How to Order Ready-to-Install Kitchen Cabinets

Ordering ready-made kitchen cabinets

Ready-to-install cabinets allow you to choose the style and wood you want without the hard work or expense of building cabinetry. Many homeowners opt for cabinets that are ordered online or through a cabinetry or home improvement store. There are a host of companies that sell cabinets to accommodate a small- or large-sized kitchen. Get the right type of ready-made cabinets to complement the design of your kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Paint

Instructions

1. Measure your kitchen to get the right dimensions for the cabinetry. Get the wall space, height of the kitchen, area over the counter tops, island area and space above the stove. Compile your measurements into a diagram of your kitchen.

2. Make a paint swatch of the color of the kitchen wall paint in order to choose the right cabinet color. You can make swatches of other design elements such as fabrics used for the upholstery or hard-to-see pieces of rugs.

3. Visit showrooms of cabinet stores to see how different cabinets function and get an idea of the type of material you want for the cabinets. Many showrooms offer a mock kitchen setup with a number of cabinet styles. Get prices of the cabinets you like.

   At the showroom, think about what type of material and color would suit your lifestyle. Neutral or light-colored cabinets create a tidy-looking atmosphere in kitchens; however, they often need to be touched up with paint every year from wear and tear. Dark cabinets hide stains, but can make a small kitchen look even smaller.

4. Compare cabinet prices online with the prices you were quoted at the showroom. Many times you can find deals online, but factor in the cost of the shipping. Make sure that you have your kitchen's measurements when ordering online to get the right sized cabinets.

Tips & Warnings

• Decide if you want a carpenter to install your cabinets or take on the project yourself. If you decide to install the cabinets yourself, you can use the money saved from not hiring a professional on higher quality cabinets.

• Keep all receipts for cabinet purchases in a safe place in case there is a problem with the cabinetry.

References

• World Village: Reasons to Choose Ready-Made Kitchen Cabinets
• Fix My Cabinet: Home Depot or Lowe's