Finding the right type of new kitchen cabinets is exciting, yet challenging. With so many fantastic options on the market that could be the perfect fit for your home, it can be difficult to narrow down your options! Even still, it’s best to do thorough research so you end up with the best result for your kitchen and budget.
To ensure that you find the best cabinets for your kitchen, here is a curated list of the best kitchen cabinets on the market today. In each description, you’ll find some of their key differentiating features to ensure that you make the right choice!
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The Importance of Finding the Best Kitchen Cabinets for Your Home
Your kitchen is the centerpiece of your home. It’s the place where you gather, entertain, and make memories. Whether you have nightly family dinners or you host your friends on the weekend, it’s paramount to feel comfortable and happy in your kitchen.
Kitchen cabinets are the main focus of the kitchen. Not only do they need to offer plenty of functionality and storage, but they dictate the style and design. Cabinets that don’t mesh well with the rest of your kitchen can throw off the vibe, and you’ll end up dissatisfied with how your kitchen looks.
For this reason, it’s essential to work with an experienced cabinet design team. They’ll help you narrow down your search to find the perfect brand, color, doors, handles, and materials for your cabinets. When it comes to finding the best kitchen cabinets for your kitchen, you can never be too thorough in your search.
4 Types of Kitchen Cabinets
There are essentially 4 main types of kitchen cabinets based on how they are manufactured. Different cabinet types lend themselves to various remodeling processes. Those types of kitchen cabinets are:
1) Ready-to-Assemble
Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets are very common for homeowners looking for an easy, affordable option. They are similar to what you might get from IKEA or other RTA websites.
Basically, they come completely ready to assemble relatively easily and can be great for the DIY homeowner trying to update their kitchen on a tight budget. Because they come with just the parts, they are often more affordable than pre-assembled units because they can be packed and shipped easier.
2) Pre-Assembled
Pre-assembled cabinetry comes all put together with the doors, drawers, and hardware already attached and just needs to be put in place in the kitchen. They are more complicated to ship but ultimately easier to install because it’s just a matter of putting them in order and securing them in place. They do, however, limit the number of customizable options available.
3) Custom
Custom cabinets are more expensive and detailed as they are literally designed and built from complete scratch based on what the homeowner wants. They also will be most effective when built by a local craftsman who can come see your space and design the custom cabinets with you. Homeowners who want a completely custom kitchen or are having trouble finding RTA cabinets that suit their desired look should choose to go custom.
Even though custom cabinets are more expensive, they have multiple benefits that stock cabinets can’t offer:
- More eco-friendly materials
- Increased home value
- Complete design flexibility
- Can incorporate accessibility features
- Maximize storage
4) Semi-Custom
Semi-custom is similar to pre-assembled cabinets but with far more options of wood, colors, and hardware. They might have a pre-set availability for wood, color, and hardware, but once the buyer selects from those, their semi-custom cabinets will be built based on their specifications.
The 14 Best Kitchen Cabinets on the Market Today
From completely custom cabinet options to ready to assemble stock options, there are great options out there for every homeowner. Take a look at these 14 best kitchen cabinets on the market to help narrow down your search.
1) Puustelli
There’s a reason (well, multiple reasons!) Puustelli kitchen cabinets take the #1 spot on this list.
- Eco-friendly
- Void of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde
- Sourced from non-endangered wood species
- Authentic Scandinavian design
The list goes on and on for what makes Puustelli kitchen cabinets stand out amongst the competition. For homeowners looking for a modern and completely personalized kitchen vibe, Puustelli provides high-end quality without breaking the bank.
2) Da-Vinci Designs
What makes Da-Vinci Designs one of the top cabinet manufacturers is their commitment to crafting old-school, yet contemporary cabinets with touches of Old World design. While modern homes are popular today, many homeowners still prefer the classic looks of Mediterranean, French Chateau, and Italian Villa-inspired homes. If that piques your interest, then Da-Vinci Designs is worth checking out.
