When it comes to kitchen remodeling, choosing the right kitchen cabinet door styles is crucial. The door style not only affects the overall aesthetics of your kitchen but also plays a significant role in functionality. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at some of the most popular door styles for kitchen cabinets, including the latest trends and materials being used. Whether you prefer a classic and timeless look or a sleek and modern design, there is a door style that will suit your taste and elevate your kitchen to new heights.
1. Shaker Style Cabinet Doors: Timeless Elegance and Simplicity
The Shaker-style cabinet door is a classic because of its simple lines. This door style features four panels making up the frame of the door and a solid insert. It takes inspiration from the United Society of Believers style in Christ’s Second Appearing, best known as the Shakers. This religious group believed in a simple lifestyle and made their furniture accordingly.
Today, you can usually find Shaker-style cabinet doors in oak, maple, cherry, and other natural wood finishes. The outer panels provide support for the insert, making it quite sturdy. They also have a 90-degree bevel to give the doors more depth. Some Shaker-style doors are ready for paint, although most people that choose this style prefer the natural wood look.
2. Slab Cabinet Doors: Minimalist and Modern Appeal
A slab of wood, the slab door style is perfectly flat and featureless, giving the kitchen a sleek, modern look. It can only go with frameless cabinets, so it was popular first in the European market. Slab cabinet doors used to be solid wood, which is more expensive than traditional door styles. This is one reason it is not very popular. However, the advent of engineered wood has made it much more affordable. The move towards modern and minimalist styles of the kitchen has also contributed to making this door style much more popular with homeowners today, especially those living in smaller spaces. The lack of embellishments makes any space look clutter-free.
3. Glass Insert Door: Adding Elegance and Display Options
This is primarily a Shaker-style door with glass replacing the solid wood insert. Cabinet manufacturers typically provide the frame but not the glass, so you will have to purchase the glass separately. This gives you more freedom in choosing the type and style of glass you want, from plain to etched. Many people choose glass insert doors for kitchen cabinets slated for display items, as it provides a good look at the cabinet’s interior without opening the door. It is also popular for smaller and dark kitchens, making the room look bigger and brighter.
4. Raised Panel Cabinet Doors: Traditional Charm and Elegance
The raised panel door style offers any kitchen a timeless and elegant look. It features a classic design with decorative details, adding a touch of sophistication to the space. Raised panel doors are available in solid wood or MDF bonded with thermofoil, offering a range of finishes and customization options.
Solid wood raised panel doors are more expensive and require periodic finishing, while thermofoil-faced MDF doors are more affordable and require no additional finishing or painting. This door style is often favored in traditional and formal kitchen designs, adding a sense of grandeur and refinement.
– Single Arch (Cathedral Style)
One of the most popular door styles is the single arch or cathedral style. Usually, solid wood or MDF bonded with thermofoil, it is distinctive for the rounded top shape of the insert. Natural or solid wood doors are more expensive and require a finish that may need retouching over time. The thermofoil-faced MDF doors are more affordable and never need finishing or painting. The single-arch cabinet door style is often seen in rental properties because it is one of the more affordable styles. It is also a good choice for kitchen remodels on a small budget.
– Double Arch
Like the single arch, this solid wood cabinet door style features two arches, on the top and the bottom. It comes in natural wood or thermofoil finishes and provides the kitchen with more depth with its distinctive shadow profile.
You can choose this style over the single arch even if you are on a tight budget because it costs the same as a single arch door. This attractive door style goes well in a traditional and rustic kitchen design.
5. Modern Veneer Door: Sleek and Versatile
Modern veneer doors are gaining popularity for their sleek and seamless appearance. They utilize thin layers of wood veneer bonded to a core material, creating a clean and contemporary look. This door style offers various design possibilities with different veneer types, allowing homeowners to achieve various textures, patterns, and wood finishes.
