Choosing the Right Cabinet Door Style for Your Kitchen Update

Finding Your Kitchen Style

Choosing your new cabinet doors is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make for your kitchen update. With so many looks and styles available, where do you begin? Selecting the right one for your home can feel overwhelming, so here’s a guide to get started. What kind of interiors appeal to you? Are you more traditional, transitional, contemporary? Do you like a mix of styles? Do you like more or less details when you choose things for yourself and your home? If you’re unsure of how to describe your preferred style, spend some time collecting pictures of kitchens or interior design you like so you can start to see what speaks to you.

Traditional Style: Classic with a Modern Twist

Traditional style is great for a more classic style home, like a colonial. Do you like antiques? Are you drawn to furniture with more details? Traditional kitchens can be dressier than other choices, but that doesn’t have to mean stuffy or dark. Usually when we hear a client asking for “traditional” we think raised panel doors and decorative moldings. We suggest choosing a more updated finish like a paint color or a lighter wood option, as opposed to something like a dark reddish cherry finish, to make the style feel current and provide longevity. We recommend using less ornate hardware, without going too contemporary, to make the traditional cabinets feel up to date.

Transitional Style: The Best of Both Worlds

We find that most of our clients are in the transitional style zone. They want an updated look and feel that’s still connected to the style of their house and their existing furnishings. They want it to feel fresh but still be familiar. This could mean raised panel doors with fewer decorative details in a trendier color or finish, a Shaker-style door with some added details like a beveled inside and outside edge, a slim Shaker door in a warm and earthy wood stain, or a textured-door with reeded details. Pair these cabinets with sleek quartz, updated lighting, and knock-out decorative hardware and you’ll have a style and age-defying look!

Contemporary Style: Sleek and Minimal

Most of us do not live in true contemporary houses or apartments, but if this style is appealing then choosing some of the hallmarks to mix in can be a winning recipe. If you like sleek unadorned lines, simple neutral color palettes without a lot of pattern or contrast, and minimal additional décor or decoration then this may be your look. Look at slab-style doors (but slim Shaker and Shaker can also work if you’re trying to soften the contemporary edge but still give the overall feel) with cleaner-style hardware. Often larger size hardware is a good way to pump up this style.

Farmhouse Style: Cozy and Casual

The farmhouse look is great for people that want a cozy and casual kitchen. Usually these kitchens combine wood, metal, and stone with rustic and vintage details, and we see textures and layers like distressed or glazed finishes, honed counters, and open shelves. Often, they have a mix of cabinet finishes, like a wood-stained Shaker-style cabinet mixed with painted cabinets in warm earthy colors. More traditional cabinet styles can also work in a farmhouse setting if they are finished in a more casual way – like a non-traditional paint color or grainier wood. You don’t have to have a farmhouse sink, but a white porcelain sink with an apron front is often the centerpiece of this look.

Let’s Get Started

At Kitchen Tune-Up we want to help you make the most of your home. We would love the opportunity to see your kitchen, show you door and hardware samples, and create a plan to update and upgrade your space to meet your needs. Contact us today for a free design appointment and estimate.