Your cabinet door style can be one of the most important factors in your kitchen’s new design. Not only are cabinet doors one of the most visible design elements in a kitchen, but they can also be one of the most expensive. From the elaborate to the simple, there’s a door style for every home design. Take a look at some of the better-known styles here and see which will work for your home’s style and your budget.

Shaker

The Shaker-style cabinet door is the most common door style in kitchens today. This five-piece flat-panel style has a frame made from four pieces and a single flat center panel for the fifth piece.

Shaker cabinetry gets its name from the distinctive Shaker furniture style, which uses simple, clean lines and emphasizes utility. Shaker-style doors became popular because their simple style lends itself to just about any decor — from contemporary to traditional — with variations in wood species, stains, paint colors and hardware.

This classic style can work with a variety of budgets, depending on the wood used. Some manufacturers can even replace the center door panel with a more cost-effective material. Using a natural finish rather than a painted one could save you money on your purchase too.

Flat

Simple but stylish, the flat-panel, or slab, cabinet door is void of any expensive details. Its hard lines and minimalist form make it a great fit for contemporary and modern interiors. Many flat doors come in decorative laminate or wood. Laminate tends to be more budget friendly and offers a greater variety of colors and sheens.

Inset

Although this style tends to be one of the most expensive on the market, it’s a classic look that’ll last for generations. The inset door gets its name because it is set inside of the cabinet frame — typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame. The door is designed and constructed with extremely precise measurements so that it nests inside the frame and opens and closes properly, even when the wood expands and contracts.

Beadboard

Love cottage style? It doesn’t get more cottage chic than beadboard. The center panel of the cabinet doors in this style are made to look like traditional beadboard paneling. Beadboard was used in the past as a decorative wall treatment before plaster, drywall and paint became common. While all-white beadboard cabinetry can give your kitchen a bright and clean feel, all the little crevasses on this door style can take more effort to keep clean.

Louvered

Horizontal wood slats are typically used on windows, furniture pieces and interior doors, but they add a distinct architectural style to kitchen cabinetry. However, these beauties can come with a heavy price tag. Many louvered doors have spaces between each slat, making them great for cabinets that require ventilation — like a cabinet near a radiator, dedicated clothes drying cabinet in a laundry room or cabinetry for cable boxes and DVD players.

Distressed

If you’ve always dreamed of having an antique-style kitchen, then you’ll love the distressed-looking cabinets available from most manufacturers. Choose any door style and opt to have the corners rubbed off or have other distressing techniques done for that age-old feeling. This extra work will cost you though; there’s usually an upcharge for a tradesperson to “destroy” your new doors.

Thermofoil

These doors are molded out of MDF (medium-density fiberboard), wrapped in a plastic-type coating and then baked under intense heat to create an impervious seal. Durable and cost effective, they come only in solid colors and imitation wood grain. Often mass-produced, thermofoil cabinetry comes at very competitive price points. It’s durable, but it’s also difficult to repair damage to it.

Custom

Can’t find a door style on the market that really complements your kitchen design intention? Work with a pro to design your own. Contact a local designer or craftsperson to help you create a personalized design.