How to Compare Kitchen Cabinets for Your Kitchen Renovation

Designing a dream kitchen is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming — especially when it comes to choosing the perfect cabinets. With countless options available, finding cabinets that fit your style, budget, and lifestyle can feel like a monumental task. From trendy flat-panel doors to classic shaker cabinets, the choices seem endless, but making the right one is crucial for a functional, beautiful kitchen built to last.

From our decades of experience undertaking kitchen renovations in Perth, we’ve learnt how to navigate these difficult final steps, understanding what works, and what doesn’t. In this guide, we’ll break down the essential features to consider when comparing kitchen cabinets, including aesthetics, functionality, cost, and quality.

How to Compare Kitchen Cabinets (Feature-by-Feature)

Colour: Setting the tone for your space

Arguably the first thing you notice about a kitchen cabinet is its colour – it can make or break the entire design of the space.

When comparing kitchen cabinets based on their colour, consider:

• Which colour suits my home’s aesthetic? Bold, dramatic colours can help you make a statement, subtle wooden tones can add a rustic or cottage charm, while cool whites can provide your home with a sleek, modern edge.
• Will this colour go out of fashion? When picking your kitchen cabinetry colour, be cautious of trendy colour schemes that may fall out of fashion in the upcoming years.
• How will this colour hold up over time? Depending on the material you choose, you may find that colours may change slightly over time due to staining, fading, or general wear and tear.

Luxurious blue cabinetry offers a striking contrast against an all-white kitchen, balanced with sleek silver appliances.

Style: Shaker, flat, or glass?

Each cabinet style has a distinctive look and feel. Some cabinetry styles will provide your Perth kitchen renovation with a classic and elegant look, while others will create a contemporary space perfect for cooking and entertaining.

To help you choose the right cabinet style for your kitchen renovation, we’ve included some details on the most common designs below.

Shaker-Style Kitchen Cabinets

A signature feature of Hamptons-style kitchens, shaker-style cabinetry offers a simple and aesthetically pleasing cabinetry option. Well suited to a variety of kitchens regardless of the style, this cabinet type offers a timeless look that allows the rest of your kitchen to shine.

Flat-Panel Kitchen Cabinets

Ideal for modern kitchens, flat-panel kitchen cabinets deliver a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. Their clean lines and contemporary appeal make them a perfect fit for modern homes.

Glass-Front Kitchen Cabinets

Glass kitchen cabinets give you the chance to beautifully display your crockery and glassware. Often associated with more traditional or vintage-style kitchens, this cabinet type can add depth and visual interest to your kitchen renovation.

Functionality: Features that make daily life easier

The kitchen cabinet design you chose is about more than simple aesthetics. When comparing cabinet designs for your Perth kitchen renovation, carefully consider the functionality of each of your choices. For example:

• Glass cabinets can help guests quickly find glasses and dishware.
• Flat-panel cabinets simplify cleaning due to their lack of grooves and embellishments.
• Drawers instead of lower cupboards can eliminate the need to kneel and reach into dark corners, offering greater accessibility.

For each style and type of cabinetry you choose – whether that be wall, base, or pantry – consider how it will improve the functionality of your kitchen.

Flat kitchen cabinets with a stain-proof colour makes for easy cleaning in this modern and refined kitchen design.

Size and Configuration: To fit your home and lifestyle

Size matters when it comes to kitchen cabinets. While there are standard size recommendations for each cabinet type, in the end, it’s about what suits you best.

If you are considering custom-built cabinets for your Perth kitchen cabinet renovation, don’t be afraid to craft them to your ideal sizing requirements.

How do you know what size is ideal for you? Here are some factors to consider:

• Your height and reach – Taller individuals may prefer higher base cabinets, while shorter individuals might benefit from extending wall cabinets for easier access.
• The size of your kitchen – Smaller kitchens often benefit from compact cabinets to keep walkways clear, while larger kitchens can incorporate spacious cabinets to fill empty areas.
• Storage needs – Think about what sits in your kitchen currently. Do you have oversized pots and pans that sit awkwardly in your current kitchen? Think about how they could benefit from wider or deeper cabinetry.

The walkway of this modern luxury kitchen provides enough space for work on either side of the bench with adequately sized kitchen cabinets.

Cost: Balancing budget and value

Choosing kitchen cabinets isn’t just about finding the cheapest option – it’s about balancing cost with value and quality.

Comparing on value

A lower upfront cost may seem appealing, but a look at the materials could reveal a huge discrepancy in quality that ends up making your kitchen cabinet renovation more expensive in the long run.

If you’re not sure how to accurately compare cabinets effectively, we recommend speaking with a local kitchen renovation professional. Speaking with an experienced kitchen renovator in Perth can provide you with the valuable insight and guidance you need to make the right decision.

Comparing with budget in mind

Don’t compare kitchen cabinet prices in isolation. When choosing between kitchen cabinets, consider what the total cost will be for their complete purchase and installation. Staying close to your initial budget is key as it will stop you from overspending, while ensuring that you get kitchen cabinets that you’ll love for years to come.

Expert Tips To Help Guide Your Decision

Bring your measurements to life

Don’t just rely on written measurements and plans. If you have the opportunity, view a kitchen cabinet with the same measurements that you plan to have in your kitchen to see how it holds up in person. If you are opting for custom cabinets and do not have access to an example, carefully map out the measurements in your own kitchen using a measuring tape to imagine how it will fit.

When assessing the size of an in-person cabinet, consider the following:

How to test cabinets for height

Imagine picking something up off the cabinet, or chopping a vegetable. Does it feel uncomfortably high or low? For base cabinets, mimic your usual cooking motions – your elbows should be slightly bent when your hands rest on the worktop. For wall cabinets, ensure you can comfortably reach at least the first two shelves.

How to test cabinets for depth

What would you store in each of your cabinets? Is it difficult to reach down to the back and grab your items? Try reaching into the deepest point of the cabinet—if you’re straining or can’t see what’s at the back, consider pull-out storage solutions, or shallower units.

Inspect the quality first-hand

Look beyond first impressions. Ensure that drawers move softly back and forth on drawer runners, and cabinet doors open and close without catching. Inspect the sturdiness of the material and the attention to detail in the craftsmanship.

If you are working with a local kitchen renovator on your cabinet kitchen renovations, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Their expert insight can help you to understand the quality of your cabinets, and the various elements that go into a durable, lost-lasting kitchen cabinet renovation.

Don’t ignore the small details

How the cabinet feels to touch, the sound of doors and drawers opening and closing, and the material lining your cabinet shelves can all seem minor, but can significantly impact your day-to-day routine.

Expert Guidance for the Perfect Kitchen Cabinets

Choosing the right kitchen cabinets is essential to ensuring your long-term satisfaction and the durability of your new kitchen renovation. By working with an expert Perth kitchen renovation team, you can make fully informed decisions on your cabinetry and avoid common mistakes and mishaps, providing you with a kitchen you can love confidently for years to come.

With over 20 years of experience delivering end-to-end managed kitchen renovations in Perth, QN Kitchens have the expertise to help you create the kitchen of your dreams.