The right kitchen cabinetry can make or break your kitchen’s functionality and style — not to mention your budget. We can help you get started.

Cabinets house bulk of your kitchen essentials, from utensils to pantry items. With so much space devoted to kitchen cabinets, they are crucial in transforming a space.

Before your buy cabinets for your new kitchen remodel, there are some considerations to be made around budget, quality, style, construction and finish. This post takes you through these considerations so you can make an informed final choice.

1. Aesthetics and functionality:
Kitchen cabinets serve a very important function – storage. It is important for you to make best use of the space available to achieve the best storage solution. You need to consider the items in your kitchen and suit cabinets accordingly. For instance, you may choose to make extra drawers, opt for larger pull-out cupboards for big pots or choose a display cabinet to showcase your family beautiful family heirloom of serving pieces. The bottom line is that the design needs to work for you.

Are you looking for a traditional finish with darker stained kitchen cabinets and more ornate door styling or something more modern? When choosing your options, try not to overwhelm a space. Our team at Incredible Kitchen Company is available for a consultation on kitchen design and choosing cabinets that are perfect for your space and lifestyle.

2. How do you use your kitchen:
The level of kitchen activity is probably the most material factor to consider. Some homeowners really mean it when they say the only reason they have a kitchen is because it came with the house. Is your kitchen the space that takes a hammering from frequent entertaining and a full family that comes to the breakfast bar at meal times or do you use your kitchen to make and microwave dinner sometimes? Your cabinets need to match this use – no point having expansive cabinetry with nothing to store in it!

3. Budget:
Kitchen cabinets can chew into your renovation budget pretty quickly, especially if you have a large space. Get a handle on the total budget and decide where you’ll splurge and where you’ll save. You may prefer to put dollars into other elements like a kitchen benchtop or top-of-the-line appliances, and economise on kitchen cabinet doors. When making budgetary decisions, consider if your home is your forever home. For most first-home buyers, their home is one they grow out of – making expensive kitchen cabinetry investment in these is probably not worth it; you could consider more economical options.

4. Kitchen cabinet materials:
There are a wide range of materials which are used for making cabinets. You can choose from stainless steel, melamine, metal, wood, or thermo foil. One of the most popular choices for cabinets is still solid wood. Timber brings character into your kitchen space, especially teamed with white, grey or black cabinetry. While it does have drawbacks in that the grain, texture and pattern can vary, it is loved for its durability. You can also look for timber alternatives to achieve the look. You may also want to consider glass and metallic kitchen cabinets to break up the wood look in your kitchen.

Once you’ve chosen your material, another consideration is finish. Do you want it high-gloss, semi-gloss or matt? Each has its pros and cons, especially in the maintenance space and their style factor. You can even have a mix of finishes to achieve a more textured look in your kitchen.

Choosing kitchen cabinet hardware correctly is equally important. The right handles, pulls, and knobs create a stylish and beautiful look. There is an extensive range of styles, finishes and colours available.

5. Colour scheme:
Monochrome schemes are perceived as safer, and having greater longevity if selling is on the horizon. You can add colour through a statement furniture piece or even a splashback. If monochrome isn’t your style, you can consider colour-blocking or introducing shades into cabinet fronts.

6. Custom-made vs ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets:
Obviously the latter is a cheaper option but whether you go for it or not depends on your kitchen size, shape, budget, style and usability. Don’t be fooled into thinking that all kitchen cabiney assembly jobs are DIY – getting professional help for assembly is certainly recommended for great results, especially if your DIY skills are on the lower end of the barometer.

To conclude
Your cabinets should work harmoniously with the rest of your kitchen and home, be it traditional or modern. If you are feeling overwhelmed or simply need advice, utilise your builder’s design specialists to help you determine which type of cabinet will work best for your home. 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.