A guide to buying kitchen cabinets

Cabinets set the style and tone of the kitchen while providing you the ultimate in comfort and convenience. The following guide can help you choose the right kitchen cabinets.

Choose the design style of the kitchen: These days, the most common styles are modern, contemporary, casual and eclectic. By determining the style, it becomes possible to choose the wood and the style that best suits the kitchen décor.

Doors: Kitchen cabinets have a variety of styles for the doors, ranging from recessed to raised and slab paneled. Raised and recessed doors may be square, arched or cathedral like in style.

Wood types: Kitchen cabinets are made from a variety of wood styles. It is possible to find oak, hickory, mahogany, maple, birch and laminates among the most popular and durable.

Material of kitchen cabinets: When it comes to materials of kitchen cabinets, several are available. Some cabinets are made from solid wood while others are made of particle board and veneer. While whole wood is expensive, it is also durable. In wood finish itself, cabinets could vary from very expensive to highly inexpensive depending on the type of wood and the finish of the cabinet. By choosing carefully, it is possible to cut costs considerably without compromising on looks.

Kinds of kitchen cabinets: For people who need to set up their kitchen in a hurry, ready to assemble kitchen cabinets are perhaps the easiest and the most sensible option. These are easy to fix on and take off. So, they are great if you are always on the move. Partially made kitchen cabinets and custom made kitchen cabinets are more convenient if you will be staying for a few years in the same space. Partially made kitchen cabinets make it possible for the customer to customize the cabinet according to individual needs.

Finish: This is another major consideration as it affects the look of the interior. Some of the most popular finishes include laminates, paint finish and stain finish. Glaze finish is also an option but a highly expensive one.

Kitchen cabinet hardware: The final look of the kitchen depends to a great extent on the hardware used on the cabinet. The sky is really the limit here. There are multitudes of designs in knobs, handles and so on. If you are after great looks, be prepared to shell out extra money.
The above gives you a fairly good idea of what you are likely to encounter when you shop around for the best kitchen cabinets. Before making your final decision, run through this final checklist to ensure that you are getting the best return for your money:

1. Is the cabinet sturdy and firm?
2. How is it put together?
3. Do the pieces fit well and are they clamped tight?
4. Are the corners cut well?
5. Do the drawers slide in and out smoothly and noiselessly?
6. Can the drawers hold sufficient amounts of weight?
7. What is the construction of the doors and drawers?
8. What material is the cabinet made of?
9. Does the color match with your décor?

Since you are spending the money, you need to be choosy and pick the best cabinets.