Kitchen remodels are exciting projects to undertake. It isn’t often that you, as a homeowner, have an opportunity to completely change the look, feel, and functionality of one of your home’s most important spaces. And while there are many, many decisions that you’ll need to make along the way, few will alter the visual impact of your kitchen nearly as much as what style of cabinet door you select. You may think that what defines raised panel versus flat panel doors is minor in scope, but the truth is much more complicated than you might think.
What’s the Deal with Raised Panel Doors?
Raised panel doors have endured throughout modern history because the extra raised adornments were considered a moniker of luxury due to the skill of the craftsmen who made them. Since not everyone could afford a skilled artisan to craft the kind of ornamentation that made raised panel doors so popular, there was an immediate point of differentiation between raised panel doors or flat/shaker panel doors.
Regardless of their association with “luxury”, raised panel doors began to see a dip in popularity beginning in the 80’s thanks in large part to changes in the housing industry, meaning that there was a shift between emphasizing customization in favor of speed in new home builds. With all that being said, there are still compelling reasons why raised panel doors may be the right choice for you.
For example, raised panel doors offer a “grander” aesthetic since the edge of the panel door sits higher than the frame. In short, raised panel doors appear more elongated and therefore more elegant than the alternative. If the aesthetic in the rest of your home is more traditional, it will be easier to incorporate raised panel doors into the aggregate style throughout your living space. Lastly, it can be argued that raised panel doors offer more in terms of flexibility as they can include arched or curved adornments. If you’re looking for the inevitable downside of this style of door there are admittedly few; the extra edges and ridges will make dusting and general cleaning slightly more time consuming and from a financial point of view, raised panel doors will certainly stretch your design budget further than flat panel doors will.
What About Flat Panel Doors?
Flat panel doors are more likely to be found in newer homes, and perhaps more likely to make the cut during home renovations – but the reason for this is not simply due to their lower cost. Flat panel cabinet doors are reflective of two seemingly “opposing” aesthetics: contemporary and farmhouse, both of which are very popular. Given that the design appeals to those looking for a splash of modern style as well as those looking for something with traditional charm, it’s easy to see why this type of cabinet can be found just about anywhere. Unlike raised panel doors, flat panel doors offer a clean, simple aesthetic that does not rely on elaborate ornamentation to draw the eye in. Instead, the straight lines and right angles inherent in flat panel doors help to emphasize other design elements within the space, whether they’re appliances, the countertop, or ambient lighting. One thing worth mentioning is that while the simpler design will make dust removal easier than with raised panel doors, homeowners with pets and young children may lament how easily fingerprints and nose prints make their presence known.
What Else Should I Consider?
When it is all said and done, avoid making your decision based on whatever the current trend is. It’s much more important that your decision is rooted on what you find aesthetically pleasing – after all, it will be you and your family that will be using your remodeled kitchen day in and day out, so your design should really be an extension of you.
No Matter the Style, There’s a Right Cabinet Door for You
Whether you go for raised panel or flat panel cabinet doors, there really is no wrong choice. If you need help making that decision or need help discovering which aesthetic will appeal more to your sense of style, reach out to the experts today.
