A Guide to Different Types of Cabinet Doors for Your Kitchen

Your kitchen is the hub of your home. It’s the space where you prepare family meals, entertain guests, and eat breakfast before work. It’s the heart of nearly everything important in your family home, so you want your kitchen to look great but also be functional and comfortable.

Remodeling your kitchen and choosing new cabinets is a significant decision and a big investment. There are so many choices to make about types of kitchen cabinets and styles of cabinet doors. Talking to the experts at Reborn Cabinets can provide custom solutions that suit your budget and kitchen remodeling needs. We offer The Ultimate Remodeling Experience® for your home. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of cabinet doors for your kitchen.

Getting Started

Before you make any decisions, sit down with a designer and plan your kitchen remodel. Think about how you use your kitchen and the type of kitchen you want. Do you want a modern kitchen or a traditional kitchen? Consider the interior design of the rest of your home. 

The designer will measure your kitchen so you know how much space you have to work with. Together, you can identify the changes you want to make.

When planning your kitchen remodel, here are a few things to consider:

• Determine the goals for your kitchen remodel.
• Establish your budget so you can effectively plan and customize your kitchen design.
• Choose the type of cabinets and cabinet doors to suit your overall interior design.
• Choose the style of cabinet doors and fixtures.
• Select the materials for your kitchen cabinets. 
• Decide if you want cabinet refacing or custom-made cabinets.

Most importantly, don’t rush your kitchen remodel. As a significant investment, you need to get it right. Work with your designer and the Reborn team to ensure you get the details, big and small, right.

Choosing the Right Type of Cabinet Doors

Selecting the right cabinetry for your kitchen is central to a kitchen remodel, and the type of cabinet doors is at the heart of this. Before choosing your cabinet door, first select which type of cabinet frame you want. You have two frame choices:

• Frameless cabinets, often called European-style cabinets, don’t have a frame around the cabinet face opening. The doors are attached via concealed hinges on the side or interior of the cabinet. Frameless cabinets are perfect if you want a sleek, modern look in your kitchen.
• Framed cabinets, often called American-style cabinets, have a solid wood or MDF frame around the front cabinet face opening, and the cabinet doors are attached to the frame. They are ideal if you want a traditional look in your kitchen.

Then you decide on what style of cabinet door you would like. The type of door you choose will affect the style and materials you can use. These are the three main types of cabinet doors: 

Full Overlay Doors

Cabinets with full overlay doors and drawer fronts cover most of the cabinet face and usually barely show any gaps between doors or drawers. The advantage of full overlay cabinet doors is that they maximize the space of the cabinet box and can be used on both frameless and framed cabinets. These types of doors suit modern, contemporary kitchens with a minimalist or transitional design.

Partial Overlay Doors

A popular choice is a partial overlay cabinet door. The partial overlay covers the cabinet face frame by ½ an inch, leaving a gap between cabinet doors of around two inches. This type of cabinet door is more economical because it uses less materials than full overlay doors. Partial overlay doors are a good look for more traditional kitchens. They are flexible and offer plenty of style choices when considering your materials and fittings.

Inset Cabinet Doors

Unlike overlay cabinets that fit over the frame, inset cabinets are fitted flush into the cabinet’s face frame. These types of cabinet doors reduce the storage space of a cabinet. They require knobs or door pulls to open the cabinet doors. The hinges can be revealed or concealed. These cabinet doors are more complex, require good craftsmanship, and can be more expensive.

Popular Styles of Cabinet Doors

The style of the cabinet door is a key decision in any new kitchen or remodeling project. Your choice will affect the look and feel of your kitchen. When you plan your design style, you will need to decide if you want a traditional, modern, or transitional look with a bit of both.

• Shaker cabinet doors are one of the most popular styles. They offer a plain design and are ideal for traditional kitchens. Shaker-style cabinets feature plain edges, square rails, and flat panels. 
• Raised panel cabinet doors are made from solid wood and offer a traditional look. The center panel is raised higher than the rest of the door and features a grooved framework. They offer flexibility in design, as they can be made using a one-piece or five-piece door.
• Slab cabinet doors, also known as flat panel doors, are popular for those looking for clean lines and an uncomplicated look. They are plain and have no frames. Slab doors can be made from solid wood displaying wood grain, medium-density fibreboard, or softwood and covered with laminate.
• Beadboard cabinet doors are ideal if you want a country house look for your kitchen. Beaded cabinets have decorative tongue-and-groove paneling on the doors, with each panel evenly spaced between the grooves. 
• Mullion doors provide a decorative look to kitchen cabinets and are ideal for showing off your fine china. They also work well to display your favorite items. The mullion has a flexible design and can be a wood frame with a glass insert or styled with glass grids. Mullion doors are often crafted with natural wood.
• Open-frame cabinet doors have a glass panel inserted inside the door frame. These glass cabinets are ideal for showcasing precious items.
• Recessed panel doors offer a modern, transitional look with sleek lines and a clean facade. Their center panel is recessed into the door frame, and contrasting colors can further enhance their style.
• Custom cabinet doors offer flexibility in design. Cabinet styles can be adapted to suit the look you want. Change the type of wood, door design, and cabinet hardware. Choose to combine complementary door styles to create your custom style.

Get in Touch Today for Your Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Our team at Reborn is an expert in the remodeling industry and is happy to help you design your new kitchen. If you’re ready to try something new but unsure of what it is, visit the Reborn Inspiration Gallery for different types of cabinet doors and their styles. Contact Reborn Cabinets to schedule your free consultation. We offer The Ultimate Remodeling Experience® to help you get the kitchen of your dreams.