The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where everyone comes together for meals, to complete homework, or to work from home. Kitchen cabinets define your space’s style and functionality—but with endless options, choosing kitchen cabinets can feel overwhelming.
That is why we put together this ultimate guide to choosing kitchen cabinets. This guide covers everything you will need to consider when choosing kitchen cabinets. From wood types to colors, finishes, and budgeting. We cover it all in this guide.
Index
Cabinet Materials
Colors & Finishes
Budget & Practical Tips
Inspiration
Conclusion
Bookmark this page for reference to help you pick the perfect cabinets for your kitchen step by step.
Choosing Kitchen Cabinets – Materials
When selecting cabinets, a key factor to consider is the cabinet material. Your cabinet material choice will affect several parts of your project.
Your choice of cabinet material will determine:
- Cabinet color/appearance
- Cost
- Durability
With these factors in mind, we can dive into the two main types of materials for wood cabinets:
- Solid wood
- High-quality medium density fiberboard (MDF)
Solid Wood
Not every type of wood has the right qualities to become exceptional wood cabinets. Each wood species has its own unique characteristics that determine its suitability for different uses. These characteristics include its finished appearance and lifetime durability.
Some popular types of wood for cabinets include Maple, Birch, Oak, Walnut, and Cherry. Each of these wood species has specific characteristics that lend themselves to cabinetry.
For example, birch has a straight grain and even surface that makes it great for painting. While walnut is a hardwood that is naturally water resistant. These qualities make walnut an excellent choice for cabinets installed a long time in humid or damp environments.
High quality MDF
Now solid wood isn’t right for every project. A high-quality MDF can provide the right material for wood cabinets depending on the style and finish. An enormous benefit of MDF is it can decrease the overall cost of your project. This is because it’s often less expensive than solid wood material.
MDF stands for medium-density-fiberboard and is an engineered wood material that is more dense than plywood. MDF is highly durable and looks similar to wood when painted.
We only source high-quality MDF which provides stability, resists warping and has a smooth surface for painting.
Important Points:
The material of your cabinets affects their finished appearance and lifetime durability.
There are two types of wood material: solid wood and high quality MDF.
For a thorough analysis of wood types, see our cornerstone guide: Our Top Tips for Choosing Wood Cabinets.
Choosing Kitchen Cabinets – Colors & Finishes
Wood cabinets are highly customizable through different finishing techniques. The two choices for finishing cabinets: choosing between staining or painting your wood cabinets. The key factor in the choice of finish is how it will affect the style of the kitchen and future maintenance requirements.
Stain
Stains penetrate the wood grain to enhance its natural patterns and textures, adding warmth and character to a space. The staining process involves the wood absorbing the stain and sealing the stained wood with a top coat. This makes it so that when scratches, scuffs, and grime happen, they are less noticeable and more easily touched up.
Some of the stain color options we offer:
Dark – Rich Earth, Black Forest, Cold Embers
Medium – Roasted Peanut, Warmth, Light Brown Sugar
Light – Antique Barrel, Historical, Natural Grain
Popular stain options range from rich dark tones like rich earth or black forest to light shades like natural grain and antique barrel. Our finishing department can color match your desired stain for cabinets from a picture or flooring sample.
Pros
- Enhances the natural beauty of the wood grain and texture.
- Deceased maintenance – stain penetrates into the wood, making scratches and dents less apparent.
- Versatile style choice that can have a timeless appeal
Cons
- Less color options than paint, limiting your style and color scheme options.
- Highlight imperfections – if wood is not prepared properly, stain can highlight imperfections in the wood grain.
- Maintenance – stained cabinets will require regular cleaning and upkeep to keep them looking their best.
Paint
Painted cabinets offer a kaleidoscope of color possibilities. Painted wood cabinets can provide a clean and versatile look to any space. Popular paint selections include neutral colors and those that enhance the natural environment and feel of the space.
Our finishing department can color match paints with precision.
Pros
- Lots of color options provide more flexibility in matching a specific color scheme or style.
