A kitchen serves so many purposes in our homes: it’s a place where family and friends gather or a budding chef tries out new recipes. As the heart of the home, it has to be attractive and functional. That’s a lot to live up to! Do you love the look of your kitchen, but dread starting meal preparation because you have to bend down or reach up high to grab what you need? Or do items fall out from an overcrowded cabinet? If you’ve decided your cabinets are what’s keeping your kitchen from being your favorite room in the house, an upgrade may be in order.
Balancing functionality with aesthetics
You need your kitchen cabinets design to be aesthetically appealing but work well in the space you have. With this in mind, here are a few tips to consider:
Think carefully about your kitchen cabinet doors
When deciding on cabinet doors, for example, you’ll want to consider how high up to go and how the doors will open. Lift-up doors work well at standard heights, but if placed too high, the door may not be able to open properly as it will need a room above to clear. Another modern option is cabinets with swing-up doors. They give you a good view of what’s inside, but again, be mindful of going too high with this design so the hardware isn’t in danger of hitting the ceiling and you are able to comfortably close the cabinet.
Add legs to your cabinets
On the bottom half, most kitchen cabinets recess several inches from the front in order for you to stand close to the countertop. A popular trend at the moment is to add legs to your cabinets instead. This way, you gain more cabinet space and standing room at the same time. While it may be a bit more costly, the appearance is contemporary, and in the event of water leaks or flooding, the legs would take the brunt of the damage.
Opt for adjustable shelves
Shelving within cabinets can be fixed, but having adjustable shelves extends the longevity and usefulness of your cabinetry by letting you rearrange items with more flexibility. Another option is to incorporate an adjustable shelf into a cabinet that has a single fixed shelf.
Finally, look for quality. Front pieces should be solid wood, hinges should work easily and panels should be fitted properly, not simply glued in place. If you follow the tips above, you should enjoy years of satisfaction from your kitchen cabinetry.