Today’s Most Coveted Kitchen Cabinets

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Home & Garden

Nothing defines the visual tone of a kitchen more than the look of its cabinetry. Within that vein, consumers find themselves spoiled for choice with a head-turning array of options in door styles, hardware, colors, and materials.

There is also a growing number of options within the pre-fab sector of this marketplace that enables consumers to make upgrades to provide enhanced storage and style more efficiently. Whether you are upgrading existing cabinets or designing a new room altogether, homeowners are always wise to choose options where quality is baked in. There are actually three tiers of quality when it comes to construction, not just stock or custom. Between stock, which are pre-manufactured in standard sizes and thereby the most affordable and quickest delivered, and custom, which are built from scratch to exact specifications, there is semi-custom, which provides a large inventory of styles that can be altered to allow for custom inserts or specific widths.

And while you may think that solid wood is the best choice for quality, it loses points as it tends to warp when exposed to heat and humidity. With that in mind, many consumers choose cabinets made of plywood for strength, moisture resistance, and its ability to hold screws well. Starter cabinets are generally made of particle board. They are the most budget friendly but are also the most likely to succumb to water damage and sag under heavy weight. The remaining option is medium-density fiberboard, or MDF. If you love the look of painted cabinetry, which is currently trending, this is your best option because it has no grain to expand or contract, so paint does not crack at the joints as it ages.

Knowing how cabinets are made helps consumers manage their budgets and expectations.

Pro Construction Tip No. 1: Experts advise that new cabinetry adhere to the standard “ceiling” rule which means cabinets are run up the wall to meet the ceiling to avoid the otherwise dusty scenario that will occur high above your head and be a challenge to clean.

Trends In Palettes, Textures & Visuals

When it comes to the cabinet colors, we can expect to see a waning of stark white and cool gray iterations being replaced with palettes that reflect the color zeitgeist of the year with a collection of refreshed neutrals such as sandy beige, mushroom, taupe, and cashmere tones leading the way.

A collection of moody earth tones will also play a role and will be dramatic with the application of color drenching with hues like burgundy, terracotta, and deep forest green. And what we’re already seeing now in new builds and remodeling projects is the use of a hopeful and sunny mellow butter yellow as a standout accent color.

Design experts are noting natural wood as their material of choice in a big way this year and leaning into the look of white oak again for its subtle grain and versatility. Dark-stained iterations of oak and walnut are also trending in harmony with the emerging “quiet luxury” design aesthetic.

When it comes to style, simplicity is taking the lead in the form of “Slim Shaker” and flat panel cabinet door fronts. While Shaker styles are always a no-fuss option, the trending slim style features even thinner rails and stiles, or frames, around the door creating a look that lands somewhere between traditional and contemporary aesthetics.

Don’t anticipate seeing any glossy lacquers in new kitchens this year, as matte finishes accomplished with the application of clear, matte sealants are preferred to allow the natural texture and feel of the wood shine though. 

The Expert Take On “Wow” Factor

If we could point to any one particular aspect of design and say that’s what’s hot this year, it would have to be the use of texture in cabinetry. And you can expect to see these textures represented as fluted and reeded details sprinkled and layered in rather than applied in whole-cloth fashion. Think of vertical ribbing added to the base of a center island or aspects of fluting on select cabinet doors.

Another aspect that is resonating in cabinet design is adding inserts to select cabinet doors for an extra layer of added interest. While glass inserts are always tasteful approaches for showcasing curated domestic collections, we are now seeing frosted, reeded, and mesh inserts showing up in the most auspicious of places. 

These attractive eye-catchers add interest while partially concealing the cabinet’s contents—a perfect recipe for many homeowners. 

Pro Construction Tip No. 2: Is it Time to Consider a Back Kitchen? Over the last couple of decades, we have tasked our kitchens with being many things to many people: the homework station, the home office, the command center, the gathering space—in addition to its primary role as the place where we prepare and consume meals. Designers are responding by providing clients with the clever option of planning for a back kitchen. These are fully equipped, out-of-sight, storage enhanced workhorse zones that oftentimes multi-task as pantries, as well. Known also as sculleries, prep kitchens, or dirty kitchens, these trending spaces help keep open-plan kitchens clear of clutter, make hosting less stressful, and provide flow when extra hands are required in the kitchen. 

A Final Take On Function

Like that last bangle applied to your fashionable attire, hardware is like the jewelry that will finish your kitchen’s look. And whether you go all-in, take a moderate tone, or opt for nothing at all, designers and homeowners are fortunate to have many choices. 

Leaning into that aspect of quiet luxury again, we will see warm metals that coordinate well with the earthy palettes and natural woods we’ve already mentioned. So, expect to see soft brushed golds, champagne bronzes, and coppers chosen for their compatibility with both light and dark cabinetry.

In closing, pun intended, one should consider not just how your cabinets will look, but how they will move, as well. The enduring addition of a soft-close hinge is a luxury no longer, rather an essential ingredient to any tasteful kitchen cabinet recipe.