For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is more than just a place to cook. Want to bond with your mom? Have a cook-off in the kitchen! Want to bake to relax and satisfy your sweet tooth? Head to the kitchen! Most modern kitchens now extend into the dining rooms, which means families eating and laughing together in the kitchen have become a common sight.
Can you remember your little one’s playing chef and following your steps when making a cake? Many positive emotions are associated with kitchens. Besides, wouldn’t you also want a functional and visually appealing workstation for your cooking experience?
Remodeling your kitchen is a fun experience; you have plenty of options. You can have your pick from various trending kitchen designs. Would you want a quartz worktop or a granite one? What new appliance upgrades do you want to install? What would be the placement for new fixtures so that they are accessible yet safe from damage? What kind of new cabinets do you want?
All these little changes can make a big difference. With a plethora of choices just for cabinets, it would not be surprising if you feel overwhelmed when it’s time to make a decision. But we can help you understand your choices and how they influence the interior. Let’s consider the four factors that affect your cabinet revamp project to help you make an informed decision depending on your taste and needs.
Table of contents
1. Cabinet Color
The thing that often catches the eye most is the cabinet color. Cabinets take a lot of space, so it’s no surprise that colors instantly grab the attention, even before the design does.
For starters, you would want to choose between light and dark color options. You have to consider four things:
Lighting in the kitchen:
If your kitchen does not receive a lot of light, you can make it look lively with light colors. Something like rustic hues would instantly make a room open up. In case of sunlight brightening your kitchen, you can choose darker colors as well as light colors for different walls.
Kitchen size:
Small and cozy kitchens may feel more intimate, but you might want your kitchen to look spacious. And, using light colors open up the space. But your taste is what matters the most, so if you’re swaying dark shaded cabinets, you can use gloss paints and finishes to add the illusion of spaciousness. With a bigger kitchen, dark colors build the intimacy while the neutral colors make the area sophisticated.
Cleaning convenience:
Cabinets with light paints tend to get dirty easily and hence require more attention. While cabinet covers, especially lighter tones, are harder to clean, the selection of a good paint can ease the process. Pick water and oil-resitant paints to ensure that not only the paint looks good and shiny, it won’t peel-off if you need to clean up the walls.
Lastest trends:
Blue and green combination or sea green has been trending as the moodier option, but will these be in fashion for long? Probably not.
You don’t want your kitchen to be the cemetery of old fashions unless you’re into vintage. Selecting a trend that would live long or at least look classy and fashionable even after fizzling out is the smartest decision. You might want to go for two-toned cabinet colors—one color for the top and a different one for the bottom cabinets. Not only is it stylish, but it also allows room for you to be creative.
Choose lighter colors for upper cabinets and bring focus to the bottom cabinets with darker shades. But remember, two shades do not mean you have to select a darker color, you can choose two lighter ones too or anything of your liking. Unconventional does not mean your kitchen has to look like a circus.
Even within light and dark colors, you have matte, neutral and modern colors to choose from. If you are a fan of minimalism, you might want to select colors that match your walls.
2. Cabinet Spacing
The standard spacing between cabinets is around 18 inches because some appliances might not fit well under that height. But is that the only upper cabinet elevation option? No. You can request more spacing. Just adding a few more inches, say 24, to the spacing, can make a lot of difference. More height makes the kitchen feel more spacious and airier. It also lets the backsplash receive more attention because the thought you put in selecting backsplash and wall paints deserves appreciation too.
You can combine cabinets with open shelving too, making room for vases, plants and décor items to add personal touches. You can gauge your needs and decide what spacing is perfect for you, although keep in mind that taking the cabinet to the ceiling might be a stretch. So definitely avoid that!
3. Cabinet Designs and Dimensions
Plain classics with little designs are timeless, but if your artsy side wants to come out, you can find embossed designs and delicate carvings which bring richness to your kitchen. Old school designs look best in wood finishes. Frames or no frames might be a question for bigger spaces since smaller kitchens look better with the European no-frame style.
The width of the cabinet determines its doors’ width too. The standard width is 24 inches, which means two 12 inches doors. For spacious kitchens, a width of 36 inches might seem fit too.
To save space, you can choose upside opening and pull-out cabinets too. You can also look into making portions within one bigger cabinet.
4. Cabinet Materials
Wood is knocking on the design doors again, though it never really went out of style. Many homeowners prefer wood cabinets for the classic look instead of just wooden finishes. The type of wood, species and stain is very important, not just for looks but for texture too. If you are going for a homey or a cottage core style look, wood might be your final selection. While wood might not be as long-lasting as other materials due to the danger of termites, it can survive decades with maintenance and proper care.