The cabinets are often the first thing you notice in a kitchen, so they heavily influence the design aesthetic of the space. From sleek, contemporary styles to rustic farmhouse finishes, the actual design and construction of your kitchen cabinets is just as important as the color you choose to paint them.
Whether you’re about to build a home or you’re embarking on a kitchen remodel, take some time to determine how the cabinets will play a role. Cabinets are often the most expensive element in the kitchen, so careful consideration is necessary before purchasing new ones or altering the cabinets you already have.
We’re sharing our best kitchen cabinet ideas for every design style so you can choose the right options for your space.
Shaker-Style Cabinets
EDMUND BARR
Traditional shaker-style cabinets are one of the most popular kitchen design choices. Categorized by the simple rectangular frame and inset flat panel, this style of cabinet lends itself to almost any design style, from ultra-modern to French country. The cabinet doors themselves act as a blank canvas, so you can use your hardware choices to reinforce your design style.
Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets
Helen Norman
While the upper white Shaker style cabinets are classic, the lower sage green cabinets steal the show in this sunny and sweet kitchen. They give the space a modern flair and pop against the white subway tile backsplash and quartz countertop. The matte gold hardware adds further style and personality to the kitchen.
Modern Minimalist Kitchen
Jared Kuzia
This modern farmhouse kitchen is understated yet captivating thanks to the two toned cabinets with ultra-slim Shaker trim and stunning brass hardware. The thin, tall white upper cabinets reach almost to the ceiling and rest on a white porcelain countertop, while the tan oak base cabinets blend in with the hardwood floors. The end result is a seamless and stylish space that you’ll want to spend most of your time in.
Retro Contemporary
WERNER STRAUBE
Beveled cabinetry frames inspired by a 1950s breakfront emphasize the retro and contemporary design elements in this blended-era kitchen. The deep green cabinets bring a timeless, cozy feel, while sleek hardware and textured glass doors add an updated contemporary effect.
Customize with Color
Jay Wilde
Simple Shaker-style cabinetry lets color do the talking in this kitchen. The moody green hue makes a bold statement on the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, while light wood accents and a neutral marble backsplash add warmth and depth to the space.
Sleek Transitional Style
You can have the best of traditional and contemporary styles with cabinetry based on Shaker-style construction. Recessed panels inside flat-face frames boast traditional and modern characteristics. These neutral gray cabinets set against a bright white kitchen and warm wood floors bring a modern feel to the traditional elements.
French Country Kitchen Cabinets
Brie Williams
The applied molding and antique brass hardware infuse an elegant look on the off-white cabinets in this French country-inspired kitchen. They also serve as the perfect backdrop for the rest of the vintage details throughout the room; namely, the set of floating glass and brass shelves that hang alongside the upper cabinets and display the most charming antique serveware.
Urban Contemporary
Dylan Chandler
This colorful kitchen welcomes urban style with a hint of classic style. Strikingly squared-off, flat-front cabinets drive the contemporary scheme. A creamy marble backsplash melds rich, traditional warmth with a popular updated palette. Sleek gold drawer pulls echo the sleek appliances, while a wood floating shelf adds a bit of personality.
Fluted Kitchen Cabinets
EDMUND BARR
For fans of minimal designs but want to add some character to their kitchen, try a fluted look on the upper cabinets only. This vertical fluted molding adds texture and visual interest but the light wood and black pulls used on all of the cabinets keeps them modest. Want to push the envelope a bit more? Pair it with a marble countertop and backsplash and include a floating shelf in the same material just below the bottom of the upper cabinets.
Modern Scandinavian Style
This kitchen’s bright light and crisp linear design is a model of modern Scandinavian inspiration. The slab-front kitchen cabinet idea is often influenced by industrial style, but a thoughtful selection of materials and finishes gives these a softer appeal. A solid black island adds a focal point that brings contrast to the otherwise sleek, minimal style.
Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets
John Granen
Another example of a soft but striking cabinet color, these blue kitchen cabinets create a perfect blend of rustic charm and contemporary style. The blue gray sleek design is only interrupted by accents of vertical shiplap while the trio of black pulls also add a mix of old and new elements.
Glass Front Cabinets
Julie Soefer
Love the look of floating shelves, but don’t want your dishes to get dusty? Install glass doors on all of your upper cabinets and keep the lower cabinets basic. Show off your favorite finds in the glass cabinets (ideally in a similar color palette) so they’ll draw attention. Add vintage chrome hardware for an elegant finish.
