Upgrading your cabinetry for your home comes with plenty of decisions to make: what size and shape you want to work with, what types of knobs, pulls and hinges to buy, and what material you think you might like. Material-wise, some opt for stainless steel because it offers a sleek, modern look and is easy to clean. However, others prefer traditional wood kitchen cabinets for their home because they’re generally less expensive and offer more versatility in style.
Why They’re So Popular
One reason that wood cabinetry is a popular choice is because it requires little maintenance when it comes to refinishing and cleaning. If you go with a hardwood cabinet, you will enjoy great strength and stability for years to come. Some softwoods are used for cabinets, but less regularly because they are more susceptible to contact damage; however, some homeowners still like to use this material because it offers a weathered vintage look.
Since wood is a popular choice for cabinets, it is likely that you will find plenty of options to choose from at affordable prices. However, it’s important to know that if you go with wood kitchen cabinets, excessive moisture from cooking and running water can result in a dated look, so upkeep is important.
Types of Wood for Your Cabinets
Wood kitchen cabinets come in a variety of wood types; however, as mentioned previously, it is normally suggested that you go with a hardwood. The most popular are hickory, oak and maple. Hickory is a good choice because it’s extremely strong and flexible. Maple is especially popular because it offers an even grain for a smooth and clean appearance. And oak is a favorite because it provides a rich texture that works well with a dark stain. However, if you’re not particularly fond of these options, cherry is another popular choice, but it typically costs a little bit more due to its even grain that makes it easy to stain.
Refinishing Your Cabinets
A big bonus of buying wood kitchen cabinets is being able to refinish them at a reasonable cost. While some homeowners choose to hire a professional to come in and do the refinishing work, other homeowners opt do the work themselves. Of course, it’s cheaper to take on your own grunt work; however, you may very well grunt as you do so because it can take a lot of time and energy to complete the job at a standard you’ll approve of. If you’re up for the task, you’ll need to be prepared to take the doors off the hinges, remove knobs/handles, clean grease and grime, sand, degloss, and stain. However, once you’re done, you will have saved tons of money on labor and still have beautiful cabinets.
There’s no doubt that going with wood in your kitchen is not only an affordable choice, but also a stylish one. So now your job is to get out there to find the right wood kitchen cabinets for your kitchen. What are you waiting for?