All About Cabinet Door Hinges

Hinges may seem like just a small factor when putting together the cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, but in reality there are a variety of styles to consider. Whether you want to add character with a specific look or finish or create an invisible seamless design, you can find the right cabinet door hinges that suit your needs for your kitchen or room.

The Most Common Hinges

A commonly used hinge for cabinet and other doors is called the butt hinge. This simple rectangular design performs well for both interior and exterior applications. You can find variety in finial types, with either a minaret style or round ball style. This is the most common type of hinge due to its simplicity of design, its availability in a large selection of finishes and its easy installation. Butt hinges are also very reliable and sturdy for long term use.

Concealed Hinges for Your RTA Kitchen Cabinets

Soss hinges are named for their inventor, Joseph Soss. These hinges are more expensive than most, but they are completely invisible when cabinet doors are closed. Great care is necessary when installing these hinges because they need to be lined up perfectly with each other to be fully concealed when closed.

There are other concealed cabinet hinge options beyond Soss hinges. There is a wide selection, as well as a broader price range, of concealed hinges of different designs. If you're looking for a less expensive investment, there are a variety of choices. Both self closing and soft closing hinge options are available, as well as any opening angle from 30 degrees to 170 degrees.

Youngdale Hinges

If you're in the market for easy, self-closing cabinet doors, then consider purchasing Youngdale hinges for your home. These European-style hinges are great for overlay and partial inset doors. While not completely concealed, they are mostly concealed when the cabinet door is closed. Youngdale hinges are typically easy to install and can be mounted on both face frame and frameless cabinets.

Decorative Hinges

Hinges aren't all about secrecy! Sometimes you want the whole world -- or at least whoever is in your kitchen -- to see and enjoy your cabinet hinges. If that's your goal, then you should look for decorative door hinges. Decorative hinges are available in just about any finish. Consider a butterfly style or other face mount hinge as an accent to the theme or coloring the room. Adding both a functional and stylish element to your cabinets is a great way to have fun with your RTA cabinet installation or hinge replacement.