Although the saying goes, “Don’t try to fix what isn’t broken,” the inevitable truth in life is that things do break, wear out, and for the better or worse, go out of style. Unsurprisingly, the same is true for cabinets! Whether they have outlasted their expected lifespan, impact your space or organization, or maybe they just don’t quite represent who you are as a person, there comes a time when you may need new cabinets. Here are 5 things to ask yourself before deciding on what kitchen cabinets are right for you:

Why Should I Get New Cabinets?

It’s easier to ask ‘why’ rather than ‘why not,’ but I challenge you to take the road less traveled. As adults, we understand that time goes on and cultures and styles change too. The biggest change to note is the value that kitchen and bathroom remodeling holds today. On average, homeowners who remodel their kitchen get 65-80% return on their investment (ROI), with 40% of the investment costs being spent on…you guessed it, CABINETS!

Choosing to update, upgrade, or reestablish your home cabinetry shouldn’t be a concern of if, but when. Also, what better way to express yourself than through the things you use everyday and year after year? Your home is your personal space that you should not only take pride in, but want to show the world! It is a fixated, yet revisable representation of who you are, your style, and how you carry yourself everyday. Just like you should never judge a book by a cover, you should never judge a house by the outside.

We (UR Cabinets) believe that it is what’s on the inside that matters and want to help maximize the potential of space, storage, and personality within the heart of your home, the kitchen. With multiple featured brands in our showroom, you may not have the ability to imagine a completely new kitchen, but you do have the option to be inspired to take control and make changes for the better in the heart of your home.

How Unique is My Style?

Kitchen cabinets, and most generalized cabinets are normally broken into 3 categories; stock, semi-stock, and custom. Each has it’s own degree of personality that you can add ranging from typical all the way to one-of-a-kind, however, each one comes at a price.

($)Stock - ready-made kitchen cabinets that are mass produced and sold in specific size and colors (considered the quickest and most affordable method to outfit your kitchen)
($$)Semi-Stock - similar to stock cabinets, but offer the ability to revise dimensions, finish, coat, and style (allows for advantages of custom cabinets at an affordable price)
($$$)Custom - built to meet your specifications (most expensive, time-consuming, and labor intensive option ranging from weeks to months)

It is important to keep in mind that having unique style comes at a price, however, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your budget in order to express yourself through the heart of your home. That is why at UR Cabinets we pride ourselves in creating one-of-a-kind cabinetry services by having both free estimate and free design consultations - so that we can share the vision and subsequent goals with our clients without worrying about breaking the bank. Even if you know you need a change in your cabinets, but don’t know where to start, UR Cabinets has the professional experience to help create a mutual vision that is both affordable and quality work.

What is My Kitchen Cabinetry Like Currently?

No, I am not asking for you to write specifics about measurements, space, and aesthetic, but rather what is the general feel of the kitchen? Does it feel cluttered? Too spacious? Not enough storage?

Mid Continent Cabinetry

(featured showroom brand)

It shouldn’t be a surprise when I mention that the number one problem homeowners have with their kitchens is the lack of storage. However, it’s important to know why that feeling is created. Many people will find that it is a physical issue - not having enough cabinet or drawer volume in order to support all the essential kitchen utilities, tools, and appliances. Another reason is simply a lack of organization - not in the individual, but in the cabinets. The way that your kitchen cabinets are oriented and what items are placed where has a profound impact on how you perceive the entirety of the kitchen. For example, do you find yourself running back and forth when cooking or doing the dishes, or rather a smooth flow between what you’re doing and the tools you need to do it? Lastly, it can be discouraging to have colors that do not compliment the space. Lighter colors generally tend to create a more spacious feeling, while darker colors embrace the feeling of cozy and tight.

Regardless of what your kitchen looks or feels like currently, it is important to take control and utilize your kitchen space to its full potential. Here at UR Cabinets, we are willing to work through multiple designs and revision processes in order to not only establish space and storage in your kitchen, but also emphasize you and your personality in the kitchen.

