How to Choose Cabinet Doors?

When you come to the kitchen, what is the first thing you see around? We bet it’s kitchen cabinets, precisely, cabinet fronts. Doors are responsible for the kitchen's aesthetics, as they take up a significant percentage of room surfaces. It is crucial as well for cupboard doors and hardware to perform their functions as smoothly as possible since it defines kitchen functionality. And because they get the most wear in a kitchen, fronts can lose their appeal before the entire cabinets do.

It is essential for every homeowner to like the way the kitchen set looks and how cabinet doors and hardware work. The good-quality cabinet boxes don’t lose their integrity soon. So, if you have a well-designed kitchen layout, you’ll rather want to change the style someday. It is much cheaper and faster to replace cupboard doors and drawer fronts than the entire kitchen set. Especially if there is no need for it. That is why kitchen manufacturers, and of course, Cut2Size, offer many more kitchen door options and sell them separately from cupboards so often. 

When you choose cabinet fronts and doors it is important to consider the material and style and measure the right size of new items. For instance, if your kitchen is a more classic style, it makes no sense to choose modern doors. Or, if you are looking to reveal your serving pieces, you can use a glass cupboard. If you are a parent with small children or enjoy cooking a lot, you will probably look for doors that you can easily childproof and clean. With all these in mind it can be a difficult task to choose doors, so we are here to help!

Cabinet Door Materials

There are tons of options available for cabinet doors. Cabinet doors can be made out of solid wood, such as maple, walnut or oak. Wood doors are mostly used for traditional-style cabinets. Textured melamine, high gloss, and matte will give your home a more modern look. Consider mixing and matching modern cabinet doors to make your design more interesting. If your current doors are damaged or outdated, they can be replaced at a reasonable cost, using the Cut2Size platform - no matter what style you are looking for.

Here at Cut2Size, we manufacture our products using only the highest quality materials. Whether it is textured melamine, wood veneer, solid wood, high gloss, or matte, we use prime-quality materials manufactured in North America. Using the Cut2Size platform, you can be assured you will get a good-quality product. Wooden cabinet doors are available as profiled solid wood doors or veneer slab doors. Our textured melamine and high-gloss finishes are great options for modern cabinet doors.

For a better understanding of what is right for you, let's have a look at the materials from which cabinet doors can be made:

Core:

• Particleboard (chipboard) is the most reliable and affordable core material in furniture production. Particleboard is produced by pressing together wood shavings, sawdust, and resin. It is treated with a special product to make it water and fire-resistant. Used as the core for sheet goods.
• Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) – engineered sheet material consisting of wood fibres, wax, and resin pressed at high temperature and pressure. This material is stronger and more durable than chipboard. It can be used as a core material or used alone to make MDF doors that can be lacquered.
• Melamine -  MDF or particleboard core that has decorative papers impregnated with melamine and then heat-pressed on the surface. This results in a smooth, durable, and hard finish that resists moisture and scratches and daily usage. Melamine doors are one of the most common options for kitchens and a popular choice amongst customers due to their durability, sleek appearance, and easy maintenance. 
• Plywood - tightly pressed veneer sheets commonly used in furniture production. Plywood is a popular material used to make cabinet boxes in traditional-style kitchens.

Panels and doors:

• Textured melamine – one of the most popular finishes used to manufacture cabinet doors. Textured melamine is available in tons of colours and textures. Wood or stone textures can mimic the look of the real wood or stone it can even be hard to recognize a difference.
• Acrylic – also known as high gloss. This is a very popular option for modern-style cabinets. Acrylic cabinet doors will not fade under the influence of ultraviolet and will not lose their glossy finish over time.
• Glass - glass has been used in the manufacture of furniture for an incredibly long time. Glass doors can make your room visually larger as well as add style and allow you to display your decorative table and glassware.
• Matte – a very good alternative to gloss paint when it comes to slab doors. Available in many solid colours. Matte doors have a smooth and silky finish to the touch. 
• Solid wood doors - made of 5 pieces (4 solid pieces for the frame and a flat or raised central panel). Maple, oak, and walnut are the most popular wood species and can be stained in light, medium, or dark colours, which makes the wood grain and texture show its beauty.

How to choose between materials and finishes

To choose cabinet doors by finish, you must understand the performance of each material in the kitchen as well as its visual appearance. When you select cabinet doors, consider not only the aesthetic aspect of the finish but also how the surface will perform over time with fingerprints, grease and other wear.

"I don't want to wipe my cabinets every day."

