Stuck for kitchen cabinet ideas? We get it, it’s and important decision and designing your perfect kitchen so often starts with the cabinet doors. So why not explore our favourite kitchen cabinet designs and be inspired by these kitchens to choose the right kitchen cabinet designs for your new room?
And once you’ve chosen the perfect kitchen cabinet design, find out how to plan and design a kitchen in our ultimate guide.
How to choose the best kitchen cabinets
Begin with an easy question: do I prefer modern or traditional kitchen design? If it’s a timeless look you’re seeking, a Shaker kitchen door is the classic choice, while a more traditionally panelled Georgian kitchen door will provide a slightly more stately tone. For contemporary kitchens, it has to be a plain slab door. Go without handles for an ultra modern kitchen.
Of course, the kitchen cabinet door design or even colour/finish is not where the decisions end. The most successful kitchens are fitted with cabinetry that is meticulously planned, both inside and out. Kitchen storage needs to be thoughtfully allocated – divide and conquer using dedicated dividers, shelves and baskets. Integral lighting can be used to boost the impact of interesting materials.
And don’t forget the handles – they should never be an afterthought. Even recessed handles can bring a design dimension via colour-contrasting shadowlines or interesting placement.
On the kitchen cabinetry design catwalk, black is the new black, and the new grey for that matter. Easy to combine with almost any other shade, black is your quickest route to drama and depth. Why not channel your inner and paint your kitchen ceiling black, too? This is The Real Shaker Kitchen with Bella Brass handles and Staved Iroko worktops, from £12,000 at .
See more dark and dramatic kitchen design ideas.
(Image credit: deVOL)
While handle-less cabinetry is an undisputed winner for achieving a slick, contemporary look, the minimalist aesthetic needn’t lack interest. Here, the golden glow of burnished brass puts push-to-open island cabinet doors firmly in the spotlight. A nanotech coating arrests the oxidization process to prevent tarnishing and make the doors easy to clean. This is the Form 6 range from prices from £35,000.
See more luxury kitchen design ideas (that we’d copy if money were no object).
(Image credit: Sola Kitchens)
3. Mix up kitchen cabinetry materials
Interesting pairings – the more dynamic the better – can shake-up kitchen cabinetry design without breaking the bank. Look no further than for a master class in mixing cabinetry materials. This is the Minerva island unit, from £1,330, which ends in a striking combo of industrial-look galvanized steel and dramatic Christus Granite. Paired with deep grey pan drawers with brass accents, the results are undeniably Insta-worthy.
(Image credit: Wren Kitchens)
4. Dress to impress
Think of handles like jewellery for your kitchen cabinet doors. Take time to find the perfect shape and finish to dress them up. We love the leather strap-style handles on this simple flat-fronted door in on-trend millennial pink – find similar at . Walls in , from £60.20/m2.
(Image credit: Topps Tiles)
5. Kitchen cabinet ideas that make use of space: choosing drawers over base cabinets
Deep pan drawers are considered far more efficient storage-wise than standard shelved base units. The main pro: everything is brought nicely into view – say goodbye to getting down on your knees to reach into the depths. The only disadvantage is that contents can slide around upon opening. Happily help is at hand via a classic peg and dowel drawer base that will keep everything neatly in place, and can be easily adjusted to fit different sized dishes. This elegant kitchen cabinet design is by , kitchens start from £45,000.
(Image credit: Smallbone of Devizes)
6. Find kitchen cabinet ideas that add interest with texture
The smartest kitchen designers appeal to all the senses when choosing cabinetry. Introducing a textural element is essential for including a tactile treat. One fashion-forward option is cross-sawn timbers, which leave the rugged marks of the saw blade un-sanded, and embrace rustic charm with a chic, modern twist. Here, nails the look with River-washed ply doors on its Urban Metro range, prices start from £35,000.
(Image credit: Roundhouse)
Bored of deliberating between classic Shaker versus modern flat-fronted doors? Now Magnet is offering a middle option that’s neither overtly trad, nor uber contemporary. It picks up on our obsession with parquet, one of the hottest flooring trends of the decade, and promises to bring a fresh geometric edge to the kitchen. Avoid overkill by using it as a feature door on a kitchen island, or restricting to units below eye-level. starts from £685 for a 60cm-wide base unit.
If you are planning on getting a kitchen island then make sure you check out more of these clever kitchen island ideas.
(Image credit: Magnet)
8. Kitchen cabinet ideas that use vertical space for added storage
There’s something wonderfully reassuring about a library ladder in the kitchen. So sophisticated, not to mention convenient. The trend has stemmed from the need to access those handy yet awkward top cupboards for kitchen storage. But it also brings a little definition to an otherwise relentless stretch of floor to ceiling kitchen cabinetry. Match your metal to the cabinetry knobs, and the ladder finish could pick up on timbers used elsewhere, like the utilitarian bar stools here. What’s not to love? Bespoke kitchens by start from £19,000.
