If you’re remodeling your kitchen, then kitchen cabinets may be top on your list to replace. But be prepared – 70% of your new kitchen remodeling budget will be wrapped up in the cabinets alone. That means it’s important to pick wisely when choosing new kitchen cabinets.

Where to Start When Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

You’ll find there are numerous choices when it comes to cabinet choices, with a host of different door styles, wood, finishes and options. It might seem a bit overwhelming deciding where to begin when choosing kitchen cabinetry, but here are a few suggestions to get you started.

• Know Thyself – What this means is examine your kitchen layout and consider your family’s life style and cooking habits. Not only do you want beautiful kitchen cabinets, but you also need them to be located in practical areas.

• Not Sure What You Need? Contact an Expert – Ask for professional guidance in picking kitchen cabinets if you need it. Remember, 70% of your budget is going into your kitchen cabinets, so if you’re not sure, ask an expert like an architect or a kitchen designer for help.

Finding Ways to Save Costs on Kitchen Cabinets

If you don’t have much money to work with, consider mass-produced kitchen cabinets rather than custom units. If the dimensions of your kitchen allow it, standard size stock cabinets save money so you can upgrade elsewhere in the kitchen, such as buying new appliances. You might not have as many finish choices by buying mass-produced kitchen cabinets, but they can still look stylish and be quite durable.

Five Tips When Shopping For Kitchen Cabinets

Once you have a plan for your kitchen remodeling project, consider the following tips as you start looking at new kitchen cabinets.

1. Make Sure They Fit – If your kitchen has ‘odd’ areas, spend extra money on custom units so they fit to exact dimensions of the space. Having kitchen cabinets that look out of place can be just as bad as keeping your old cabinets.

2. Pick Quality Finishes – It doesn’t matter if it’s maple, oak or cherry. You can spot quality kitchen cabinets when the grain matches from piece to piece.

3. Consider Durability and Warranty – While thermofoil or laminate kitchen cabinets are easier to clean and less expensive than solid wood, they are also less durable. It’s important to find out what the warranty covers when buying thermofoil or laminate kitchen cabinets.

4. Think About Beauty and Practicality – Pick kitchen cabinets that not only look beautiful, but are also useful. That means making sure they can withstand the pounding of heavy cookware and dishes, as well as countless openings and closings.

5. Consider the Dimensions – For example, doors should have 3/4-inch thick face frames and have 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick sides. Shelves should be 3/4-inch thick and made of veneer-covered plywood, which is less likely to warp than solid wood.

6. Note the Kitchen Cabinet Construction – Drawers with dovetailed joints are sturdier than stapled ones. Doors with fitted mortised corners are stronger than non-interlocking butt joints. When it comes to kitchen drawers make sure they extend completely and are equipped with self-closing glides rated to hold 75 pounds.

Budget Too Small For New Kitchen Cabinets?

If you don’t have enough money for new kitchen cabinets, another option is refinishing the ones you currently have. Additionally, refacing is a process where just the doors and drawers are replaced. Another way to save money is to buy a less expensive wood, then stain it to look like your wood of choice. For example, if you don’t have money for cherry wood, you can buy pine and use a cherry finish instead.

Whether you’re buying new kitchen cabinets or refinishing ones you currently have, it’s important to remember two helpful hints. First, your kitchen cabinets are the focal point of your kitchen, so they should look beautiful. Second, kitchen cabinets serve a purpose, so they need to be useful, too. Keep all of these facts in mind, and you’ll find shopping for kitchen cabinetry is a breeze.