Dream kitchens always come with dream cabinets, but which are your favorite? From traditional kitchen cabinets to contemporary, there are many styles to choose from. A good way to differentiate which style suits your kitchen best is to compare the different kitchen cabinet door styles side by side.
Discover what sets apart Shaker, raised panel, and recessed panel kitchen cabinet door styles and then pick your favorite!
Shaker Cabinets
Whether you like traditional kitchen cabinets or more modern styles, you’ll probably love Shaker cabinets. They are one of the most popular styles of cabinetry, and offer a classic, clean, and simple design. Shaker cabinets look absolutely stunning in almost any kitchen theme because of their minimalist design.
With origins dating back to the American colonial era when Shaker furniture was first developed, these timeless cabinets have a plain door but feature a recessed center panel. The door of a Shaker cabinet is five pieces with a four-piece frame. They may be simple, but they are also distinct, and their immense popularity to this day speaks for itself.
You will find Shaker cabinets in both natural and painted finishes. Their finish tends to have a substantial impact on which theme they are more compatible with. For example, Shaker cabinets with natural wood finishes are more suited for a traditional kitchen, while white, grey, or black painted finishes makes them perfect for a contemporary theme.
Raised Panel Cabinets
For homeowners that love details, ornate fixtures, and making a statement, raised panel cabinets will probably take the prize. These cabinet doors feature a raised center panel, which adds dimension and creates character.
We often see raised panel cabinets in traditional and Old World kitchens with a Mediterranean flair. Some raised panel doors are more dramatic than others. You’ll find designs with simple frames and stepped frames, the latter providing even more complexity.
When designing a kitchen with raised panel cabinets, it’s not uncommon to also incorporate other pieces of personality, such as decorative molding. These additions provide greater enhancement to the artistic nature of this cabinet style.
Recessed Panel Cabinets
We spoke about recessed panel cabinets a bit already, because Shaker cabinets do feature recessed cabinet doors. However, Shaker cabinets are not the only style with recessed panel doors. Since this type of cabinetry has been around for over 200 years, the style has adapted into many “sister” styles that are Shaker-like but not quite Shaker. You’ll have no problem finding additional recessed designs that are more contemporary than your traditional Shaker.
Recessed panel cabinets are not limited to a plain, flat panel. They can also have a glass panel or a beaded board. There are also slab cabinets, which have no panel at all.
If you’re still not sure which of the kitchen cabinet door styles is right for you, you can always order kitchen samples from Willow Lane Cabinetry. You’ll find sample doors online in every finish available. All samples also ship free of charge and only require a deposit. Once you send the samples back, your deposit will be returned to you.
Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen of your dreams with our 100% free kitchen design tool. We offer all wood, semi-custom kitchen cabinets, fully assembled and delivered for free, with standard features like soft closing doors and drawers, and 6-way adjustable steel hinges. Plus all the accessories you need to complete your new kitchen. We give you more and save you money! Visit our website to see our beautiful products today!