(Image credit: Charlie Kingham)
Pocket doors are a great kitchen cabinet ideas: brilliant for shutting everything away when not in use. They are especially popular in open-plan kitchens, where the workhorse side of things (appliances, taps etc) can look messy and, well, too kitchen-y, when relaxing.
Look for really good, strong runners for smooth action doors that are effortless to use, and plan an interior that looks good when open. This smart example is clad in wood veneers for beautiful contrast. Made to ’ design and specification by , this bespoke lacquered kitchen starts from £25,000.
(Image credit: Cave Interiors)
10. Up the style factor with edgy details
They say the Devil’s in the detail and, in the case of , the detail is devilishly striking. Each door is edged in brass to create a lavish outline that smartly frames solid panels of marble-look porcelain. Martin Moore kitchens start from £35,000.
(Image credit: Martin Moore)
11. Fit open shelves for easy access
Channel your inner Downton by embracing open shelving, which is enjoying a style revival amid those seeking a pantry-led utilitarian vibe. Be prepared to evict any outright ugly crockery but don’t get obsessive with aesthetics – the most successful open cabinetry is purposefully uncontrived. In fact, most kitchen designers recommend using open shelving for daily-use items so that the dreaded dust never gets a chance to settle. This is , prices from £12,000.
See more Victorian and Georgian style kitchens in our gallery.
(Image credit: Neptune)
Love warm metals in the kitchen but ready to dial down the glitz of copper accessories? This season, burnished metal is making a play for attention. On kitchen cabinet designs, the smart money is on the latest spray-lacquer metallic finishes, which are robust and easy to clean. And, unlike the real deal, won’t tarnish or patina in time. This is a bespoke kitchen in dark oak and metal-effect lacquer by , prices start from £30,000. The worktop is Sensa granite in Orinoco, £500 sq m, from .
(Image credit: Mowlem & Co)
13. On a budget? Try a DIY option
Buying your carcasses and doors from the same manufacturer is the most common way to guarantee the perfect fit. However, Sweden-based is shaking things up with its clever kitchen cabinet idea that’s opening design doors for adventurous DIYers. Tailored to fit Ikea’s most common carcasses, Superfront’s beautiful collection of door fronts, handles, legs, sides and tops are simply a joy to behold. For example, this kitchen designed by features Ikea cabinets with Big Fish doors in , prices start from £49 for a 40x20cm drawer front. The in untreated brass cost £13 each.
Discover more about designing a stylish kitchen on a budget and fitting your kitchen yourself, which will save you a ton of money.
(Image credit: Aleksa Studio)
14. Look for kitchen cabinet ideas that celebrate curves
There’s no better way to show-off the craftsmanship of bespoke kitchen cabinetry than with beautifully veneered curves. Use the direction of the natural gain to accentuate the shape. This is , featuring a stunning curved breakfast bar in smoked oak, kitchens start from £40,000. The Mia Glass Pendant lights in antiqued brass cost £108.22 each from . See more curved kitchens – elegant in big rooms, space-saving in small kitchens.
(Image credit: Humphrey Munson)
15. Work in a pantry
Walk-in pantries offer one-stop storage for all your dried and tinned foods, not to mention those outsized pans and culinary gadgets that won’t fit comfortably in regular kitchen cabinets. Pantries fitted to an external wall will stay relatively cool inside to provide useful ambient storage for butter, cheese and root vegetables. This impressive pantry is by , kitchens start from £35,000.
Read more about adding a pantry – built-in or freestanding – to your kitchen.
(Image credit: Mark Taylor Design)
16. Devote space to a breakfast cupboard
A breakfast cupboard with bi-fold doors is perfect for enthusiasts who prefer to keep countertops clutter-free. Fitted with sockets to keep the toaster and blender on stand-by, the doors can be left open without getting in the way. Some versions come fully-loaded for hot beverages with a boiling water tap and coffee machine inside. This breakfast cupboard is in , kitchens start from £35,000.
(Image credit: Davonport)
17. Break up a solid run of cabinets
A mix of open and closed kitchen cabinetry will punch shape and style into a wall of units. Here, smart wine racks bring an extra dynamic that works to further soften the kitchen’s contemporary design. This is the Sine Tempore kitchen in elm from . Get in the UK, priced from £45,000, at . The ICB648PRO Pro 48 dual refrigerator costs around £26,880 from .
(Image credit: Valcucine)
18. Opt for modern industrial cabinetry
For a modern industrial-look kitchen with solid construction, look no further than modular kitchen units. The Italian manufacturer is now offering a wide range of cabinets and prep stations featuring the same robust style and solidity of its celebrated range cookers. The 120cm-wide cabinet with stainless steel worktop shown here costs from £2,913, available in the UK from .
