Cabinet Door Styles

The style of a cabinet door is determined by several factors. First and foremost, the way the cabinet door fits over the cabinet box determines its basic type. Basic types include:

• Inset
• Lipped
• Partial overlay
• Full overlay

Inset cabinet doors mean that the doors are set inside the frame of the cabinet. They lay flush with the front edges of the cabinet. Most lipped cabinet doors have a 3/8" inset and are routed with a slight wooden groove to fit over the frame. Partial overlay, or regular overlay, cabinet doors reveal a portion of the cabinet frame and full overlay doors cover almost the entire cabinet frame (usually leaving less than one-eighth of an inch).

Door shapes are another area of importance when it comes to door styles. Just as there are several door types, there are also several door shapes and an endless array of finishes.

Options For Cabinet Door Designs and Shapes

• Recessed panel (a large front section that is raised above the surface)
• Raised panel (a flat panel on the front of the door that is bordered by a raised strip)
• Curved panel
• Beadboard panel
• Flat slab (no indentations or grooves)

Keep in mind, there are countless variations of these basic styles which can include mullioned, glass, concave, convex, and other specialty doors. Also, the shape and finish will vary by manufacturer, but these are the basic terms used to describe the most common cabinet door styles.

In addition to the door type and shape, its color and decoration will tie together the look that you most desire. There are several options for how one could go about decorating their cabinet doors. The basic options include the stain or paint, as well as the options between wood veneer, polyester, laminate, stainless steel and glass. You also need to include the finishing techniques such as sanding, rubbing with steel wool and hand buffing. Keep in mind, different colors and techniques are used with each type of finish and it’s important to research each one carefully before deciding on which finish to go with.