to their kitchen.

PROS

  • Special touch to your new kitchen
  • Nice alternative to open style shelving to keep dinner and glassware protected from dust and grease
  • Allows for lights to be installed inside the cabinets for extra illumination

CONS

  • More delicate
  • See-through front calls for an always tidy shelf inside
  • Two-step cleaning required to remove dust and grease
  • Can be more expensive than wood
Modern kitchen with warm wood tones gold fixtures and white beadboard cabinets.

5. BEADBOARD KITCHEN CABINETS

If you're looking to add Scandinavian flair 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 minimal home but they're a wonderful touch in a cottage or rustic kitchen.

In a minimal or modern kitchen, a kitchen island with beadboard cabinet doors can add a special twist to your design. The vertical slats are also pretty to look at behind glass-front cabinet doors. So if you're considering a truly unique kitchen design, picking this style for the inside of your cabinets is an option as well.

In a space with exposed wood beams, beadboard cabinets and distressed furniture can create a beautiful high-end cottage or farmhouse style kitchen.

PROS

  • Adds an element of warmth through texture
  • Wide variety of width available for different boards

CONS

  • More difficult to clean because of uneven surface
Modern kitchen with navy blue base cabinets open wood shelving and white subway tile backsplash up the walls.

6. INSET KITCHEN CABINETS

When picking framed cabinets, inset doors are a cool design option. These cabinet doors fit flush with the face frame of the cabinet and result in a smooth and clean look. This type of kitchen cabinet door style can be more expensive because it is difficult to install. Small mistakes during installation can result in a messy finish. However, a perfectly installed inset cabinet will look absolutely beautiful in your modern or farmhouse kitchen.

It's important to pick hinges you like and a material that matches the knobs or handles since they'll be exposed between the doors and the face frame of your cabinets. If you don't want the hinges to show, beaded inset cabinets have an extra layer that will outline the door or drawer and conceal hinges.

PROS

  • Classic, craftsmanship look is timeless
  • Easy to personalize

CONS

  • Can be very expensive
  • Usually requires exposed hinges
Plywood cabinets in a minimal kitchen with industrial design elements.

7. PLYWOOD CABINETS

While cabinet boxes are typically made of plywood, the engineered wood is also becoming a more popular design choice for the cabinet doors. A clear finish will show off the grain and protect the already durable and strong material from damage.

This style cabinet will look great in a minimalist, bohemian, or Scandinavian style home and pair well with simple design features like white subway tile backsplash or marble countertops.

PROS

  • Resistant to changes in temperature or humidity
  • Beautiful visible grain with clear finish
  • Inexpensive material

CONS

  • Only high-quality plywood will result in sturdy and durable cabinets
Louvered base cabinet in rustic farmhouse kitchen.

8. LOUVERED KITCHEN CABINETS

Finally, louvered cabinets are a great way to add a unique touch to your kitchen. Louvered cabinet doors consist of layered horizontal slabs that bring the illusion of space to your kitchen. While difficult to clean, this airy style draws attention and can elevate an otherwise bland kitchen design.

This style door is the perfect detail to add to a bohemian, Asian Zen, or coastal style kitchen. Louvered doors can look great covering base, upper or even tall kitchen cabinets adding dimension to your space.

PROS

  • Add unique style
  • Bring illusion of space to your kitchen

CONS

  • High maintenance level as slats are difficult to clean

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