Kitchen cabinet design ideas: how to get the perfect blend of style and substance

Kitchen cabinet design ideas are the key element of every new kitchen. Doors and drawers need to be practical and stylish so they are a joy to use year after year.

There’s so much to consider when it comes to choosing the perfect kitchen cabinet design, so take your time.

Do you prefer simple slab doors or a classic Shaker style? Then there’s colour: are you going to play it safe with neutral or make a bold statement? And storage: do you want everything behind closed doors or a mix of open shelving too?

A new kitchen is a big financial outlay too, so you need to get it just right for you and your home. Check out our blog to see how much an average new kitchen costs.

Getting in touch with local kitchen designers is a great place to start. Kitchen specialists can talk you through ideas for kitchen cabinets as well as planning the layout.

Pop your postcode in the search bar below to see recommendations for kitchen designers in your area.

If you’re overwhelmed by the choice of door styles on offer for a new kitchen, you’ve definitely come to the right place.

Kitchen cabinet design ideas

From traditional, timber doors to clever storage hacks and pastel hues, kitchen cabinet design ideas are vast.

Whatever material, colour or style idea you fancy, let us inspire you for your new kitchen project.

1. Pick a country style cabinet

It’s not only cottages and barns that suit a country-style kitchen. In fact, this classic, Shaker style oak door is so versatile that it wouldn’t look out of place in a super modern home either.

Choose from a number of different timbers – painted or unpainted – and pair them with a traditional cup handle in brass or copper to max out the country-style look.

The beauty of this kitchen cabinet is that you can update it with a different paint colour if you fancy a change in the future. Check out our guide on how to paint kitchen cabinets.

For the best results, we would always recommend hiring a professional for a top notch finish.

2. Add drama with red

For a super modern touch, glossy kitchen cabinets in a fiery red colour won’t let you down.

The trick with such a bold shade is to own it. Block out banks of cabinets in a bright pillar box red and keep the rest of the room simple with unfussy detail.

Think white worktops, simple steel bar handles, a plain splashback and pale timber flooring. That’s not to say you can’t experiment with colour as red pairs well with sandy neutrals and plaster pink shades.

Embrace red hues in the kitchen – they won’t fail to add warmth and wake you up every single morning.

3. Introduce a focal point colour

Dual-colour kitchen cabinet ideas are a simple way to elevate a kitchen design. If you’re struggling to pick just one colour for your kitchen, then don’t. Two colours can up the design tempo so much.

Kitchen island units are a favourite fixture to paint in a contrasting hue. But there are other ways to create a focal point with colour in the kitchen.

We love how the pale turquoise shade on the freestanding cabinet lightens up the deep black fitted units. The pretty, pale shade instantly lifts the small kitchen, with glass doors throwing light around the room.

4. Ditch the handles

Ditch cabinet handles and go for a streamlined, handleless kitchen instead. The result is sleek and uncluttered and perfect for a plain, slab front door.

Choose invisible, recessed handles or grips that form part of the kitchen. Or try a push-touch cabinet that can be opened with a gentle push (base units can even be opened with a light knee push if your hands are full!). There are even remote control opening cabinets which are a perfect choice for those with mobility issues.

Getting rid of handles, knobs and cups is also great for families with young children. There’s no fear of bashing heads!

Handle-free kitchens look great in an open-plan design where you want your kitchen to look like a simple piece of furniture rather than anything too functional or fussy.

5. Introduce texture

Fluted, grooved or ribbed door fronts are a big kitchen trend at the moment.

Introduce this surface texture as an accent, say on a kitchen island, half-height wall panelling or a pantry cupboard. It’s an amazing design trick that will inject an extra dimension into your kitchen.

Do be aware that grooved surfaces are harder to clean than flat panel designs. You will need a little more time and patience to get dust out of the gaps – but the results are definitely worth it.

The tightly spaced fluting on this powder blue island is enhanced by the softly rounded shape. The mix of colour and curves creates the most social spot.

Bespoke kitchen cabinetmakers are a good place to start if you fancy something a little different and off-the-peg.

6. Go for classic neutrals with a twist

Neutral kitchen cabinets are a timeless classic choice that suit every architectural style and interior.

Try a warm putty shade rather than stark white and pair with pale oak or beech.

Subtle design tweaks make all the difference too. These classic panelled cabinets are given a modern twist by taking away the handles.

Introduce great kitchen lighting for a joyful, open mood.

7. Embrace dark colour

Dark kitchens are a guaranteed way to create sophisticated drama. Choose hardwearing laminate or lacquered doors that can be wiped down easily.

Why not colour block the entire kitchen with saturated black? That’s door fronts, worktops, splashback and appliances. It’s not a look for the fainthearted but it’s packed with impact.

If all black is too much for your design tastebuds, go for a classic black and white kitchen. Or charcoal with a hint of brass.

8. Experiment with colour

Pink interiors are everywhere at the moment – and that includes the cooking space.

Billed as today’s new neutral, it’s time to experiment with pink kitchen cabinets.  Try a soft clay pink or barely-there blush rather than a sugary pink or bold fuchsia.

Keep accessories and handles to a minimum and let the subtle glow of recessed LEDs wash over the pink bloom.

9. Try out ply

If you love the look and natural warmth of timber, but want extra contemporary cool, then choose plywood kitchen doors.

Ply is a hardwearing and sustainable material that can be an affordable option too. The look is slick and modern, either left bare or painted in a couple of pastel shades.

Many plywood kitchen door manufacturers make the fronts to fit on to standard carcases so it’s a budget friendly way to switch up your kitchen for less.

Plywood is a little more expensive than other composite sheet materials like MDF but is a more eco-friendly choice with fewer chemicals.

Storage ideas for kitchen cabinets

Kitchens can never have enough storage, right? Here’s how to stash all of your food, utensils, crockery, tableware, pots and pans whatever size of kitchen.

Check out our stylish storage ideas for kitchen cabinets and find a home for everything.

Install storage walls: Kit out narrow zones of the kitchen with floor-to-ceiling open shelves, cubbyholes and drawers. Like a pantry, but without the need for a separate room.

Stretch cupboards to the ceiling: Use the full height of the wall by stretching cabinets right up to the ceiling. Store less-frequently used items and seasonal products in these harder-to-reach cupboards.

Add glass units: Break up a kitchen by installing glass-fronted cupboards. It’s a great way to bounce light around the room and show off your curated display of crockery.

Use unexpected colour: Go for bold paint colours on the inside of kitchen cupboards – a cool way to use accent colours sparingly but with drama.

Mix and match mood: Try a mix of unfitted cabinets, old sideboards and wall shelves for a personality-packed space.

Do a shelfie: There’s nothing simpler or more effective than a few rows of plain white shelving to store your herbs and spices. Decant into jars and bottles for a style upgrade.

Did you find this blog on kitchen cabinet ideas useful? See anything you’re going to try at home? Let us know by leaving a comment or tagging us on Instagram! 

We recommend hiring a professional for any big kitchen projects. Pop your postcode into the search bar below and find recommended tradespeople in your area.