Solid timber
For many bespoke kitchen makers, solid hardwood is hailed as the most durable material for kitchen cabinet frames. Hardwood is timber from deciduous trees which are trees that shed their leaves, such as oak, maple, walnut, and birch.
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.
Simple styles of kitchen cabinets, such as traditional Shaker, sleek contemporary or flat panel are far easier to clean and keep clean. Opt for a stain or paint that has a glaze. This fills in any wood grain cracks and corners that attract dust.
Plywood: The highest quality kitchen cabinets are made of cabinet-grade multi-layer plywood. Plywood cabinets are strong, easier to install and considerably lighter in weight than MDF or particleboard cabinets. While more expensive, plywood cabinets are a good choice if you expect to own the house for a long period.
Cabinet Quality Grades. Cabinets are grouped into four grades based on quality of construction: ready-to-assemble (RTA), stock, semi-custom and custom. Decide up front on the amount of money to be invested in cabinetry and then browse cabinetry lines and options within your budget.
Hickory is the most durable domestic wood. Hickory is the one of the strongest domestic wood species you can invest in because of its hardness and strength. It typically is more expensive because it is considered a higher-end wood species.
Ability to Hide Dirt
If you have young kids in the house who are always tracking in mud and other outdoor debris, or if you simply don't want your kitchen cabinets looking dingy all the time, a darker neutral shade like grey can help to mask some of that dirt.
The Expected Lifetime of Kitchen Cabinets
As one of the longest-lasting components of your entire kitchen, your cabinets outlast your appliances, sink, faucet and most countertops by a minimum of 30 years.
Shaker-style cabinetry is a timeless design that fits any budget, whether it's small or unlimited.
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.
Dark paints and stains show dust particles and fingerprints. White cabinets don't, but they show just about everything else. While medium-tone stains aren't immune to wear and tear, they'll show significantly less mess. They're also easier to touch up than paints.
Because of the lack of fussy design elements, shaker style cabinets fit every kitchen style from traditional to modern – they're truly timeless. Solid wood shaker cabinet doors will never go out of style!
Porcelain clad doors
This material is extremely hard wearing, the face panel is heat and scratch resistant.
Steer clear of finishes that show fingerprints and water spots like stainless steel or chrome. They're also harder to clean. Oil-rubbed bronze, satin bronze, brushed or polished nickel and white hardware are all much easier to maintain. Choose the finish that matches your style and kitchen design.
Cabinet boxes are typically built of plywood or particleboard. The most robust cabinets have full plywood sides and backs to stay square during delivery and installation, handle the weight of heavy countertops, and resist damage from moisture. Particleboard is a less expensive alternative.
If you're looking for a bargain, wait until the end of summer or early fall to buy kitchen cabinets – many stores offer discounts to clear out inventory before new models are released.
How do I get kitchen cabinet discounts? You'll find the best deals on kitchen cabinets during the late fall or winter seasons when many cabinet manufacturers have less foot traffic in their showrooms.
Increased quality. Generally, the more expensive kitchen cabinets you purchase, the higher the quality these are. This means they are less likely to break and should last for years, sometimes decades, or even longer.
Even softer tones of yellow in a kitchen space can give the appearance of your cabinets being “aged” or “tarnished” which isn't likely the goal for your newly painted cabinets. The next color I would avoid in cabinet painting is the color red.
Arguably, the most timeless kitchen cabinet color is white. Bright white cabinets suit a variety of beautiful kitchens, including modern, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Brilliant whites work to give kitchens a light and airy feel, and off-white options, like the White Dove shade, provides warmth.
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.
Opt for Boiling Waterproof (BWP) Plywood
In BWP plywood, the material is made of bwp resin which has a good degree of resistance against moisture and is great for use in a kitchen, where moisture levels are usually high. Use boiling waterproof (BWP) plywood to build the cabinets.
Overall, plywood, solid wood and thermofoil offer the best resistance and durability. You can trust that your cabinets will be able to withstand the moisture buildup and the weight of a countertop.
Maple tends to be more expensive than all other types of wood used for Kitchen Cabinets. Oak finishes tend to be about on par with their counterparts due to high demand, however, there can still be variations between different oak finishes so keep this in mind when deciding if oak is right for you or not!