Natural Wood Kitchen Cabinetry
Jason Donnelly
There’s nothing overly fancy about these wood cabinets, but the base grounds the rest of the room and anchors the space. Their organic feel is a splendid contrast to the white and gold geometric stone tiled backsplash. A countertop hutch that matches the cabinets features drawers and a double glass door for additional storage.
Farmhouse Charm
Antique-style cabinets and wood-top island give this kitchen country charm. The beadboard paneling—in a nod to classic farmhouse shiplap— used around the rest of the kitchen is painted the same white color as the cabinets to create a neutral backdrop. The black drawer pulls match the industrial-inspired bar stools, reinforcing the farmhouse feel.
Colorful Cottage Kitchen
James Nathan Schroder
A light blue hue gives these country-inspired cabinets a charming makeover. The glass-front cabinets paired with the vertical shiplap backsplash—painted the same color blue—create a cool backdrop for vintage-inspired copper elements and fresh greenery.
Painted Cabinets
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
While the modern farmhouse aesthetic is commonly associated with neutrals, it doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate a bold color to set the space apart from the rest. Reface your kitchen cabinets in a striking navy blue but leave some white to give the blue cabinets a chance to stand out. Pair them with simple silver hardware and a classic white subway tile backsplash for a clean look.
Lower Cabinets Only
Ryan Bent
Forgo upper cabinets in the altogether and, instead, opt for open shelves in the kitchen. This can open up the space, make things more accessible, and even act as a display especially if you’re more on the minimalist side. Keep the base cabinets classic, such as a Shaker style with simple brass hardware, and match the color to the shelves for a cohesive look.
Traditional Elegance
JULIE SOEFER
Cabinets accented with classic molding and furniture-style details lend timeless traditional style to this elegant kitchen. A matte metallic finish on the range hood compliments the scene with striking contrast.
Victorian Shaker Style
Michael Partenio
Shaker-style cabinetry features flat drawer fronts and cabinet door frames surrounding a recessed panel. An incised line of beading may surround the drawers and doors, as in this kitchen, acting as a subtle outline for emphasis. Here, leaded-glass doors original to the 1882 house are installed in the upper cabinets to lighten the effect of so much cabinetry. Wide beaded-board backsplashes and simple white knobs respect the vintage character of the house, and classic Victorian green paint preserves the original aesthetic.
Flat Panel Cabinet Doors
Annie Schlechter
These white upper flat panel cabinets across the kitchen are the epitome of simple—but they’re far from boring. The white cabinets set the stage for the gorgeous green and white geometric tiled backsplash and botanical-theme wallpaper in this kitchen. If you want to make a statement with the walls or backsplash, it’s a good idea to keep the cabinets more subdued.
Clean and Contemporary
Better Homes & Gardens
The pure geometry of horizontal and vertical planes uncluttered by paneling, ornament, highlights, or shadows defines contemporary style. Clean, smooth-front wood cabinets create a clean-line appearance; linear metal pulls are necessary discreet additions. White floating shelves blend into the white subway tile backsplash for simple storage that feels uncluttered.
Storage-Friendly Cabinets
Jason Donnelly
These floor-to-ceiling Shaker style white cabinets lean traditional, but the matte gold hardware and white quartz backsplash and countertop combination lend a modern twist. In addition to their height, there are a myriad of cabinets and drawers including an appliance garage and glass front accent. With such abundant storage, counter clutter should be a thing of the past.
Simple Storage
Robert Peterson
A mix of open and closed storage is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. This kitchen mixes storage types and textures for a modern look with a farmhouse edge. The base cabinets establish the cottage style while grounding the functional room. Glass-front cabinets—painted the same color as the lower cabinets—put dishes easily within reach overhead while displaying them with artistic appeal.
Cabinets with Interior Details
EDMUND BARR
Kitchen cabinets with glass front doors should hold only a handful of your prettiest things to avoid a cluttered look. You can add a little more intrigue by wallpapering the back of the cabinet or adding a decorative design. Here, a black cabinet with gold hardware houses plain dishware but is dressed up with a textured backing that includes a gold diamond design.
Modern Country Cabinets
Meghan Beierle-O’Brien
To really give your kitchen a wow factor, consider painting the cabinets in a gorgeous glossy forest green. Pair them gold hardware, including the rails for a library ladder to roll when you need to reach something on the top shelves. Glass front doors added to just a couple of those top shelves breaks up the green slightly.
