They say that the kitchen is the heart of a home. But that adage only rings true if you actually want to spend time in your kitchen.
The kitchen is the first place that people renovate. “Homeowners spent an average of 12 percent more to remodel a kitchen in 2015 than they did in 2014, as more shifted to broader-scale projects. A major kitchen overhaul, which includes at least replacing all the cabinets and appliances, cost about three times as much as a minor kitchen renovation,” says a 2017 Houzz Kitchen Trends study.
And it makes sense. We spend a lot of time in our kitchens — cooking, cleaning, hanging out with family and rummaging through the fridge at 1 am.
If you spend a lot of time in a room, you’re going to want to have something nice to look at while you’re in there. But you’re building a new home, which means that you can get it right the first time. You can make your kitchen so great that you won’t want to renovate for quite a while (if ever!).
Why are Kitchen Cabinets So Important?
The right kitchen design makes you want to cook more at home and spend more time with family. And the right kitchen design hinges on its cabinets (pun intended). Cabinets may not be the main feature of a kitchen but they pull the entire room together.
You can have the fanciest appliances and a wonderful backsplash but, if the cabinets are wrong, the entire kitchen looks wrong. So, here are some tips to ensure that you choose the right kitchen cabinets for your new home.
Which Kitchen Cabinet Type Should You Choose?
There are a few types of cabinets you can get. What you choose depends on your storage needs, the style of your kitchen and your home, the space and your budget. Here are three types of cabinets to consider for your new kitchen:
1) Base Cabinets
These are the lower cabinets that are often used to support your countertops. They provide easy access to your kitchen essentials. Adding drawers to your base cabinets helps you get as much out of that storage space as possible.
2) Tall Cabinets
Tall cabinets can also be used as a standalone pantry. They are normally around seven feet tall to eight feet tall. Tall kitchen cabinets have become the choice for cabinets, according to a Freedonia kitchen cabinet study.
“Tall cabinets are rising in popularity due to the need for more storage as Americans continue to prepare more of their own meals rather than dine outside of the home,” says analyst Matt Hurley in a news release about the study.
3) Wall Cabinets
These are the upper cabinets that are mounted on the wall. They turn wall space into much-needed storage space.
What Kind of Cabinet Style Should You Use?
Your cabinets should work harmoniously with the rest of your kitchen. If your appliances and countertops are more modern and minimalist, then you might want to consider getting slab cabinets. If your style is more traditional, then raised panel cabinets might be a good fit for you.
Utilize your builder’s design specialists to help you determine which type of cabinet will work best for your new home. That’s what they are there for! The more you learn about kitchen design, the more complicated and overwhelming it can be. A kitchen designer will use their extensive knowledge of the numerous kitchen design choices out there to help you choose cabinets and other kitchen features that work together well.
Should You be Open to Open Shelving?
Getting rid of upper cabinets in favor of open shelving has become a popular design choice over the last few years. But is it a passing trend or a good choice for your kitchen?
| Pros of Open Shelving | Cons of Open Shelving |
| Makes the kitchen feel more open | It might make your kitchen look busier, |
| You can see everything at one glance | You can see everything |
| You can arrange your shelves by color for visual symmetry | They require more maintenance than upper cabinets |
In short, if you’re really organized and don’t mind a little extra maintenance, then open shelving might work for you. Open shelving might also be a good fit if you have a smaller kitchen and want it to seem more open and airy.