3) StarMark Cabinetry
Specializing in custom cabinets, StarMark is one of the most versatile cabinet manufacturers out there today. Whether you’re looking for a European style, traditional, transitional, or contemporary, StarMark Cabinetry has got it all. They are one of the top players in regard to high-end kitchen cabinets. In addition to custom cabinets, they are known for paints and glazed cabinets too.
4) Willow Lane Cabinetry
As another kitchen cabinet supplier that offers classic cabinetry, Willow Lane specializes in three distinct styles of cabinets—shaker, raised panel, and recessed panel. Willow Lane’s cabinets walk the line between modern and classic perfectly. If you want to craft a modern kitchen, they have some solid options in that department. For homeowners who want to craft an elegant kitchen with classic roots, they have you covered there as well.
5) Merillat
Merillat has a wide variety of kitchen cabinets to choose from. In that respect, it can be a bit overwhelming to try and find the right selection for your home. But, if you can decide what type of wood you want, whether you want a country, modern, traditional, or transitional design style, and which finish color range most resonates with you, then you can make your quest to find the perfect Merillat kitchen cabinets much easier.
6) Porcelanosa
Based in Villarreal Spain, Porcelanosa is another European-styled cabinet brand. Sleek, smooth, and modern, Porcelanosa is one of the top high-end cabinetry suppliers around. They are slightly exclusive, however, with their products only sold through consultation with affiliated designers and builders. But, they truly are some of the most beautiful European cabinets you’ll find on the market.
7) Aristokraft Cabinetry
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That seems to be the philosophy at AristoKraft Cabinetry, which offers the standard mid-century modern look that doesn’t necessarily push the envelope in regard to design. However, that isn’t a bad thing as you’ll get sturdy, durable, kitchen cabinets from Astrokraft that are highly functional and still look exceptional. They offer a variety of styles and are accessible through their wide distribution network.
8) Canyon Creek Cabinet Company
Up next is Canyon Creek Cabinet Company. Finding the line between custom-made and affordable cabinets is not easy. However, the folks at Canyon Creek Cabinet Company have been pulling off that combination since 1981 with their line of frameless and framed cabinetry for kitchens. They are worth checking out if you’re interested in custom cabinets but don’t have the budget for some of the more premium custom cabinet dealers.
9) Snaidero USA
Snaidero is a US-based cabinet manufacturer that produces high-end products. Known for their cabinets with classic designs, they also offer some more modern styles as well. They are often lauded for their innovations within the cabinetry scene, including sleek and aesthetic designs while maintaining the quality they are known for.
They are one of the most expensive cabinets on the market, but they are well worth the investment if they fit within your budget. Overall, their designs sit somewhere in between Italian and European design principles. If that is the style of kitchen you’re looking for, consider checking out their product options.
10) IKEA
While IKEA might not be the very first brand you think of when someone says “best kitchen cabinets,” we’re including them in this list because they are affordable and the quality matches the price. As with any home product, you get what you pay for. And while there might be some drawbacks to owning IKEA cabinets when it comes to durability, they are very cost-efficient. And, as long as you take good care of your cabinets, you shouldn’t run into any major issues.
IKEA offers a pretty good range of product options. So, while they aren’t custom-designed, you should be able to find an option that works for you. For homeowners that have smaller budgets, IKEA cabinets might just be worth the extra cost savings.
And of course, sometimes it can be tricky to assemble IKEA products. So, if you’ve run into problems on that front before and want to avoid it, see if they’ll install it for you or if you can find someone willing to take on the project.
11) Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.
Wellborn Cabinets got its start all the way back in the 60s and continues on today as a family-owned and operated cabinet provider. Since their beginnings, their goal has been to provide kitchen and bath cabinets crafted with quality and care. Since they’ve been in business for so long, it’s clear that they’ve lived up to that promise.
Wellborn offers a fairly extensive list of product lines. These include Home Concepts, Premier, Select, and more. Wellborn should definitely be considered for homeowners that are in need of bathroom cabinets, as Wellborn is well-versed in handling those types of projects.
