The kitchen is commonly referred to as the heart of the house, and cabinets are the focal point of any well-designed kitchen. The kitchen cabinet design has a significant impact on the room’s functionality and appearance. With a wide range of options available in the market today, it can be difficult to choose the right design and materials. This blog serves as a comprehensive guide to modern kitchen unit designs, covering the different materials and finishes used, components of modular kitchen cabinets, standard sizes, cost and current trends in kitchen cabinets and design. Read on to learn more.
Understanding Kitchen Cabinetry and Its Components
Kitchen cabinets are built-in storage units in modular kitchen design. They store kitchen utensils, cookware, groceries and other such elements, helping create a clean and organised kitchen that has optimised storage. The main components of kitchen cabinets include storage units, hardware fittings and accessories.
Storage Units
Modular kitchen cabinet design today typically includes the following types of storage units:
- Kitchen Base Cabinets: These storage units are located beneath the kitchen countertop and are usually supported by the floor. This makes them perfect for supporting big objects like dishwashers and large utensils in modern kitchen unit designs.
- Kitchen Wall Cabinets: Usually supporting low to medium-sized and light items, these shelves are mounted on the walls above the countertop. Lift-up and/or pull-out devices are often included in wall kitchen cabinets to provide convenient accessibility.
- Open Kitchen Shelves: Fancy cutlery/ containers, decorative items such as small potted plants and glassware, along with electrical appliances like dishwashers and microwaves, are often stored on open shelves.
- Kitchen Tall Units: A tall unit is a storage cabinet that looks like a wardrobe and is about seven feet high. Typically, these cabinets serve as tiny pantries or grain storage areas.
- Loft Units: Items that are not used often are stored in kitchen loft units, which are situated above easily accessible heights (generally touching the kitchen ceiling).
Hardware Fittings & Accessories
Different types of hardware fittings and accessories are included in kitchen cabinets, helping support them or ensuring their smooth functioning. These include:
- Supporting Elements: L-angles, T-angles and brackets (generally made of mild steel or stainless steel) along with engineered wood bars are used to support the storage units.
- Hardware Fittings: Hinges, drawer channels, slides, knobs, handles, door closers and fittings for soft-closing are some of the hardware elements used in kitchen cabinetry.
- Other Storage Accessories: Apart from typical shelves, kitchen cupboard designs and cabinets often include other accessories like baskets, trays, drawers, crockery stands and drying racks.
Standard Sizes in Kitchen Cabinets and Design
To ensure accurate design for cabinets for kitchens, the following sizes are generally followed as part of standard kitchen planning:
| Length (inches) | Height (inches) | Depth (inches) | Height From Floor (inches) | |
| Base Units | As required (Generally, shutter sizes are between 12-18 inches) | 30 – 34 | 22 – 24 | 2 – 3 |
| Wall Units | As required (Generally, shutter sizes are between 12-18 inches) | 24 – 30 | 12 – 15 | 58 – 62 |
| Tall Units | As required (Generally, shutter sizes are between 15-21 inches) | 72 – 84 | 22 – 24 | 2 – 3 |
| Loft Units | As required (Generally, shutter sizes are between 15-21 inches) | 18 – 36 | 15 – 24 | 72- 90 |
| Cutlery Drawers | 12 – 36 | 3 – 6 | 22 – 24 | As required |
| Mid-Size Drawers | 12 – 36 | 6 – 9 | 22 – 24 | As required |
| Large Utensil Drawers | 12 – 36 | 9 – 15 | 22 – 24 | As required |
Materials Used in Kitchen Cabinet Design
There are mainly two types of materials used in kitchen cabinet storage units:
- Base materials: In modular kitchen designs, the cabinets and their supporting frames are made of hard and strong base materials, which are then covered or coated with the appropriate types of finishes. These materials must have properties of moisture resistance, adequate load-bearing capacity and durability.
- Finishing materials: Kitchen cabinets can have various finishes applied to the base materials. These finishes determine the final look and feel of kitchens and must preferably be easy to clean and resistant to scratches, water and stains.
Base Materials in Kitchen Unit Designs
The commonly used base materials are:
- Solid Wood: Different types of wood varieties (generally hardwood) have been used to make kitchens for centuries. A solid wooden kitchen design has a traditional aesthetic and is generally not used to make modular and modern kitchen units, as they require a lot of on-site work.
- Engineered Wood: Engineered wood products are the most commonly used materials in kitchen cabinet design. Materials like plywood, MDF and particle board are lightweight yet strong and affordable, can be easily machined and can take on a variety of finishes (paint, laminates, veneers, etc.). However, boards of adequate quality must be used to prevent damage from moisture.