Wraparound Kitchen Cabinets
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
If you own a lot of kitchen gadgets and tools, an abundance of closed cabinets throughout the room is ideal. These traditional cabinets reach from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, providing ample space for storage. The black hardware pops against the white wood and perfectly complements the window frames, oversized pendant lights, and sconce backplate.
Sophisticated Kitchen Cabinets
Annie Schlechter
Although it can be considered a neutral, a charcoal or slate gray paint on kitchen cabinets can make a bold statement. Here, a mix of cabinets, drawers, and even a couple of open shelves in a dark gray create a sophisticated look in this beverage nook. Plus, timeless black hardware and white subway tiled backsplash are fitting accessories to complete the look.
Industrial Style Kitchen
Werner Straube
This stylish kitchen combines traditional lower cabinetry with glass-front metal cabinets for a true industrial feel. The sleek range and hood make a bold statement, while a gleaming marble countertop brings a bit of light to the dark space.
Classic White Cabinets
Laurey Glenn
All-white kitchens are trendy, but beautiful millwork is key to keeping them from feeling like sterile boxes. Sticking with straightforward yet traditional elements such as raised-panel cabinet doors, recessed-panel drawers, and architecturally correct use of moldings ensures timeless good looks. Here the paneling and molding create highlights and shadows that add texture to the room.
Updated Vintage
Alise O’Brien
Cabinets with simple beaded molding around a flat inset panel are nearly style-neutral. The finish and the hardware can move them toward almost any look you choose. Here, bin-style drawer pulls and visible door latches, mixed with charming glass knobs, nudge the kitchen toward a nostalgic, vintage look. That style is underscored by deep cove molding at the ceiling and decorative supports below the upper cabinets. Furniture-style bun feet on the island and antique ironstone displayed behind glass-panel cabinet doors further accentuate the vintage touch.
Country French Style
Distinct finishes and details are necessary to give new cabinetry an old-world feel. Here, the detailed wood cabinets compliment the vintage country feel of the rest of the space. Heavy scrolled hardware and prominent antique-style accents add authenticity to the kitchen.
Timeless Traditional
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
Inset doors and drawers with raised panels and beaded frames emphasize the architectural character of traditional style with a treatment that resembles library paneling. For a truly traditional feel, opt for dark wood cabinets. Here, the traditional cabinetry is given an updated, country feel with a coat of warm gray paint.
Classic French Flair
Michael Partenio
Gracefully lilting S-curve moldings and cabriole legs are hallmarks of classical French design, rooted in Louis XIV furniture. Here the relaxed S-curve shapes the mullioned doors of the upper cabinets. Carved cabriole legs support the farmhouse sink as if it were a piece of furniture and help blend it in with the base cabinets. The island also boasts characteristic French accents: Reeded molding bands the top edge, and the sinuous corner corbels are carved with traditional shells and bell flowers. The island’s soft blue paint was sanded, crackled, and glazed with raw umber for an antique patina.
Traditional Tuscan Style
Ed Gohlich
One trend in kitchen cabinet ideas and kitchen design is to mix wood finishes or colors, using contrast to draw special attention to different zones in the kitchen. Here, Tuscan style is represented in the rich wood cabinetry, neutral stone accents, and traditional reds and buttery warm tones.
Modern Cottage
Tria Giovan
This kitchen has all the hallmarks of vintage cottage style: bin-style pulls, exposed hinges, inset flat-panel cabinet doors and drawers, open plate racks, and glass doors in some upper cabinets. The comfortable cottage look hides modern amenities and functions—custom double dishwasher drawers, vertical storage for trays and baking sheets, and extra-deep drawers to stash cereals and snacks. An island made of rustic alder stained to a rich, dark finish and topped by honed black granite anchors the clean white cabinetry and subway-tile walls.
Updated Arts and Crafts
Tria Giovan
Arts and Crafts style is a study in earth tones, geometry, and fine craftsmanship. The cabinetry’s recessed panels framed with flat faces resemble classic Shaker style. But where simple Shaker style leaves off and Arts and Crafts begins is in the added details. Warm cherry wood is used for handcrafted cabinets. Glass-fronted upper cabinets detailed with wood muntins, arched details beneath the cabinets, and hammered copper pulls complete the look.
Specialized Storage
Emily Followill
Most cabinet companies offer a wide range of special-use storage units, so you can mix and match pieces to get the type of storage you need. Here a vertical row of cubbies stores wine bottles alongside two cabinets of shelves. Clear glass doors on all three wall cabinets expand the sense of space in a small kitchen and show off dinnerware and glassware.
