Inset doors and glass doors: these are some of your options for kitchen cabinets. In a kitchen, cabinets are some of the most important pieces as they are not simply there for design purposes, but also for storage. That being said, if you want to design your kitchen or remodel it, you cannot avoid thinking about the right type of cabinets. In some cases, it’s a matter of preference, but there are different aspects that should be considered.
Below, we’ll present the pros and cons of both cabinet types, so you could opt for the right ones.
Inset Doors
Inset doors are set into the frame, sitting against it. As such, when you close the drawer, the door will line with the cabinet’s face frame. On top of that, you can opt for visible or hidden hinges, and obtain a very smooth look. They can look amazing and many people consider them for their kitchens, but they do have some cons as well.
Pros
- Very Well Made: Inset doors require more skill in order to be installed. As a result, they are very well made, and you won’t have to worry about the quality aspect.
- Amazing Look: These cabinet doors just look amazing, and that’s enough of a reason for most people to get them. The design is a simple and elegant one, and since the edges of the doors are not exposed, they are less likely to wear and tear as time goes by. “For me personally, the simple, clean-lined look of inset cabinetry feels more refined, elegant, and even historic,” says Julie Blanner on her blog. “It’s a style commonly used in European kitchens of yesteryear but fits in seamlessly with our modern homes of today.”
- Hidden or Visible Hinges: Whether you want the hinges to show or not, you have control over this aspect because you can choose whichever option you like. If you don’t want hinges to show, you can go with this alternative.
Cons
- Pricier: Inset cabinet doors tends to be quite pricy in general. It’s all because of the time and craftsmanship required to install them.
- Humidity Issues: When there’s too much humidity, wood doors can expand and stick. This makes it hard to use the cabinetry.
- Gaping: Sometimes, there can still be some gaping that is visible in certain places. “I have custom inset cabinets in both my kitchen and master bathroom,” says Carrie Barker on carolineondesign.com. “While I think the look is beautiful and streamlined, the gapping does annoy me at times!”
Glass Doors
Glass doors have been around for a long time now and they are still popular options. But of course, while they can be amazing for some people, they have their cons as well.
Pros
- They Let You Display Items: If you have beautiful dishes you want to display, glass kitchen cabinet doors will be just the right option for you. They offer storage space while making the dishes visible and serving as nice decorations.
- Easy to Clean: Cleaning these cabinet doors is very easy if they end up getting dirty at one point. “If your glass kitchen doors get dirty, greasy, or grimy, it just takes a spray of all-purpose glass cleaner to bring them back to looking like new,” says Mr. Cabinet Care.
- They Add Space: Not all kitchens are big – some seem too small and cluttered. Well, with glass cabinet doors, you can make the kitchen appear bigger. “Just as with mirrors, the glass inserts in cabinet doors will make your kitchen look much bigger than it is. That’s what makes these doors ideal for small rooms but suitable for larger ones as well,” Cabinet Care says.
Cons
- They’re Fragile: Since they have glass, these doors are more fragile. If you’re not careful, they can crack and even break.
- They Show Clutter: While they let you display kitchenware, they will also show clutter if you don’t arrange your dishes properly. “Not arranging them in piles, according to kind and color, will only make your kitchen look like a mess, and worse, everyone who will enter your kitchen will be able to see it,” says Kitchen Cabinet Refacing.
- Quite Expensive: Glass doors for kitchen cabinets can also be pretty expensive. The price often pushes people away.
