What kind of kitchen cabinetry is best for you?

Last Updated Aug 22, 2016 · Written by Rob Schneider

Kitchens

Kitchen cabinetry makes or breaks any kitchen design. Good kitchen builders can create beautiful kitchens for you no matter what your budget is. They need your input, though, if they're going to build you a kitchen that suits your needs and sense of style.

First you need to consider the functionality of your kitchen cabinets. Your kitchen layout is important, but you also need to consider what goes behind your kitchen doors and inside your kitchen drawers. Any layout depends on the materials and colours you choose for your kitchen doors, drawer fronts and panels. What kind of kitchen cabinetry is best for you? Every kitchen is different. Here are some ideas for you to consider for both the inside and outside of your kitchen cabinets.

Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

Standard kitchen layouts can leave something to be desired. You'll always find problem areas. Corner cabinets can go to waste because they are too deep to make the most of your storage area. One inexpensive way to make corner cabinets more accessible is to install a lazy Susan instead of a shelf.

A standard kitchen will have more doors than drawers. We store pots, pans and other large cooking utensils on shelves behind the doors. The problem with this storage method is that we keep our frequently used pots and pans at the front of the shelves, but don't make use of all the space inside the cabinets. Pot drawers can solve this problem and make finding the pots and pans you need much easier.

We also store plates and bowls behind doors. Another way to make gaining access to plates and bowls easier is to keep them in drawers. Spacers hold them in place and it's easy to remove as many plates or bowls as you need.

It seems like we never have enough pantry space. To get extra pantry space, you can sacrifice space you may need for other things, but there's a better way. Pantry inserts give you easy access to everything in your pantry. Nothing gets lost at the back of the shelves and everything is at your fingertips.

Kitchen Doors and Drawer Fronts

Your kitchen only looks as good as your kitchen doors, drawer fronts and panels. Some of the common materials you can choose include:

• Melamine
• Vinyl wrap
• Timber
• Polyurethane

Which Kitchen Cabinet Door Finish covers the pros and cons of each of these materials. The good news is that a less expensive finish can look just as good as an expensive finish and may be better for your kitchen.

Melamine is the least expensive material, but kitchen designers often recommend it to clients who have an unlimited budget. Designer colours and styles are available and the texturing in melamine helps hide scratches. In a busy family kitchen, melamine may be your best choice. To dress up your kitchen, choose more expensive handles, a bright splashback and a designer rangehood.

Melamine doors are flat and don't suit every kitchen. If you don't want flat kitchen doors and drawer fronts, you can choose vinyl wrap, timber or polyurethane.

There is no reason why your kitchen has to have doors, drawer fronts and panels in one colour only. For a more striking appearance, you can choose different colours or even materials for your kitchen cabinets. This can be a great idea if you want glossy doors, but are afraid of marring them around the areas you work in. Using two materials can highlight your glossy doors, but you don't need to be afraid of scratching them when you're working at your cooktop or sink.

Your kitchen handles will be the finishing touch to your design. Hundreds of handle designs are available for every style of kitchen.

If you don't want handles, you have two options. Handleless doors and drawers have hardware that opens them with a touch. Choose the best quality hardware you can find for this type of opening system. Cheaper hardware will start to cause problems and probably need replacing.

Kitchen builders can also make drawer fronts and doors with recessed handles. There's just enough room for you to slip your fingers in and easily open your drawers and doors. Recessed handles can be perfect for modern kitchens. They have a sleek appearance and are easy to use. You can also combine them with handles without spoiling your kitchen design.

These are just some ideas to think about. If you need more inspiration, visit our Kitchen Design Ideas pages and take a close look at the hundreds of kitchens you'll find there. And don't overlook the sidebar. You'll also find pages of photos of kitchen cabinets, drawer inserts. kitchen handles and much more.