Kitchen cabinets are one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your home remodeling project. They significantly impact the look, function, and cost of your new space. Make the right material selections by thinking through some essential factors.

What to Know Before Shopping for Kitchen Cabinets

1. Quality

High-quality cabinets will stay in terrific condition after years of use, which makes it worth paying more for a nicer product. When talking to a manufacturer, look for some words that tell you materials are going to be durable.

Dove-tail joints connect the sides and bottom with an interlocking joint, so they won’t shift over time. Solid-wood frames and fronts will be much more durable than cheaper plywood or MDF. A sturdy undermount and self-closing drawer glides will bear a lot of weight while moving smoothly in and out of place.

2. Stock vs. Custom

Stock cabinets typically come unfinished or stained, and you won’t have any flexibility in their size. They are typically between 30 and 48 inches wide, and 24 inches deep. You’ll have a limited selection of styles, shapes, colors, and wood type – what you see in the showroom is what you’ll have installed in the kitchen. These are the most affordable and will arrive quickly.

Most people choose to invest in custom or semi-custom cabinets. Semi-custom ones are prefabricated but can be painted, stained, or otherwise finished to your specifications. You can resize the drawers or fronts, change the depth, and choose a design that you like.

Custom cabinets are completely designed to your specifications, so they’ll provide the best result. This is because you can design measurements that perfectly fit your space and needs, which allows you to maximize your storage space. 

3. Budget

In most bathroom or kitchen remodeling projects, the cabinets account for one-third of the total budget. Calculate what you plan to spend on your cabinets; they are worth this hefty portion of your budget since they take up much of the visual space in the room and will determine how well your kitchen works. You can save some money by refurbishing your old cabinets, putting open shelving in some places, or choosing a more affordable solid wood, such as oak.

The contractors at TLC Remodeling use the finest kitchen cabinets for their projects in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN. This local family business is owned by siblings Jim and Leslie Sale, who are dedicated to honesty, quality, and timeliness. See some of their previous work for inspiration online and call (952) 356-4303 to start planning today.