What Are My Options (Styles)?

Even though it would be amazing if everyone could establish their own style of kitchen, it isn’t realistic and surely isn’t affordable for the vast majority. Luckily, to simplify the process of selecting a style, stock to custom cabinets all categorize style by traditional or farmhouse to contemporary or modern, with what us cabinet professionals call shaker in the middle, or a mix of style. What is important to know is that various styles trend with time and it will be the detail (other than color/finish/hardware) that adds the personal aesthetic to the room - meaning there is no wrong choice, rather it is personal preference!

Modern/Contemporary - Shaker - Traditional/Farmhouse

It is important to remember that the only wrong style of cabinet door is the style that you don’t like or that doesn’t match the flow of the rest of your house. While it is necessary to express yourself through what you do and how you decorate your home, it is also important to be able to recognize the cohesion of your style to best represent the personality that brings every room together.

Here at UR Cabinets, we like to think of ourselves as creativity and customer-oriented individuals who strive to make your personal style and choice of cabinets work with the rest of your house. That includes cabinets, countertops, and all of the services in between to help improve your outlook on your kitchen, bathroom, and home in general.

How Do I Choose Color, Finish, and Hardware?

Adding to the flow of the home and the formality (or lack thereof) of the kitchen is color, finish, and hardware. Colors are nearly unlimited, and finishes could include laminate, paint, or solid wood, but there are many more options. When choosing a color it is essential to be aware of what is in the room and what will be in the room once the renovation or update is complete. Again, it is personal opinion, but it is also a way to further express yourself and add a touch of customization to the process. Many times with stock cabinets you will not be able to have this option, usually picking from already-produced style of doors, color, finish, and hardware. Semi-stock and custom cabinet companies allow for choice of style, color/finish, and hardware which adds immeasurable value to customers who take pride in their homes.

Many times colors and finishes should be chosen with the home as the bigger picture in mind. Are you trying to perceive the room as larger than it is? Maybe smaller? Are you trying to add contrast or promote cohesiveness?

Color and finish should be chosen to compliment the items, fixtures, floors, and countertops that are also present. As mentioned prior, lighter colors tend to establish a perceived larger space while darker colors are associated with tight and cozy. However, the best way to help chose colors or finishes is to walk through your home and try to grasp the feeling you get from each room. If your new kitchen feels isolated or contradicting, then maybe it is time to choose a new style, color, or finish of cabinet. Choosing extremely trendy colors and finishes are not suggested due to the constant changing of popular styles, while the color gray maintains most popular among homeowners. If you are looking to add the most value to your investment, it has been found that light neutrals with wood finishes are more likely to help increase the listing price of your home and increase your ROI. Again, it depends on your motivation and personal preference because no single color, finish, or style is ‘right!’

Hardware can be one of the most overlooked commodities of the kitchen experience. It is the finishing touch that has the ability to dress up or dress down the room simply by being present. A general rule is to match the hardware with the style of cabinet doors to prevent too much contradicting shapes. For example, on a sleek cabinet door you want simple knobs and pulls with a clean silhouette. However with that said, you can also create a striking look by juxtaposing the simple with the extravagant. As with all choices detailed in cabinetry servicing, it is a matter of personalization, expression, and expanding the potential of a given room.

In a world that focuses on self expression, we want you to feel comfortable when choosing to remodel your home so that it best represents you.

We believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your wallet in order to obtain your dream kitchen or bathroom.

We want to inspire you to improve your homes for the better, and to have fun while doing so.

And…

We believe UR unique, so why shouldn’t your cabinets be?

We hope this helps you better understand cabinets in general and how valuable they are to the everyday homeowner! If you have any further questions, feel free to contact, call us, or stop by our showroom!

Why Cabinets? 5 Things to Ask Yourself Before Making a Decision