Kitchen cabinets are unique among interior design elements in their ability to command attention in a room. Because of their relative permanence, they have a long-term influence on the appearance of a space. At the same time, active kitchens have near-constant use of the cabinets, so functionality carries significant weight in the decision-making process as well.
These three key areas factor strongly into the impact of cabinet choices for a home.
Manipulation of Light
As a working space, a kitchen requires light. The placement and type of kitchen cabinets can play a significant role in the functionality of the kitchen. Glass doors can be utilized for upper cabinets installed over a peninsula, permitting light from the adjacent space to enter the kitchen itself. Many cabinets can also be installed with lighting underneath the wall cabinets, providing a bright working area on the countertop below. Some cabinets are even backlit to play up the beauty of items stored inside.
The uniting factor in all of these arrangements is the utilization of cabinets to manipulate light. Because cabinets are large and numerous in kitchens, they play a significant role in the brightness of the room. Homeowners can compensate for dark finishes by incorporating light fixtures, and they can work with the unique structure of the kitchen to maximize impact.
Cabinets As Wall Covering
Choosing cabinets often comes down to an intersection of function and appearance. Buyers must balance between the utility of the cabinets and the ultimate aesthetic image they have. As a result, there are actually more ways to finish walls with cabinets than there are ways to finish them with paint. Not only is there a near-endless array of grains and colors for wood finishes, there are also cabinets of other materials that can be painted or otherwise finished in just as many colors as walls.
It becomes a very complex decision to choose cabinets for this very reason. Financially and from the practical perspective, cabinets are a longer-term investment in a room’s appearance than paint or even wallpaper, which are considerably less expensive and disruptive to change. Hence it’s critical to carefully analyze a space before committing on cabinets.
Specialized Storage As Design
For many years, cabinets had solid doors and were essentially the same throughout a room. The lengths of walls determined the sizes of individual modules, but by and large, all cabinets were otherwise identical.
As time went on and custom kitchen cabinets gained popularity, many builders and homeowners began to request specific structural elements in the cabinets that could not only perform specific functions but could also break up their monotonous appearance. This led to the advent of vertical storage slots for plates and larger flat items, along with framework suspended from ceilings or wall cabinets to hang pots and utensils. The effective display of these items brings a unique and striking look to the room.
No home feature bears more equal parts of style and substance than kitchen cabinets. Understanding this interaction is critical to making good decisions about materials, styles, and colors.
Becky Wilcox is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about beauty, fashion, technology and more. She writes for Life with Lisa as well as several other blogs and websites. Check back soon for more from Becky.
Beautiful cabinents make all the difference.