Cabinet Door Styles
Consumers offers a near-endless selection of cabinet door style options
Choosing the right style from so many choices might sound intimidating, especially since the design of the door sets the tone for the overall look of the kitchen, but there is no need to worry.
Begin by choosing one of the basic styles shown below. Once you decide which one best fits your design theme, it becomes easier to focus on the finer details that separate similar door designs.
Recessed Panel Doors
Recessed Square
Recessed Multi
Recessed Grooved
Recessed or Flat Panel door styles are constructed using a four-piece frame fitted with a center panel that has no raised or contoured profile. The clean, sleek look of recessed panel cabinets allow them to blend well into many design themes, including Transitional, Modern, Contemporary, Classic, Craftsman, and even Traditional in some cases.
Raised Panel Doors
Raised Square
Raised Arch
Raised Multi
Raised panel door styles are also made from a four-piece frame, but their center panel is higher in the middle than it is on the edges, adding dimension and character. They are often preferred by homeowners who appreciate ornate details that make bold statements in Traditional and Mediterranean design themes.
Slab Doors
Solid Wood
Melamine
Thermofoil
Ultralux
Slab doors have no raised or recessed profile. Solid Wood slabs give the appearance of a single piece of wood, but are actually made of several pieces joined together, making them resistant to cupping and warping.
Besides solid wood, slab doors can be made from medium density fiberboard (MDF) and laminated with melamine, thermofoil, or Ultralux. The uncluttered look of slabs, particularly laminates, make them perfect for modern and contemporary design themes.
Accent Doors
Mullion
Glass
Leaded Glass
Aluminum Frame
Accent doors are not used throughout the entire kitchen, but create decorative focal points when used on individual cabinets.
Door Overlay Options
Traditional Overlay
Also known as partial overlay or standard overlay, these doors do not fully cover the face frame, typically leaving between ½” and one inch exposed. They are usually the least expensive door overlay option. Decorative hardware is optional on these cabinets.
Full Overlay
Full overlay doors are designed to fully cover the face frame, leaving only about ⅛” exposed. They are also used on all full access cabinets, which are built without face frames. Since they require more material, they are typically more expensive than traditional overlay doors. Decorative hardware is required to open doors and drawers.
Inset
Inset doors sit within the face frame, flush with the front edge of the cabinet box, leaving the entire frame exposed. The precision crafting required to construct inset cabinets typically makes them the most expensive overlay option. Decorative hardware is required
to open doors and drawers.