Different Styles of Cabinet Doors

The doors of your cabinets are one of the first things people see when they walk into your kitchen or bathroom. Doors not only add function to your cabinets, but add beauty as well. There are a wide variety of styles, colors and types of doors available when remodeling your home. Here are a few of the most popular styles of cabinet doors.

Shaker Style

Shaker style cabinet doors focus on simplicity and tradition. They are characterized by raised square-paneled door fronts with matching square corners. The edges are sharp and defined with no fancy curves or details. The square doors lay flat against the cabinets for a clean look.

Full Overlay

Full overlay cabinet doors are designed so that the door and drawer fronts completely cover the face frames. When they are closed, no part of the frame is exposed, including the hinges. There is usually no more than 1/8" space between the doors and drawers, so knobs and pulls are required to open the cabinets. This type of cabinet door gives a contemporary look to your space.

Half Overlay

This type of door isalso commonly referred to as a regular, traditional, standard or partial overlay door. A half overlay door covers approximately 1/2" over the framework of the cabinet door. The hardware is therefore exposed on the exterior framework. It is an inexpensive option since less material is used, which adds to the popularity of the style.

Framed Cabinet Door

In this type of cabinet door, a wood frame is attached to the inside of the cabinet box. This provides support for the cabinet and is very sturdy. Framed cabinet doors give a more traditional look to your kitchen or bathroom.

Mullion

Mullion cabinet fronts feature glass doors with a horizontal and vertical lined frame which replaces the solid door. It is reminiscent of a window pane. The panel is divided into separate sections, sometimes referred to as grids. These doors make the contents of your cabinets visible, adding depth and beauty to your cabinets.

Raised panel

On this type of door, the panel protrudes slightly and is often accompanied with a matching raised panel around the door's perimeter. Raised panel cabinet fronts require high quality craftsmanship to ensure that the doors are integrated into the cabinet box. A popular type of raised panel door is the cathedral style. This door style gives an elegant look with their Neo Gothic design. They feature an exaggerated arch at the top of the raised panel, which is usually used on the upper cabinets.

Recessed panel

On this type of door, the panel is sunk back into the cabinet door, which creates a sunken lip around the door's perimeter. Recessed panel cabinet doors add more depth to your room and will give your cabinets another dimension.

Slab Cabinet Doors

Slab doors are constructed from a single flat piece of material- usually wood, laminate or steel. There are no raised or recessed parts, which provides a simple design with clean lines to blend with your home's style. This type of cabinet door adds a contemporary look to your room.