12) Kraftmaid
Kraftmaid is a household name in the cabinet industry mostly because it is sold in big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot. But that doesn’t diminish its quality or affordability. Kraftmaid also has some super cool innovations that integrate hidden but functional storage among your cabinets. They have pull-out drawers for pots and pans as well as one specifically designed for getting your cleaning supplies in order—no more digging under the sink for the bleach!
13) CliqStudios
CliqStudios completely caters to the DIY homeowner. They were started because online kitchen design was tedious, stressful, and lacked transparency. Customers never knew if they were actually getting their money’s worth. So CliqStudios was formed to make the process from beginning to end and keep the control in the hands of the customer.
Their contact form even includes a space for customers to get started on their initial design and measurements, and begin an estimate so there are no surprises. This way, they can decide very early on if they want to move forward.
Customers can speak directly with kitchen designers who can help guide them through the process. They also feature a fully comprehensive resource center to answer any and all questions regarding kitchen cabinets— from detailed cost estimates to how to check the quality of your cabinets and step-by-step installation instructions.
14) The RTA Store
The RTA Store is a mecca hub for all ready-to-assemble cabinetry sets. They have about a dozen designs from modern to classic affordable designs. You can easily customize colors and hardware through their website and even order pre-assembled kitchen sets if installation isn’t something you want to handle. Plus, their design tools are completely free and allow customers to speak with kitchen design experts to get the right design for them.
Don’t Rush the Cabinet Scouting Process
Cabinets are such an essential part of pulling off your new kitchen design. For that reason, it’s important to thoroughly scout out all your options before making your decision.
For example, if you are able to visit a showroom before choosing your kitchen cabinetry, you should absolutely do so. Attending a showroom allows you to pick the brains of designers and expert kitchen designers to help you find the perfect choice for you and your home.
Only looking at your options online runs the risk of being disappointed when the actual product arrives at your home. Then, you’re either stuck with a kitchen you’re not happy with, or you’re dealing with a confusing and frustrating return process only to start over with cabinet shopping again.
Your Cabinet Choice Impacts Your Home— And Your Health
There’s a reason the Puustelli team advocates so heavily for custom cabinets. Even though RTA stock cabinets are the cheapest options on the market, you get what you pay for in more ways than one.
Not only do cheap stock cabinets not last as long or look as nice, but they also are often made from harmful materials that are bad for the environment and your health. And when you spend every day around these products, it’s vital that you and your family stay healthy.
You may be wondering, what’s so unhealthy about stock cabinets?
Many stock cabinets are made from medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and they aren’t shy about it! While MDF is made to resemble real wood, it is actually a material that has many thin layers glued together.
This glue is where the main issue lies. Many mass-production facilities use formaldehyde glues. Formaldehyde is classified as a “volatile organic compound” (VOC), which when breathed in for long periods of time can cause dangerous health effects, like:
- Headaches
- Eyes, nose, and throat irritation
- Dizziness
- Worsening of asthma symptoms
- Cancer
- Liver and kidney damage
- Central nervous system damage
Of course, no one wants to deal with these terrible health effects simply because of their kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, it’s a very real reality that numerous homeowners aren’t aware of.
When you choose a custom cabinet provider like Puustelli, you get a product that is completely health-conscious and environmentally friendly. For example, all of our ecological cabinets are:
- Free from formaldehyde-based glues
- MDF and chipboard free
- Made from real, natural wood products
- Never made from endangered wood species
- 100% recyclable biocomposite frames
- Always finished with natural oils or water-soluble stains
Durable, non-toxic, and recyclable cabinetry allows you to have a fantastic indoor air quality rating in addition to a stunning, personalized kitchen.
Completely Custom Eco-Luxury: Choose Puustelli for Your Kitchen
If you’re going to be spending the money on a home investment anyway, why not ensure that the final product is something you truly love and feel proud of? Investing in high-quality, eco-conscious custom cabinetry goes much further than saving a few bucks with RTA stock cabinets.
We’re honored to share this list with so many great cabinet brands on the market today. As you continue on your search for the best kitchen cabinets, be sure to reach out to our team at Puustelli. We’ll answer any questions you may have and guide you toward the best solution for your home.
