Higher Cost: Raised panel cabinets often cost more than flat panel cabinets. More challenging to clean: These cabinets' raised panels may make cleaning more challenging.
Raised panel cabinets are more pricey than other cabinet door styles. This is because of their artistic decorations. Most cabinet makers make traditional style cabinets in a framed method. So, it becomes hard to find raised panels in frameless construction.
Fans of flat panel cabinet doors love the simple, streamlined look and the fact that they are easier to clean with less details to catch dust and grease. Also, this flat panel style cabinet doors tend to cost less than raised panel options.
White oak is one of the most expensive cabinet materials on the market and can be roughly 40% more expensive than its red-oak counterpart. There are two key reasons for such a stark contrast in pricing. First, there are simply more red oak trees than there are white oak trees, making them readily available.
While they may have been popular a few years ago, they are no longer the style that most homeowners are choosing for their kitchens. If you are thinking about updating your cabinets, you may want to consider choosing a style that is more in line with current trends.
Shaker Doors
The most timeless kitchen cabinet door style is also a staple in transitional kitchen design: the shaker door.
WHITE KITCHEN CABINET COLORS
White kitchens aren't going anywhere in 2023! A white kitchen continues to be a timeless classic design that never truly goes 'out of style'.
Slab doors make an excellent canvas for unique hardware (knobs, drawer pulls, etc.) and are easy to keep clean or refinish. Because of their simplicity, flat-panel cabinets can be the least expensive, although factors like the type of wood used, finish applied, and hardware affect the cost.
Use lighter colors.
A light color on the walls and cabinets instantly brightens a space making it look larger and in turn, more expensive. Light colors reflect light and hide a multitude of sins, including those scratches, dings and dents in your old cabinets.
Overall construction quality and manufacturing
Most expensive cabinetry products are made by experienced artisans with great craftsmanship in cabinet making.
Cabinets made of MDF, particle board, or other mixed synthetic materials are going to be much less expensive than lacquered cabinets or those made of solid wood or glass.
Shaker Style Cabinets
With clean, classic lines, Shaker is the most popular cabinet door style because it can work beautifully whether your aesthetic is modern, transitional, or traditional.
The least expensive material you can use to make kitchen cabinets is particleboard. This material is made from compressed wood chips, though it doesn't have the same strength and density as MDF or HDF.
With that in mind, your safest option when designing for resale is to incorporate light, neutral colours with universal appeal. Using white or off-white shades is the most popular way to do this. Whether it's through painted cabinets or a light and airy countertop, including white is always a go-to in the kitchen.
Cheaper cabinets will often use thin panels which then require metal hanging rails with brackets, rails, and a picture frame construction. Sometimes they leave the panel out completely, so the wall shows through.
She says light neutrals are generally the best colors for resale because they appeal to most people, but she advises against painting cabinets taupe or beige. “There's the tendency for people to accidentally go too warm—with golden or tan overtones—and then that would be a mistake that's hard to correct.”
The use of particle board in cheaper cabinets
Instead of solid wood or plywood, cheap cabinets usually use particle board for everything from the shelves to the doors to the cabinet box. Particle board is made of wood scraps that have been recycled, including wood chips and sawdust.
White is the most timeless cabinet color of all, with popularity dating back over half a century. It's hard to beat the crisp, clean beauty of bright white cabinets. They lighten the entire room and lend a refreshing, airy feel.
A well-loved, class option, Shaker-style cabinets will remain a top kitchen design trend in 2023. Shaker-style cabinet doors are known for their recessed center panel and clean lines. These doors are so versatile they work with various design styles, from traditional to modern.
Shaker-Style Cabinets
Known for their simple design and recessed-panel doors, Shaker cabinets have been in style for more than 100 years. Shaker cabinets are popular in farmhouse kitchens, but they also work with a variety of home decor styles.
Shaker cabinet doors are as popular in 2023 as they were in 1823. This look has never gone out of style, thanks to its clean and simple look that fits into any kitchen. The doors resemble a basic “frame,” with the edges surrounding an inset panel.
White is still the most popular kitchen cabinet color in 2023 and beyond. However, we are seeing a shift towards warmer and more natural tones. We cover the best colors for cabinets from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams like Simply White, Dove White, and Chantilly Lace.
And while gray might be falling out of favor, white is still holding on strong—it's still the number one kitchen color with 35% of people choosing it from 2022 to 2023. Beige nabbed the third top spot with 18%, followed by blue with 6% and green with 5%.
He also says to avoid cherry-colored cabinets because they look dated. Plus, Chastain says, traditional cabinetry shapes and sizes are quickly being outpaced by space-saving shelving systems and larger pantry-style cabinets.