Paint Kitchen Cabinets

When remodeling your kitchen, you should probably plan on spending about half of your total budget on cabinetry. That might seem excessive, but cabinets are the largest structural element in most kitchens. When choosing new cabinets for your kitchen, it is important to take the time to decide which style truly expresses your vision. Wood kitchen cabinets are timeless and there are many styles to choose from.

Three Basic Styles of Kitchen Cabinetry

Kitchen cabinetry is generally sold in three basic styles: stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets are readily available at most home improvement or builder’s supply stores. These wood kitchen cabinets are prefabricated in a variety of designs and finishes. They can also be purchased unfinished. If you decide to paint kitchen cabinets, make sure to choose a color that suits your overall design. Changing the color later will require sanding and refinishing the wood. Stock cabinets are the least expensive variety of kitchen cabinets, but because they are only made in several basic sizes, they may not exactly fit the dimensions of your kitchen. You may have to rearrange the order of the existing cabinets or use some shims to make the cabinets fit the space properly.

Semi-custom cabinets are not built-to-fit, but they can be customized with the finish or color you desire. The cabinets are produced in a factory according to a basic template after the order is placed, so some wait time is required. Then again, extras such as pantry shelving, spice racks or a Lazy Susan can often be incorporated into the design plan. While semi-custom cabinets are more expensive than stock cabinetry, they also allow the homeowner more freedom of choice.

Fully custom cabinets are designed exactly to suit your wishes and to fit the dimensions of your kitchen. Slab doors, glass doors, beveled doors, adjustable shelving, specialized drawers – anything is possible when you order fully customized cabinets. The manufacturer will also finish or paint kitchen cabinets. Fully custom cabinetry gives the homeowner the greatest freedom over the remodel, but also comes with a heavy price tag. And be prepared to wait: custom kitchen cabinets can take up to three months to be built.

All wooden cabinets are available in either solid wood or laminate. Wood is rich looking, but is usually naturally finished to accentuate the grain. If you desire a sleek, modern, monochromatic or painted look, laminate cabinets may suit your needs just as well.