Kitchen Cabinet Design Trends

You might not think there's a lot of variation that can be engineered into kitchen cabinets. And in a way, that's true. They're all designed to provide a place to store your dishes and other kitchen items. But once you get past that basic sameness, the cabinets you see today may not look like the cabinets you grew up with. Here are some of the trends you might expect to see.

Old is New Again

Many homeowners are deliberately seeking an older look for their cabinets. They want the wood to appear aged, even distressed. Yet they don't want to sacrifice the longevity and sturdiness that come with new, treated wood. Cabinet makers use a variety of techniques to make new cabinets appear as though they've been around for a while. One technique involves applying a dry brush to the finish before it hardens. This can give the cabinets a lovely texture that adds to their character. Whether this technique is use or another, you may feel that you enjoy the warmth and comfortable feeling that come with older looking wood.

The Mission Look

One specific older look that is being used a lot is the Mission look. Meant to evoke simpler times, these cabinets rely on sturdy oak and walnut corner pegs to make a bold statement. Wide rails and stiles add to the boldness and warm simplicity of this look. If your heart goes back to the simple life of the prairie, the Mission look may be just the thing to give you a sense of peace as you cook and clean.

The Contemporary Look

If the older look is not what you had in mind, the contemporary look is also a contender these days. Plain cabinet doors in light wood with a glaze may provide the simple, uncluttered look that you seek. The clean lines on these cabinets can lend a purposeful look to your kitchen without making it seem austere.

Embellishments

At the other end from clean lines, you may like the look that embellishments bring to cabinets. Multiple crown molding, enkeboll molding, ornate knobs, and painted or etched designs can turn your plain cabinets into showpieces.

Varied Heights

With any of these looks, you may enjoy breaking up the straight line of cabinetry underside with cabinets of varying heights. This can turn a drab cabinet display into something that catches the eye. On the practical side, it can provide extra space to install under-cabinet appliances such as a toaster oven.

Relocation

Cabinets just above the counter space in your kitchen can have an oppressive feel. They loom over you and close you in. You can really open up your kitchen space by relocating much of the cabinetry. When you think about it, this makes practical sense as well. Why put the dishes away in the cooking area when they're going to be used at the kitchen table? If you move the dish cabinets next to the table, you'll free up some overhead space in the kitchen area and possibly improve your efficiency when it's time to set the table.

Precision Engineering

Older cabinets squeak on their hinges and bang against their housing. Newer cabinets have better engineered hinges and slides so that the cabinets can be opened easily and closed noiselessly. This simple change can really add to the feeling of satisfaction you get when working in your kitchen.