Overview

Home is where the heart is - and for many people, the door to the heart is solidly located through the avenue of food and the kitchen! The kitchen plays such an important role in forming family culture, and there are a lot of factors that make a 'good kitchen'. One of them is kitchen cabinets. Cabinets play an incredibly important part in a functional, healthy, and useful kitchen.

If you are thinking about performing a remodel or replacing your kitchen cabinets, here is everything you need to know!

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What Factors Impact the Usefulness of Cabinets?

Okay, so what actually makes a kitchen cabinet function correctly, and what do you need to be focused on? First up, you need to be aware of the material that you are going to be using. Remember that the cabinet will store a variety of objects over the years. From dishes, spice racks, appliances, and much more. So making sure that you choose materials that will help your kitchen cabinets last through the years and deal with the wear and tear is an important investment.

Properly installing your cabinets will also help them last as long as possible. Hanging kitchen cabinets can be a challenging feat, and the quality of their installation can affect their life expectancy in important ways.

Discuss Construction Materials

When it comes to the materials in question, typically there are three options that people will choose from - wood, laminate, and metal. In theory, the best quality you can afford should indicate the longest life expectancy, however, each kind of cabinet material has its drawbacks. From medium-density fiberboard to solid wood, varying cabinet materials will always have varying advantages and disadvantages from price points to wear and tear.

For example, solid wood kitchen cabinets last for years, are beautiful, can be incredibly expensive, and are prone to react to humidity in the air in adverse ways. While solid wood cabinets can be stunning to look at, they can also warp, or even crack due to the air quality.

On the other hand, a polyester, or plastic blend cabinet can have a better average life expectancy but have its own drawbacks. They may avoid the pitfall of being negatively affected by the air quality but may be more limited in both aesthetic choices and can be hard to fix if scratched or damaged.

Cabinet Doors — the Face of the Kitchen

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of picking out new cabinets, next to their build quality and installation process, is their aesthetic. A kitchen is most defined by the style of cabinets that it uses and this is an incredibly important part of the process. Drawer fronts play an important role in setting the tone and aesthetic of an entire kitchen.

Whether you are wanting a more minimalist, post-modern look with clear lines and a lack of borders or more traditional framed cabinets, cabinet doors play an important role. Hinge style is another important aspect of picking out the right kitchen cabinets. For pullout cabinets, continuous hinges allow for easy gliding motion. Traditional corner hinges are typically used for most cabinets, however, friction hinges can be used as well to add texture and pace to the opening mechanism of a cabinet drawer.

Installation Methods

Installing kitchen cabinets is not something that is impossible to do for the uninitiated or non-professionals, but it definitely is not for the faint of heart. Common mistakes that DIY enthusiasts will make include using the wrong materials, measuring dimensions wrong, and mismatching cabinet styles across a kitchen's aesthetic.

While there is nothing wrong with trying to save a buck where you can - having kitchen cabinets installed by professionals can pay off in the end. The good news is that most installers will offer a free quote so it can't do any harm to look into it. If you do decide to tackle this project and replace your kitchen cabinet's yourself, be sure to allow for plenty of storage, double, triple, and quadruple-check your dimensions and hang them as level as possible.

Maintenance and Level of Use

The good news is that the upkeep of kitchen cabinets is something that shouldn't intimidate you. Regular cleaning and being aware of signs like water damage can help you get the best life expectancy out of your kitchen cabinets.

Taking care of your cabinets can be as easy as routinely cleaning and polishing them as needed. One of the most important ways to help your kitchen cabinets last and avoid having to repair them is to keep them dry. When you clean them, use a damp cloth to wipe away dirt and debris, but then use a dry cloth after to remove any moisture. Regularly cleaning your cabinets and keeping them dry can greatly increase their lifespan.

When to Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets

One of the biggest signs that you will need to replace your kitchen cabinets will be when the drawers will not close properly. This could be due to water damage, structure damage due to warping or cracking, or shifts in the house itself. Because cabinets are constant-use items, it's not uncommon that old, or lower-quality cabinets may need to be replaced in time.

With these tips and tricks, you can find the perfect set of kitchen cabinets for you and your family!