Summary
Explore kitchen cabinet design ideas, layouts, storage solutions, and styles to create a kitchen that supports your lifestyle and daily routine.
Explore kitchen cabinet design ideas, layouts, storage solutions, and styles to create a kitchen that supports your lifestyle and daily routine.
You’ve heard that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and you want your renovation to be beautiful. You begin with the cabinets, but quickly become overwhelmed by seemingly endless styles, colors, layouts, and features.
Now, before you start questioning your renovation, take a step back, take a deep breath, and remember that the best cabinet designs balance both practicality and aesthetics. After all, your cabinets influence the flow of your kitchen, the storage of your utensils, and how efficiently the space supports your everyday needs!
With these kitchen cabinet design ideas, you can put the fun back into your kitchen remodel and discover how cabinetry can support functionality for years to come.
Kitchen Cabinets Do More Than Store Dishes
We’ve found that cabinets are one of the most important kitchen design decisions. They create interesting visuals, set the mood for the room, and affect kitchen workflow by keeping your tools and ingredients right where you need them.
Kitchen cabinet layout and size determine your storage options, your organization possibilities, and the long-term functionality of your kitchen. Which is why cabinets are often the largest investment in your kitchen remodel; they’re more than shelving and doors, they’re your culinary support system.
How to Plan Your Kitchen Cabinet Design
It can seem like a lot of pressure, but determining your ideal cabinet design can be creative, easy, and fun!
Start With How You Use Your Kitchen
What are your cooking habits? Where do you entertain? How does your kitchen support your family’s routine? Find out what use matters most for your kitchen, and build your design from there.
Establish Your Budget
Once you have a direction, determine the budget and cabinetry type that supports your vision.
- Stock cabinets cost about $2,500 to $8,000 for a mid-size kitchen.
- Semi-custom cabinets offer more styling options, costing between $5,000 and $30,000 depending on your choices.
- Custom kitchen cabinets are yours to add personality and flavor to. They typically range from $15,000 to $40,000 or more.
Consider Long-Term Needs
Whether you’re a new homeowner looking to grow your family or a buyer planning to create your forever home for aging in place, long-term accessibility of your cabinetry should be considered in your design.
Think About Storage First
While aesthetics matter, functionality comes first. Consider access to your daily-used tools and storage for special items such as china or special glasses. Also include your pantry needs and proximity to your primary prep space.
8 Popular Kitchen Cabinet Styles
Browsing kitchen cabinet trends can be the perfect starting place for dreaming up your ideal design.
#1: Shaker Cabinets
Shaker kitchen cabinets are known for clean lines and geometric outlines. They’re your standard cabinetry with a simple flat panel and a defining square frame.
#2: Flat Panel Cabinets
For a sleek, minimalist style, flat-panel cabinets can be a simple, design-forward option for your cabinetry.
#3: Traditional Cabinets
Timeless and full of craftsmanship, traditional cabinets have raised panels with intricate woodwork to bring warmth and character to your space.
#4: Transitional Cabinets
Transitional cabinets are similar to traditional cabinets, but they display a simplified design that blends past and current trends.
#5: Modern Kitchen Cabinets
Modern kitchen cabinets are another minimalist example of cabinetry, usually featuring a matte or gloss finish, with little to no panel design.
#6: Farmhouse-Inspired Cabinetry
This style uses shaker cabinets with wooden accents and nature-inspired colors to create a clean but cozy look.
#7: Natural Wood Cabinets
Typically, in cherry, oak, and maple, natural wood cabinets let their raw grain and shades serve as the design.
#8: Painted Cabinets
Usually reminiscent of the shaker style, painted cabinets are colorfully finished, with wood-grain cabinetry that enhances the style of any kitchen.
Kitchen Cabinet Color Ideas
Picking kitchen cabinet colors is one of our favorite parts of designing cabinetry.
Classic White Cabinets
Tried-and-true, white cabinets are a classic pick for creating a clean, bright, and uplifting kitchen atmosphere.