- Clean minimalist look – painted cabinets can provide a visually clean aesthetic that is a staple in modern design.
- Hides imperfections – paint can hide minor imperfections in wood grain or its surface texture.
Cons
- Paint will eventually chip, crack, and deteriorate with time and use.
- Will require more maintenance; paint touchups and cleaning depending on paint used
- Increased cost because of the increased labor involved in the paint finishing process
When selecting the perfect finish for your kitchen cabinets:
- Consider the overall style of your space, and
- How different finishes will wear over time
Still unsure between looks?
Ask yourself:
Do I want to highlight wood grain (stain) or go seamless (paint)?
Does my kitchen need warmth (stain) or a pop of color (paint)?
How much upkeep am I prepared for? (Painted cabinets may need touch-ups.)
Do my countertops/backsplash complement or clash?
Choosing Kitchen Cabinets-Understanding Costs
Kitchen cabinets are available at a range of prices. From budget-friendly options, like big box store cabinets, to complete custom designs. Where you land on that spectrum depends on your style, needs, and budget. Understanding how that breaks down can help you make smarter choices.
Prices range from the low end with preassembled cabinets to mid-range with semi-custom to fully custom cabinets at the high end.
Budget-Friendly (Preassembled Cabinets)
If you’re looking for affordability, pre-assembled cabinets are a solid starting point. Prices have climbed recently, up about 10%, but they are still one of the most wallet-friendly options.
Mid-Range (Semi-Custom)
For more personalization without a full custom price tag, semi-custom cabinetry might be for you. Semi-custom cabinetry uses better materials while offering design flexibility that preassembled cabinets do not. However, expect to pay up to five times more than preassembled cabinets.
High-End (Fully Custom)
For truly one-of-a-kind craftsmanship, custom cabinets are the pinnacle. Handcrafted from premium wood by professional woodworkers, these cabinets will come with a high-end price tag.
What Drives Cabinet Costs?
Your ultimate price isn’t just about brand or size—it’s in the details:
Cabinet frame style: Cabinets come in framed, frameless, or inset.
Materials and Finishes: Solid wood (like oak or walnut) costs more than laminate or MDF.
Door Design: A sleek slab door is cheaper to make than a raised-panel or hand-carved style.
Hardware and Features: Soft-close hinges, full-extension drawers, pull-outs, and organizers add convenience, and expense. A basic cabinet with doors and a single drawer will always be cheaper than a tricked-out storage solution.
Smart Shopping Tips
- Set Your Budget First–Know your limits before falling in love with a design.
- Compare Apples to Apples–Ensure quotes from different sources include the same features, for example material, hardware, and organizers.
- Work with a professional, like DP Juza Woods + Fixtures. We can help maximize your budget while achieving the look you want.
Whether you’re going for an affordable refresh or a high-end remodel. An understanding of the factors that affect the cost of cabinets can help you get the kitchen of your dreams.
Inspiration
Photos from our experience gallery.
Like what you see? Visit our Experience Gallery to explore more ideas!
Conclusion
In the kitchen, people make memories, conversations flow, and daily life happens; And at the center of it all? Your cabinets. They define the style, functionality, and overall feel of your space. That is why selecting kitchen cabinets is one of the most important decisions in your kitchen design.
With this guide, you now have the knowledge to choose the perfect cabinets. From materials like solid wood and high-quality MDF to finishes that balance beauty and durability. You’ve explored budget-friendly options, mid-range upgrades, and high-end custom designs. Allowing you to find a solution for every style and price point.
Whether you’re drawn to the rich warmth of stained wood or the modern elegance of painted cabinets. The key is finding a balance between aesthetics, practicality, and long-term maintenance. If you feel overwhelmed, just remember that the best cabinets are the ones that enhance your kitchen’s style and function.
So take the next step with confidence. Bookmark this guide, revisit your favorite sections, and start envisioning the kitchen you’ve always wanted. Because when your cabinets are just right, everything will feel like it belongs.
Ready to transform your kitchen? Schedule a consultation with our design experts today!