How to Pick Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets often eat up a large portion of a remodeling or building budget for the room. With so many choices in materials, colors and designs, selecting the right cabinets is an exciting but challenging prospect for homeowners. Because the cabinets are such a large investment, it's important to pick a style that won't become outdated quickly. A well-thought-out decision increases the chances of selecting cabinets that fit the style of the room and maintain their appeal for years. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Put together an initial budget for the kitchen cabinets, building in a buffer for unexpected expenses. Calculate the cost of the cabinets if you plan to install them yourself. Add the cost of labor to the figure if you plan to have a professional install the cabinets.
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Measure the kitchen cabinet area to get a rough estimate of the cabinets needed for the space. Measure the length of each stretch of cabinet, the height of the cabinets and the depth of the cabinets. Exact measurements are needed before purchasing the actual cabinets, but these rough measurements help calculate a general cost when browsing cabinets.
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Decide if you will use stock cabinetry or custom cabinets. Stock cabinetry comes in set sizes with no modifications possible. Custom cabinetry is more expensive, but allows for cabinets built specifically for your space.
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Identify the overall style or decorating theme for the kitchen. Keep this style in mind when selecting the cabinets. Browse through home interior magazines for ideas if you're unsure what style you prefer.
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Decide if you want the wood grain look or if you prefer painted cabinets. For wood grain cabinets, select the type of wood you like, as well as the color of stain. For painted cabinets, select the paint color you prefer.
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Browse through the home improvement store to determine which style of cabinets you prefer. Seeing the cabinets in person makes the decision easier as it is difficult to see the details in pictures. If you are going with custom cabinets, consult with the designer for assistance in selecting the style of the cabinets.
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Inspect the cabinets you like for quality and durability. Consider your budget but also consider the value you're getting from the cabinets. Spending a little more upfront to get a higher-quality cabinet may save money in repairs or replacements down the road.
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