Warm Wood Tones
Wooden cabinets effortlessly bring a sense of comfort and character into any kitchen.
Deep Green Cabinets
Deep green cabinets imbue a sense of livable sophistication and a forest-y vibe that invite you to take your time in preparing your meals.
Navy Blue Cabinets
Somewhat coastal and fully elegant, navy blue cabinets give your kitchen a clean look, whether it has a modern or traditional feel.
Two-Tone Cabinet Designs
Creative and visually interesting, two-tone cabinets intentionally emphasize certain aspects of your kitchen, using contrast to bring balance to the space.
Neutral Cabinet Colors
Neutral cabinet colors are reliable and airy, perfect for including open shelving and displays of your home decor and best diningware.
Black Kitchen Cabinets
Striking and luxurious, black cabinets boldly command your space (and are a quickly growing trend!).
Smart Kitchen Cabinet Storage Features
While you’re configuring your kitchen cabinet design, consider fun and functional kitchen cabinet storage ideas.
Deep Drawer Storage
Perfect for your kitchen island, deep drawer storage leaves room for all the quirky, not-so-often-used kitchen amenities that don’t seem to fit anywhere else.
Pull-Out Shelving
One of our favorite accessibility-centered kitchen renovation ideas is pull-out shelving. These shelves can be tucked away easily, but also improve efficiency and ease when reaching for appliances or pots and pans.
Hidden Trash & Recycling
Hiding your waste baskets keeps your space clean and clear, and these creative cabinets offer an opportunity to intentionally place your trash and recycling to boost kitchen efficiency.
Spice Storage
Drawer racks, pull-out shelf racks, Lazy Susans, and door-mounted spice racks are all ideal ways to store spices so you can find them easily and always keep track of what you have.
Corner Cabinet Solutions
Corner kitchen cabinet ideas can be tricky to come up with. However, corner drawers, Lazy Susans, and pull-out shelving options can help you use every inch of your kitchen storage (and keep you from losing items in overly deep corner cabinets!).
Appliance Garages
Appliance garages are built-in countertop cabinets created to keep clutter off your counters and appliances easy to reach.
Pantry Organization Systems
From containers and labels to shelf drawers, your kitchen renovation gives you the chance to create a quick, accessible way to reach your pantry items.
Built-In Charging Stations
Pop-up outlets in islands, in-drawer outlets, and wireless charging pads can all be included in your kitchen renovation design to keep your devices charged and boost your kitchen’s functionality.
Custom vs Semi-Custom vs Stock Cabinets
Each kitchen and each kitchen renovation is different. The type of cabinets you install in your kitchen should fit your personal style and budget needs.
Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets are options that suppliers have on-hand. Unfortunately, this option doesn’t allow for customization, but if you are on a tight budget or a strict timeline, it is an ideal choice.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
Semi-custom cabinets are a perfect middle ground if your budget has some wiggle room and you’re looking for some more flair in your kitchen. These cabinets offer pre-set style options to give your kitchen a budget-friendly, personal touch.
Custom Cabinets
With a larger budget, custom cabinets can be designed just for your taste and kitchen design. They are the perfect choice to emphasize your personal design eye in your kitchen remodel.
Which Option Is Right for Your Remodel?
Your budget, design timeline, layout, and desired amount of customization will determine which type of cabinetry is right for your renovation. Stock cabinets cost less and arrive quicker, semi-custom cabinets are slightly more expensive and arrive within weeks, and fully custom cabinets cost the most and are delivered in a few months.
Kitchen Cabinet Design Trends That Actually Improve Function
While we don’t design for trends, there are a handful that we believe actually improve your kitchen space.
Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinetry
Everybody needs more storage! Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry not only creates a visual lift in your space but also maximizes your kitchen’s storage potential.
Hidden Storage
Hidden storage is trending due to its ability to keep your kitchen looking and feeling organized and accessible.
Multi-Functional Islands
Islands are one of our favorite kitchen renovation ideas. They can include beverage stations, additional sinks, charging stations, additional cabinetry, and seating that welcomes guests and connects the home.
