Cabinet Door Styles

In the process of a remodeling project some of the most fun decisions concern design. What colors do you like? Do you prefer a simplistic style or something with some added detail? There are many options available when it comes to cabinets, counters, and other accents in kitchens and baths that allow you to let your personal style shine. One important style selection for new cabinets is the door style. We have discussed the importance of construction style in the past but construction has less immediate effect on the overall visual impact of the cabinets than door style. The color and door style you select are what determines your cabinets’ feel in the space. Next time we will discuss the myriad of colors there are to choose from. Today we will focus on the abundance of door styles available.

Shaker and Slab Doors

There are quite a few different styles of cabinet doors but recently slab doors and Shaker doors have seen an increase in popularity. Slab doors are simplistic and can give a modern feel to any space. Slab doors  are composed of one flat panel that you can quickly wipe down for easy cleaning. If you like the look of a more exotic wood a slab door with a veneer is a beautiful way to let the characteristics of the wood be the focus of your space.

Shaker style doors are also simplistic but have a recessed center panel surrounded by rails and stiles. Typically they have minimal carved detail work around the recessed panel but can be more ornate. Shaker doors offer a simplistic option for people that like minimalistic and modern styles but would like cabinet doors with a little more intrigue than slab doors offer. They are also easy to keep clean.

Recessed vs Raised Panel Doors

Recessed panel doors are an additional category to those previously mentioned. This is a broader category that includes shaker style doors. The center panel is set back in from the rails and styles in recessed panel doors. The center panel is also always flat in this style of door. The surrounding rails and styles can have simple groves or very elaborate carving. Generally the simpler the door style the less expensive it is.

There are also raised panel doors, which as the name implies, have a raised center panel. These doors also have a range of how ornate or simplistic they can be. These days ornately carved doors are not as popular as they have been in the past but can still look beautiful in almost any space.

Choosing Your Style

With the exception of the slab door, these different styles are affected by what joint is used where the rails and styles meet. A mitered door is one where the rails and styles join at a 45 degree angle. This results in a joint line running out at an angle from the center panel. If a miter joint isn’t used there are a few other joints, such as a mortise and tenon, which result in joints running at 90 degree angles. This type of joinery gives you a classic rail and style door. These joints are small details in the style of the door. However, miter joints are not as strong as the mortise and tenon and are more difficult to hide particularly in painted doors. Mitered doors also tend to be more expensive.

In general contemporary styles include shaker doors and others that are more simplistic in style. Slab doors are also contemporary but are often classified as modern or industrial. When considering which style works for you it can be helpful to look at photos online. Make notes of which door styles appeal to you and go from there! In the end the choice is yours and with as many options as are available these days there is a door for everyone! Happy Renovating!