A Complete Guide To Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

In this post, I’ll explain the different kitchen cabinet door styles and give you tips on which cabinet door goes best with which kitchen style.

How to choose between different kitchen cabinet door styles

There are a LOT of things to think about when you’re renovating your kitchen or building a new home.

Whether you work with a millwork company or cabinet builder, or go to a kitchen showroom, or just DIY stock cabinets from Lowe’s, you’ll need to plan which type of cabinet door fitting and door style you want in your kitchen.

So, where do you start? Well, ideally with the help of a certified kitchen designer 🙂

But if you can’t go that route, start by asking yourself these questions:

• What is your overall kitchen style – Is it traditional? Modern? Beachy? Farmhouse?
• Which type of cabinet door fitting do you prefer? More on that below!

The 3 types of kitchen cabinet door fittings

Before you can say if you want shaker or slab or raised panel or something else…..

You have to choose which type of cabinet door fitting you want. The cabinet door fitting is basically how the door sits on/in the cabinet box.

The 3 most common types of door fittings are:

• Full overlay – covers the entire cabinet face frame (or front box of the cabinet). This type of door tends to be used on more modern styles of cabinetry.
  
• Partial overlay – covers the cabinet face frame only partially so that you can still see about 1/2 an inch of the cabinet between the doors and drawers. This is the least expensive type and now also slightly outdated (depending on who you ask of course).
  
• Inset – set into the cabinet so that it looks flush with the cabinet box. Inset is usually the most expensive type because of the amount of detailing that goes into ensuring the doors and drawer sit flush with the cabinet box, but inset is also now the most popular and on-trend type of cabinet door.

The most popular kitchen cabinet door styles

Once you know which door fitting you want, you’ll need to pick the actual door style. These are the most common cabinet door styles:

• Shaker
• Flat/Slab
• Raised panel
• Louvered
• Glass-front
• Beadboard
• Custom

Shaker style: classic & timeless

Share cabinet door styles are the most popular. Shaker style cabinets are timeless and versatile enough to go well in just about any kitchen.

Best For: Almost any kitchen, from modern to farmhouse.

Pair With: Subway tile or marble/quartz slab backsplash, neutral marble or quartzite countertops, and stainless steel or matte white or black appliances.

Shaker style cabinets can come in any door fitting. In this photo, the cabinets are inset shaker style.

Flat-Panel (Slab): sleek & modern

Flat-panel or slab cabinet doors are all about simplicity. They have a smooth, flat surface with no frame or detailing, making them perfect for modern and minimalist kitchens. This style is easy to clean and offers a sleek, streamlined look. The flat or slab kitchen cabinet door styles are a more modern style.

Best For: Modern, contemporary, and industrial kitchens.

Pair With: Bold backsplashes, minimalist or matte black hardware, quartz countertops, and stainless steel or integrated (panel-ready) appliances.

The minimalist design of flat or slab kitchen cabinet door styles go really well in modern homes.

Raised panel: traditional elegance

Raised panel cabinet doors have a center panel that is slightly raised, adding depth and dimension to the door. This style is often associated with traditional and classic kitchen designs. The detailing can vary from simple to ornate, depending on the level of elegance you’re aiming for.

Best For: Traditional, classic, and elegant kitchens.

Pair With: Granite or marble countertops, timeless backsplashes, and antique hardware.

Raised panel cabinet door styles are around in more traditional kitchens.

Glass-front: airy & open

Glass-front cabinet doors feature a glass panel instead of a solid center. Glass-front cabinet doors are usually only used on upper cabinets where you can display dishes and glassware. You can choose different types of glass finishes. It works well in both traditional and modern spaces, depending on the type of glass and frame you choose.

Best For: Kitchens where you want to showcase your dishes or create a more light and open feeling.

Pair With: Under-shelf lighting within the cabinet, decorative dishware, and a solid/closed door style on the lower cabinets.

Glass-front cabinets are almost exclusively used in upper cabinets where you can use lighting inside to display dishes.

Beadboard: cozy & cottage

Beadboard cabinet doors have vertical plank fronts inspired by the classic beadboard walls inside many English cottages.

Best For: English/British inspired farmhouse, cottage, and coastal kitchens.

Pair With: Butcher block countertops, apron-front sinks, and vintage hardware.

Beadboard cabinet doors have simple detailing that pair well with cottage, farmhouse or coastal style homes.

Louvered: beachy & breezy

Louvered cabinet doors have horizontal slats that resemble window shutters. This style always reminds me of something you’d see in a kitchen on a tropical island – it adds a breezy, beachy vibe to your kitchen.

Best For: Coastal, tropical, and eclectic kitchens.

Pair With: Light, airy paint colors and backsplash, butcher block countertops and open shelving.

Louvered cabinet door styles are best suited for coastal or tropical homes; anywhere else and they would look dated.

Custom: unique & creative

If you want something truly unique, you could work with a cabinet builder to create a custom door style. An example of custom cabinetry styles would be choosing a brushed metal door front instead of a usual wood choice. This will definitely be more expensive, but the sky’s the limit with whatever custom style you could select!

Best For: Contemporary or traditional kitchens.

Pair With: Will vary depending on your custom cabinetry, but try to use colors and materials that complement and don’t distract from the custom style.

You can take any common kitchen cabinet door style and make it unique with some custom touches, like with these custom shaker style cabinets pictured above.

Choosing the right style for your home

When choosing a cabinet door style, consider the overall look you want to achieve in your kitchen.

Think about the cabinet paint colors, materials, and hardware that will complement your chosen style.

Remember, your kitchen is a reflection of your personal taste, and even though some styles are considered more timeless than others…be sure to choose what YOU like and what fits your home best.