Integrated Appliance Panels
Appliance panels create the illusion that your dishwasher or refrigerator are merely a part of your cabinetry. These keep your kitchen design consistent and offer a modern feel.
Better Pantry Design
We’ve noticed that pantries are often overlooked in kitchen design, but even your non-perishables should be easy to access through thoughtful shelving and design-forward doors.
Built-In Organization
Kitchen organization doesn’t have to be an elaborate, hard-to-keep-up-with system. Designing your kitchen with organization in mind through built-ins makes functionality a given, keeping your counters clear for daily use.
Common Kitchen Cabinet Design Mistakes to Avoid
These kitchen cabinet design mistakes are common, but you can also easily avoid them.
Prioritizing Appearance Over Function
When searching through kitchen cabinet styles, remember that long-term use matters just as much as beautiful visuals.
Not Planning Enough Storage
An easy mistake to make when you’re wrapped up in designing is failing to properly account for your storage needs, which can lead to unsatisfactory final results that leave you wondering where all your space went.
Ignoring Workflow
With multi-step recipes and sometimes several cooks, a kitchen design that doesn’t consider workflow can create tight corners, restricting movement and access to supplies.
Choosing Trendy Colors Too Quickly
A good kitchen design remains timeless and personal. Hastily choosing a trending color may leave your space dated and in need of another expensive upgrade.
Forgetting About Future Needs
An in-depth kitchen renovation typically means you’ll be in the home for years to come. Remember to plan for age-friendly accessibility or growth in your family.
Underestimating Cabinet Quality
Quite a costly mistake, installing low-quality cabinets risks leaving your kitchen with warped drawers and cabinet doors that break down over time.
How Cabinet Design Fits Into a Complete Kitchen Remodel
Cabinet design is more than storage solutions. Sturdy, well-crafted cabinetry provides both the durability and aesthetic appeal you want for a successful renovation! Shaping daily functionality and the overall style of the space, cabinetry influences your appliance placement, kitchen layout, island design, your countertop color, and the kitchen’s surrounding lighting.
But above all, kitchen cabinets are a tool that can shape the kitchen’s mood, making it appear brighter, darker, larger, or smaller through materials, colors, and finishes. During a remodel, cabinetry is how you reach your goal of a kitchen with lasting, reliable value.
Kitchen Cabinet Design: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular kitchen cabinet style?
The most popular kitchen cabinet style is the Shaker cabinet, known for its versatile colors and timeless design.
Are custom cabinets worth the investment?
Yes! If they fit your budget, custom cabinets are highly personalizable, bringing unique flair and personality to your kitchen design.
What cabinet color never goes out of style?
Warm whites, beiges, navy blues, and muted or deep greens have been used for cabinet colors for years, and continue to grow in popularity.
How much should I budget for kitchen cabinets?
When creating your budget for a kitchen remodel, allocate about 30% to 40% of your total budget to cabinetry.
What is the difference between stock and custom cabinets?
Stock cabinets are pre-made, in-store options with limited designs. Custom cabinets are specially designed to fit your kitchen’s unique layout and style.
What kitchen cabinet colors should I avoid?
You should avoid stark, cold whites, neon colors, and flat greys in cabinetry designs. These colors make the space feel clinical or simply outdated.
Does custom cabinetry increase home value?
Yes! A minor kitchen renovation alone can return about 96% when you sell, and custom cabinetry can only increase this value.
Is it best to refinish or replace kitchen cabinets?
If you like your kitchen layout and your cabinets are in good shape, refinishing is a cost-effective, efficient option. If you need to boost overall kitchen efficiency, it’s better to replace your cabinets to improve flow and functionality.
Create a Kitchen That Works Better Every Day
Beautiful cabinets are only part of the equation. The best kitchen designs improve how you cook, gather, organize, and live. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, Premier Remodeling can help you create cabinetry tailored to your space, routines, and long-term goals. Request a consultation and discover your perfect design for your dream kitchen.
