Four Considerations That Go Beyond Looks When Shopping For New Cabinets

Putting in new kitchen cabinets gives you the opportunity to change the entire look of the room, but there are a few considerations more important than the basic appearance of your cabinets. When planning your purchase, refer to the following tips so you can be sure to get exactly what you want and need.

Tip #1: Plan your flow first

Before signing off on the cabinets, take a few minutes to consider how you imagine the work flow of the kitchen to go once your remodel is complete. Generally, you will want a large cabinet to hold pots and pans near the stove, perhaps with a narrow cabinet nearby for baking sheets. The spice cabinet, which will likely need lots of shelves, should be near your main prep area but away from the heat of the stove or the steam of the dishwasher. By planning ahead of time what will go into each cabinet, you will be better able to choose the right units for every part of the kitchen.

Tip #2: Narrow down your specialty needs

If you have had builder's grade cabinets before, you know how frustrating it is trying to fit everything you have into the pre-set shelves that are exactly the same in every cabinet. This is why you want to look at some of the specialty designs on the inside of the cabinets. For example, you can find cabinets with vertical shelves, which are perfect for stacking baking sheets or shallow roasting pans side by side so you can optimize space. Cabinets designed specifically for dishes may have repositionable shelves so you never need to stack the bowls on top of plates to fit everything in.

Tip #3: Know your hinge options

There are a few options when it comes to cabinet hinges and sliders. For example, it can be well worth the extra expense to invest in self-closing drawers, especially if you have ever banged painfully into a partially open drawer. Silent hinges, which allow a cabinet to close slowly and quietly, are a must if you have kids that like to slam doors. Hidden hinges are also helpful. They not only look nice, but you don't have to worry about spilled food gumming them up.

Tip #4: Consider features and issues

Some features are a real benefit when it comes to cabinets, such as the hinges mentioned above or specific organizational aids. For others, you need to think about the pros and cons. For example, inset doors are attractive, but they can become a dirt magnet – especially in homes with kids. This is because every dribble that makes its way down the cabinet door is going to become encrusted on the hard-to-clean insets. Another feature to consider are handles and knobs. These help keep the wood of the doors clean, but knobs or handles on lower cabinets can be hard on the knees if you tend to bump them often.

For more help in picking out just the right cabinets, contact a contractor in your area.