Modern veneer doors are perfect for contemporary and modern kitchen designs and provide durability and easy maintenance. They are resistant to warping and moisture, making them a practical choice for busy kitchens. With their smooth and refined surface, they contribute to a minimalist aesthetic and add a touch of luxury to the space.
6. Reclaimed Wood Door: Rustic and Eco-Friendly
Embracing sustainability, reclaimed wood doors bring a unique charm to kitchen designs. These doors are crafted from salvaged or repurposed wood, giving them a rich and weathered appearance. The natural imperfections and character of the wood create a warm and inviting ambiance in the kitchen.
Reclaimed wood doors work well in rustic, farmhouse, or eco-friendly kitchen designs, adding a sense of history and authenticity. They can be finished with a clear sealant to preserve the wood’s natural beauty or painted to match the desired color scheme. By opting for reclaimed wood doors, you contribute to reducing environmental impact and give your kitchen a distinctive and eco-conscious look.
7. Beadboard on Shaker-Style
A beadboard is simply wooden slats laid in a single row to form a surface. This cabinet door style takes the Shaker-style door and replaces the solid wood center panel with beadboard. Typically, available in solid or MDF wood material, you can get this finished or unfinished in case you want to paint it.
The beadboard cabinet door is a throwback to a time when solid panels were scarce, and homeowners used slats of wood as an alternative. As a result, the beadboard style goes very well with a rustic or country style of kitchen and partners admirably with an apron-style or farmhouse kitchen sink.
If you are looking for an old-world look in your kitchen, this is a good style to choose.
8. High-Gloss Acrylic Door: Modern and Reflective
High-quality acrylic doors are an excellent choice for a sleek and modern aesthetic. These doors feature a reflective, glossy surface that creates a striking visual impact. The high-gloss finish reflects light, making the kitchen appear brighter and more spacious. High-gloss acrylic doors are available in various vibrant colors, including convincing wood finishes. They are highly resistant to scratches, moisture, and staining, making them a practical option for busy kitchens. These doors’ seamless and reflective surface adds a touch of luxury and sophistication to contemporary kitchen designs.
9. Mullion-Style Kitchen Cabinet Doors
A mullion is a vertical slat often seen separating two pieces of glass in windows. When it comes to cabinet doors, the mullion style is much like an old-fashioned window. It is like a glass insert door, but with stiles.
The mullion-style door is a Shaker-style door with the usual four panels to form the frame but with stiles instead of a center panel. The stiles serve as the support for the glass, which you add after. The glass is usually a single pane, and you place it at the back of the stiles. Aside from supporting the glass, it protects the homeowner somewhat in case the glass breaks, keeping the larger pieces inside the cabinet box. The mullion-style cabinet door is a good fit for traditional and rustic kitchen designs.
10. Thermofoil Cabinet Doors
Thermofoil cabinet doors are popular because they are low maintenance and durable. They usually come in white and paint-ready, but they are also available in other vibrant colors. This includes a convincing wood finish that is admittedly hard to find. Thermofoil cabinet doors are available in most styles, from Shaker to mullioned, so it is a good choice for any kitchen design.
11. Louvered Doors
If you’re looking to infuse your kitchen with a touch of architectural charm, louvered doors are an excellent option. These doors consist of horizontal slats angled to allow ventilation while adding visual interest to your cabinets. Louvered doors work exceptionally well in kitchens with a coastal or tropical theme, as they create a relaxed and breezy ambiance. Additionally, they are an ideal choice for spaces where airflow and ventilation are crucial.
Conclusion
Choosing the right kitchen cabinet door style is essential for creating a functional and visually stunning kitchen. From the timeless elegance of Shaker doors to the sleekness of slab doors, the variety of door styles allows you to achieve your desired kitchen aesthetic. Whether you prefer a traditional, modern, rustic, or eco-friendly look, there is a door style to suit your kitchen cabinets. Consider the latest trends and materials, such as reclaimed wood and high-gloss acrylic, to elevate your kitchen design and create a functional and visually captivating space.