- Stainless Steel: These kitchens, which are lightweight and simple to clean, are most frequently found in restaurants and other commercial settings. Stainless steel kitchens can be made with various finishes, such as matte, glossy, antique and brushed. However, glossy finishes can accumulate fingerprints and smudges.
- Aluminium: Modular kitchen cabinets can be made of solid aluminium or have aluminium framing (for supporting cabinets made of engineered wood or as framing around glass). An aluminium kitchen cabinet design can have glossy, matte, brushed, satin, powder-coated or painted finishes and even be processed to resemble other materials like stone and wood.
Finishes for Kitchen Cabinet Design
Some of the most commonly used finishes in modern kitchen cabinet design are:
- Veneers: Wood veneers are thin slices of natural wood and can be applied on engineered wood cabinets. This serves as an affordable solution that retains the look of solid wood kitchens without being as expensive. However, if damages like scratches or peeling occur, they can be difficult to repair.
- Laminates: Laminates are composite materials made of paper or fabric layers bonded and compressed with resin. They are thin layers that can be applied on solid wood or engineered wood kitchen cabinetry. Available in multiple finishes (matte, glossy, satin, brushed or resembling other materials like stone and wood), laminates are a durable, affordable and versatile finishing option, making them the most popular choice in modern kitchens.
- Acrylic: Acrylic is a type of plastic material. Available in high-gloss as well as matte finishes and offering high durability, scratch resistance and water resistance, acrylic kitchen cabinets are commonly used in luxury kitchens.
- Paint: MDF or plywood cabinets can be coated with PU (Polyurethane) paint, which achieves a high-quality finish that is commonly seen in lavish and modern style kitchen cabinets. Aluminium and stainless steel cabinets can be powder-coated to obtain colourful finishes.
Trending Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
In contemporary modular kitchen and wardrobe design, the following design ideas are currently trending:
- Fluted Glass and Backlighting: Fluted glass consists of vertical rib patterns in glass. Although an old material, it has made a comeback in modern kitchen design. Combined with backlighting, fluted glass kitchen cabinet designs create extremely interesting spaces and are commonly seen in luxury kitchens.
- Pastel & Monochromatic Colours: Pastel colour palettes—including colours like sage green, sky blue, beige and baby pink—created with PU paint help create bright and spacious-looking kitchens, making them popular in modern design. Monochromatic colour combinations, such as gray and white kitchen cabinets, are also trending today. These colours are often combined with patterned kitchen tiles to add visual interest.
- Smart Storage Solutions: Smart kitchen hardware and mechanisms offer convenience and enhance functionality. Such solutions include rotatable and pull-out shelves, movable trolleys and multi-functional storage/ display shelves. When used in kitchen cabinets for small kitchens, these solutions help make every nook and corner more accessible.
- Handle-less Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets: Kitchen cabinet designs without handles create a sleek and minimalist aesthetic. Such cabinets instead utilise recessed grooves, magnetic closures and other such mechanisms to facilitate opening and closing.
Cost of Modern Kitchen Cabinets
The kitchen cabinet cost is extremely variable and dependent on factors like base material used, finish used, brand, quality and market trends. However, some of the common rates in India are as follows:
| Base Material Used | Kitchen Cabinet Cost Per Square Foot (₹) | |
| Solid Wood | 4,000 – 20,000 | |
| Engineered Wood | MDF | 2,300 – 3,700 |
| Plywood | 2,400- 5,000 | |
| Stainless Steel | 3,000 – 15,000 | |
| Aluminium | 2,700 – 12,000 | |
| Finishing Material | Cost Per Square Foot (₹) |
| Veneers | 2600 – 6000 |
| Laminates | 2100 – 4500 |
| Acrylic | 4500 – 6000 |
| PU Paint | 3,000 – 3,500 |
Please note that the sq ft cost here refers to the area of kitchen cabinet shutters in elevation. These are approximate values, and it is advisable to consult experts to get accurate cost estimates.
Getting the Best Kitchen Cabinet Design
Kitchen cabinetry is an important determinant of a modular kitchen’s usability, functionality and aesthetics. Brick & Bolt’s team of expert architects ensure that every kitchen designed by the company is personalised to suit the specific needs and budget of every project. With a streamlined building materials supply, supreme quality is also maintained in every project. This has solidified the company’s reputation as a top builder in India and helped it complete 10,000+ homes. Reach out to Brick & Bolt today to get the best home and kitchen cabinet design!
Apoorva H P Achar