Best Kitchen Cabinets for Your Home

Kitchen cabinets come in three configurations. Base cabinets support countertops, wall cabinets hang above counters or stoves and pantry cabinets fit in narrow spaces. The configuration typically determines the height of kitchen cabinets and the depth of kitchen cabinets. Below, we list the standard size for the kitchen cabinet of each type. 

Base cabinets: 

• Rest on floor to support countertop.
• Typically, between 34 1/2 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 30 inches deep.
• Can be specialized to include sink or corners.

Pantry cabinets: 

• Tall cabinets ideal for narrow spaces.
• Considered a type of utility cabinet and can be used in kitchens, pantry rooms or laundry rooms.
• 84 to 94 inches tall; standard depth of 12 to 18 inches.

Wall cabinets: 

• Hang on wall.
• Standard kitchen cabinet heights include 12, 15, 18, 30, 36 and 42 inches tall; depth ranges from 12 to 18 inches.
• Typically installed 18 inches above countertops, 54 inches above floor and 24 inches above stove.

Solid wood kitchen cabinets are long-lasting, strong, attractive and often the most expensive. Relatively lower-cost engineered wood products like plywood are also used to construct quality cabinets. Any of these materials can be used to make styles and types of kitchen cabinets that suit your kitchen. 

Furniture board: 

• Made of wood chips or shavings bonded together with resin and compressed into rigid sheets.
• An affordable alternative to solid wood, particleboard is very stable.
• Often used in stock cabinets as an underlayment for plastic laminates and wood veneers in the panels for the box and shelving.
• Doesn’t warp, shrink or swell due to humidity, but should be properly sealed to protect against moisture.
• Particleboard is assembled using glue or mechanical fasteners.

Plywood:  

• Made of layers of veneers stacked and glued together. Alternate layers are oriented at right angles to each other, providing strength in length and width.
• Furniture-grade plywood is used in custom cabinetry.
• Because heat and moisture cause wood to expand and contract in the direction of the grain, plywood’s cross-grain pattern makes it stronger and more stable than solid wood.
• Plywood is often used for cabinet boxes and shelves in higher-priced cabinetry.

Opting for cabinet-grade plywood, particleboard/MDF covered with wood veneers, durable laminates or other synthetic materials will keep costs down without sacrificing style.  

Wood veneers: 

• Warmth and beauty of solid wood.
• Affordable and versatile.
• Consistent grain pattern.

Laminates:  

• Durable and low maintenance.
• Variety of colors and patterns.
• Resists stains, warping, chipping and fading.

Melamine: 

• High-quality options available.
• Available with faux wood grains, bamboo and other textures.

Whether you choose framed or frameless cabinets depends on how you want your kitchen to look. Both framed and frameless cabinets come in a variety of beautiful styles and surfaces. 

Framed cabinets or face frame cabinets:  

• Have a frame on the front of the cabinet that makes the box highly stable and helps keep it square.
• Door hinges attach to the frame.
• Have a traditional feel.

Frameless cabinets:  

• Also known as European-style cabinets.
• Have no frame around the face of the cabinet box.
• Thicker side panels lend stability.
• Because drawers do not have to fit in a frame’s opening, they can be as wide as the cabinet, providing more storage.
• Have a modern feel.

The overlay is the way the door rests on the face of the cabinet. Standard or traditional overlays are the most common type used in cabinet installation. Full overlays are when there is virtually no cabinet frame showing around doors or drawer fronts. 

Standard overlay: 

• Leaves the face of the cabinet box visible around doors and drawers.
• Creates a visible frame called the “reveal.”
• Reveals range from 1/2-inch to 1-inch around doors and drawers.

Full overlay: 

• Doors may be separated by as little as 1/8-inch.
• Most often used in contemporary design installations.
• Usually more expensive because more material is used in their construction.

Tip: All frameless cabinets use full overlays, but full overlays can be used on framed cabinets as well. 

Kitchen cabinet doors come in many different standard and custom designs. Among the most popular door designs are recessed panel, raised panel, Shaker, slab and beadboard.  

Shaker cabinets:

• Have a type of recessed panel door with a simple, uncarved rim.
• Iconic simplicity and a warm feel.
• Have an understated look that suits many styles of kitchens.

Raised panel cabinets:

• Doors have a raised center panel surrounded by a decoratively carved rim or overlay.
• Look carved out of a single piece of wood.
• Classic, timeless style.
• Blend well with formal, traditional decor.

Recessed panel cabinets: 

• Doors have a flat center panel surrounded by a slightly higher rim or overlay.
• Minimal style that adds depth and interest.
• Work equally well with farmhouse or modern designs.

Slab cabinets:  

• Have a flat panel door that has no rim or overlay.
• Considered neither recessed nor raised.
• Create a clean canvas for drawer pulls and hardware.
• Streamlined look for contemporary kitchens.

Beadboard cabinets:

• Doors are a type of recessed panel that has a beadboard center panel. Beadboard describes vertical rows of narrow wood planks lined up together. Each plank is a “bead.”
• Casual, classic cottage style.
• A beautiful addition to informal, rustic or coastal kitchens.

Tip: Replace some of your wood panels with decorative glass to display special china or collectibles. Add in cabinet lighting for a designer touch. 

Natural wood tones aren’t the only option for your kitchen cabinets. You can purchase cabinets that are already painted or stained, or you can customize them later to refresh the look of your kitchen. 

White kitchen cabinets: 

• Brighten the room and can make a small kitchen feel larger.
• Timeless, neutral color that works well with nearly every kitchen style.
• May show scuffs more easily.

Gray cabinets: 

• Unique neutral color that suits both traditional and contemporary style kitchens.
• Can have warm or cool undertones.
• Can make other elements of your kitchen such as your countertops or backsplash stand out more.

Light to medium cabinets: 

• Light to medium wood tones are often found in rustic and traditional kitchens.
• Add a natural look and feel to your kitchen.
• Very light wood cabinets paired with slab doors can create a modern, industrial feel.
• Light wood tones can make a smaller kitchen feel more spacious, while medium wood tones can make a kitchen feel warmer and more intimate.

Dark cabinets: 

• Black kitchen cabinets are a trendy upgrade to modern kitchens.
• Dark wood tones have an elegant and sophisticated feel.
• Can fit in with either traditional or contemporary styles.
• Can add depth and warmth to a spacious kitchen.
• Some types of dark colored wood may be prone to fading.

Unfinished cabinets: 

• Ready to be stained or painted any color.
• Offer the most potential for DIYers and those who want a customized kitchen.

Drawer pulls, knobs and hinges unify your cabinets’ appearance and add personality to your kitchen. Choose hardware made of metal, ceramic, crystal or plastic that complements your cabinet’s style. Remember that the type of hinge you use is determined by how your doors or drawers fit the cabinet.

• Inset doors: Mount with surface, butt or wraparound hinges.
• Doors with rabbet grooves: Install with exposed lipped hinges.
• Overlay doors: Install with invisible Euro-style hinges.

Tip: Simple cabinetry designs like Shaker pair well with brass, while contemporary styles look great with sleek horizontal handles in stainless steel or brushed chrome.  

The best kitchen cabinets for your home will make all your dishes and utensils easy to access. Maximize storage and reduce clutter on countertops with some handy cabinet organizational accessories.

• Pull-out shelf: Provides easy access storage of kitchen essentials.
• Two-tiered cutlery/flatware dividers: Store nearly twice as many utensils and stainless steel flatware.
• Lazy Susan: Access corner cabinets with one and two-tiered spinning shelves.
• Plate organizers: Slide out for easy access to plates and have adjustable pegs for flexible storage.