Avoid surfaces with high gloss if cleaning is a constant chore. The matte and textured melamine finishes are better options because they conceal fingerprints, minor wear, and smudges. The surfaces of these materials don't reflect much light, which means that everyday marks are not visible. These products are perfect for busy homes and kitchens.

"My kitchen gets heavy use and needs to stay durable."

For families with children or who cook frequently, engineered surfaces like acrylic and melamine are best. They are resistant to moisture, durable and less likely than other materials to warp or break over time. These materials are not designed for delicate handling, but rather for daily use.

"I want the kitchen to feel modern but not high-maintenance."

Matte surfaces and wood-grain finishes provide a Scandinavian or contemporary appearance without the need to maintain gloss. These finishes are sophisticated, can work with many design styles and will not look outdated quickly. These qualities make them a great long-term option for homeowners who intend to remain in the same place.

"I want warmth and character - not a flat, synthetic look."

If you're looking for a finish that has depth and personality, then solid wood and wood-look finishes are the best choice for cupboard doors. Solid wood ages naturally and has natural variations and unique grain patterns. Veneered plywood or wood-grain melamine is less expensive but still gives the same visual warmth.

How much do cabinet doors cost?

Do you have any idea about how much it would cost to remake or reface your kitchen or bathroom cabinets? In a Cut2Size store, you can choose the doors your like at any time of the day - all prices are available online instantly! Moreover, you can find many ideas for the styles, colours, and materials from which we make kitchen cabinet doors, panels, and cabinet boxes.

Before you select a material, you should think about what kind of look you would like to achieve. The internet is a great source of inspiration for pictures. There are a lot of options to choose from. Cabinet doors come in a variety of textures and colours, which makes each cabinet door unique.

Ordering custom cabinet doors online gives you the full freedom and flexibility to choose what you like for your space. The average price per square foot for cabinet doors in Canada can vary. Pricing will depend on the type and brand of material used.   Below is a range of square-foot pricing for doors made of different materials: 

Choosing cupboard doors balances aesthetics, functionality and budget

The reality of cabinet door choice is that you're rarely optimizing for just one factor. Most homeowners must find where style meets functionality and budget in a way that feels right for their specific situation. Understanding how to prioritize these competing demands makes the cabinet door selection process far less overwhelming.

• Under CA$2,000 for a standard 10x10 kitchen
  The best option for those on a tight budget is textured melamine or particle board core doors. Over the past few years, wood-grain textures on these doors have become so realistic that they are difficult to tell apart from real hardwood from a distance. In this price range, avoid high-gloss surfaces as they tend to show more imperfections than textured finishes.
• CA$2,000-$5,000 for 10x10 kitchen 
  The mid-range budgets allow you to mix materials that will create visual interest, but still keep costs in control. Consider using wood veneer or real wood on an island as a focal point while the surrounding areas are finished in high-quality acrylics or matte finishes. This combination provides the warmth of natural materials in the places where your eyes will naturally be drawn to them. Quality MDF with painted or matte finish also enters realistic consideration at this budget level.
• Above CA$5,000
  Higher budgets don't automatically mean choosing the most expensive materials across the board. Instead, this range allows you to select materials based purely on design vision and functional requirements rather than cost constraints. 
  Many designers actually recommend against using solid wood throughout an entire kitchen, even when the budget isn't limited. They might specify wood for base cabinets to establish warmth and character, then use high-quality acrylic or semi-gloss paint on the top for dramatic contrast. Glass-front uppers become feasible accent pieces that don't strain the budget. At this level, focus shifts to longevity and satisfaction - choose materials you genuinely love rather than settling for what's merely acceptable.

Finally, when you’re planning to purchase cabinets, doors, panels, or components, do some research! It’s important to choose a supplier who specializes in millwork, has a reputation for excellent workmanship and has knowledge and years of experience in the industry. It may seem like your cabinet door price is too good to be true, but make sure the supplier you pick is reliable. You don't want to end up with a product that does not fit properly, doesn’t meet the quality standards, or won't last long.

Styles of door fronts

There are plenty of different door styles available on the market. Today, based on the designer/owner's wishes, current trend, or style of the house, they can be made from a range of materials:

The most common types of cabinet door fronts are:

1. MDF profiled doors
2. MDF slab doors
3. Solid wood profiled (flat panel or raised panel)
4. Wood veneer doors
5. Framed glass doors (aluminum-framed cabinet doors with glass panels)
6. Accent doors (i.e., mullions, louvres, slats, custom profiles)

Door overlay options

Beyond material and finish, the way cabinet doors mount to the cabinet box fundamentally affects both aesthetics and functionality. Understanding overlay types helps ensure you get the look and performance you expect. 