Read more about how to give your kitchen an industrial look.
(Image credit: Steel/Bradshaw Luxury)
Advances in LED technology is taking the illumination of kitchen cabinetry to next-level exciting. Task lights underneath your wall units are still de rigueur for safe prepping. But, for a more decorative solution, concealed LEDs are where it’s at. Hidden under plinth lines, behind splashbacks or in recessed shelving units like this one, they emit gentle mood lighting that brings cabinetry to life. This is in metallic bronze and metallic anthracite, from £12,000.
Discover how to plan the best kitchen lighting in our guide.
(Image credit: Rational)
20. Make use of a wasted corner
Fixed on a roller system, aluminium tambour doors glide up out of the way when not required – ideal in those often-wasted kitchen corners. This bespoke kitchen in engineered sawn oak is by , prices from £25,000.
(Image credit: The Main Company)
21. Customise ready-to-paint units
If you’re happy to get your brushes out, this kitchen might be the answer to colour-customisation on a budget. Its Shaker-style Burford Paintable kitchen cabinet range brings an element of bespoke tailoring not generally expected from your local builder’s merchants. Supplied primed, ready for your favourite shade, it’s shown here in Raspberry (30RR 10/321) and Dulux Charcoal (30BB 10/19).
Find out how to paint kitchen cabinets and then make sure you choose the best paint for kitchen cabinets.
(Image credit: Howdens)
22. Choose a surprising paint shade
Living Coral may have been Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2019 but we’ve still got a place in our hearts for 2016’s Rose Quartz. Or any delicate pink for that matter. In the kitchen, pink cabinetry can be used to soften dramatic blacks and moody greys. For timeless elegance, it’s hard to beat Masterclass’ Vintage Rose, one of the latest shades in its , priced from £7,500.
If unlike us you are ready to move on from 2016, check out more kitchen paint trends that are going to be big in 2019.
(Image credit: Masterclass)
23. Re-purpose antique furniture
Kitchen cabinet design ideas don’t all need to be brand spanking new, adding one or two vintage elements is a fast-track way to add character. Hunting down the right pieces is all part of the fun. Head to salvage specialists like for reclaimed science benches and haberdashery displays. Antiques shops are also great resources, and the furniture can often be restored for you – try .
If you want more tips on recreate this look read our feature on how to design a vintage kitchen.
(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)
24. Invest in drawer inserts
Dedicated cutlery and utensil drawers are the chicest way to keep contents neatly in place. Timber cutlery inserts not only look fantastic, they also have a noise-dampening effect. For extra practical benefits, request removable cutlery trays that can be carried to the dining table when it’s time to lay up. These oak drawers are part of a bespoke design by priced from £25,000.
(Image credit: Naked Kitchens/Malcolm Menzies)
25. Create character with glass-fronted units
With its 1950s overtones, ribbed glass lends new cabinetry a comforting vintage feel. Happily, it also partially obscures contents, so you don’t have to be too tidy when packing away the food shop. In this bespoke fitted dresser by , the sliding doors have recessed handles to allow them to be pushed right back when using the toaster inside. Bespoke kitchens start from £21,000 at Clayton Cabinets. Designed in collaboration with .
(Image credit: Clayton Cabinets/Darren Chung)
26. Give an Ikea kitchen a bespoke feel with the help of Plykea
Are you designing a kitchen and want to achieve the look and feel of bespoke plywood units, while working from a flatpack budget? Or are you stuck with an outdated Ikea kitchen that needs an update?
Faced with these exact design dilemmas, Tim Diacon and Adam Vergette founded , an upscaling service that transforms with the help of bespoke and stylish plywood fronts and worktops; and the very affordable results don’t disappoint. Get in touch with them for a quote.
For more budget kitchen ideas, make sure your read our tips and tricks.
(Image credit: Plykea)
We say, a classic, detailed design showcasing quality materials and workmanship is always the best way to go. You can opt for a restrained Shaker-style design that will never date, or go as ornate and luxurious as you like.
We think these cabinets by strike the perfect balance between understatement and luxury.
Want more? Check out these Shaker kitchen design ideas.
(Image credit: Blakes London)
28. Create a versatile space with sliding doors
We love kitchen cabinet ideas with a mix of open and closed storage; it just breaks up a wall of cupboards and means you can keep some of you best kitchenware on show. Of course, you could mix in some glass fronted cabinetry, or why not copy this kitchen cabinet idea and have sliding doors that can slot individually across the entire run?
In this kitchen, designed by , the cabinet doors run along a rail so you can switch up which areas they cover.
(Image credit: Cream & Black)