These mounting styles determine how much of the cabinet frame remains visible and how doors align with each other, creating distinctly different visual effects.

1. Full overlay doors cover the entire cabinet face frame, leaving only a small reveal - typically just 1/4 inch or less - between adjacent doors. 

2. Half overlay (also called standard overlay) doors cover only about half the width of the face frame, leaving a more substantial portion of the frame visible between adjacent doors

3. Inset doors sit flush within the cabinet frame rather than overlaying it, creating the most refined and traditional appearance available.

For most homeowners making a practical cupboard door choice, full overlay offers the best combination of contemporary appearance, cost-effectiveness, and ease of installation. It's become the industry standard for good reason - the style works with nearly any door material and finish, suits both modern and transitional spaces, and doesn't add high cost compared to the cabinet boxes themselves. 

How to decide between door styles and overlay types

Selecting the right cabinet doors requires understanding how style and overlay type work together to define your kitchen. These elements do not exist as separate options. They work together, either to enhance the overall look of your kitchen or to fight it.

1. Full overlay mounting pairs well with slab doors. They are flat, without any profile or panel details. The combination of these two elements creates the sleek, unbroken surfaces which define contemporary and modern cooking. Because slab doors are simple, they can be made from a wide variety of materials. The slab door style suits small kitchens best, as busy details may feel overwhelming in a tight space.
2. Profiled doors with routed detailing or raised/recessed panelling add visual interest and dimension. These doors were traditionally mounted with half-overlay or inset mounting, giving them a classic look. However, contemporary interpretations often use simpler profiles with full overlay mounting, resulting in transitional styles that bridge traditional and modern aesthetics.

Cabinet door handles

Choosing a handle for your cabinet doors can be a very difficult task. Today, furniture manufacturers offer a huge selection of cabinet door handles in the most incredible shapes, finishes and colours. The prices for door handles can also vary significantly. Let's try to combine them into several general types:

1. Pulls - the most common types of furniture handles. They can be installed vertically or horizontally and used for both door and drawer fronts.
2. Knobs - small handles that can be made from different materials (from wood to crystal) and are available in different shapes and sizes (from round to geometric). Knobs are commonly used for small doors.

Cabinet door hinges

Different types of cabinet door hinges:

• Softclose
• Full Overlay
• Half Overlay
• Inset
• Corner
• Blind Corner
• Angled
• Angled Mitered
• Corner
• Special Application

Don't underestimate how much proper hardware improves both function and appearance. Sometimes spending less on door material and more on quality soft-close hinges and substantial pulls pays off better than expensive doors with budget hardware. 

The way doors feel when you open and close them - that smooth, controlled motion - contributes as much to perceived quality as the surface finish. When choosing cupboard doors and planning your budget, allocate at least 15-20% for quality hinges, pulls, and handles that will enhance even modestly priced doors.

Currently, the most popular brand of hinges used in Canada is Blum. Blum offers a lifetime warranty on all their hardware. These hinges are mounted on the side of the cabinet and make the door fully cover the cabinet's interior case. Blum soft-close hinges are used on cabinets offered on the Cut2Size platform.

Cabinet door installation

At first glance, the job of installing cabinet doors may seem very simple, and you may decide to install the cabinet doors yourself. However, do not forget that the installation of cabinet doors requires adjustments for the doors to look and function properly - some experience and knowledge are recommended.

Cut2Size highly recommends using licensed and insured trades for the installation of your new custom millwork. Hire a professionally trained installer who can provide exceptional work and service. If you have enough knowledge, you can perform the installation of the doors on your own.

Cut2Size specialists are ready to assist you with your cabinet door installation questions. There are installation and adjustment instructions available on our website. At Cut2Size, we will provide you with detailed video instructions on how to install and adjust your new cabinet doors.

Conclusion

Before you buy cabinet doors, it is important to do some research, compare prices, and ask professional installers for cabinet door installation costs. You will also need to make sure the installer is knowledgeable about adjusting different styles of doors. You should also ask how long it will take to get the job done and if the trade will guarantee their job. A professional cabinet maker or millwork specialist can recommend the best material for your space to make sure it lasts for a long time! Once you find the right cabinet installer, make sure that your product is manufactured by a licensed company such as Cut2Size, and we will do the job right.