A Complete Guide to Kitchen Cabinets
The built-in furnishings of a kitchen are called kitchen cabinets. In addition to conventional serving plates and cutlery, they offer storage for food, cooking supplies, and tools. They are either installed independently or include a prefabricated and planned kitchen framework, similar to those used in modern kitchens. Appliances like stoves, dishwashers, and freezers are also integrated into the cabinetry of modern kitchens, making them small and very useful.
According to anthropological research, homeowners “interact” with their kitchen cabinets on a nearly daily basis. As a result, building cabinets that complement the homeowner and their cooking area requires a balance between utility and aesthetics.
Kitchen cabinet ergonomics
In the majority of modern kitchens, cabinets are a necessary component. They are either prefabricated and pre-designed with a new kitchen framework, or they are constructed independently to fit into an existing kitchen design. From the height at which material storage cabinets are constructed to the separation between the kitchen triangle and the other appliances, ergonomics are crucial in cabinet design.
While a small kitchen’s restricted size allows for more experimentation to improve functionality and use the available space for extra storage, a large kitchen may have more cabinets with a variety of storage alternatives.
Features of Kitchen Cabinets:
Many useful features are included with modern kitchen cabinets, including
For convenience and privacy, remove the spice racks, trash/recycling bins, and utensil shelves.
Plenty of room for cookware is provided by the large, deep drawers.
Bottle and cookie sheet storage cabinets that are vertical.
Doors and drawers have soft closures.
Carousel trays to make the most of available corner space. Lazy susans to store in corner cabinets
Materials for Kitchen Cabinets
MDF cabinets can be finished with veneer, or laminated plywood can be used to build them. They have either a gloss or matte finish. They may be made in a range of hues and textures to match the kitchen’s overall color scheme.
The fundamental framework of the kitchen is made up of cabinets, often known as carcasses. Every kitchen has one of four fundamental varieties.
Cabinets may be classified into many types according to their size and location, are composed of a wide range of materials, and come in a multitude of colors. When building a kitchen cabinet, boiling water resistant plywood, or BWR, is the most often utilized material.
Cost of Kitchen Cabinets
The choice of base material, whether a cabinet has one or more drawers, if it has extra pantry or bottle storage units, and whether it has a variety of kitchen accessories all affect the price of the cabinet.
Various kinds of kitchen cabinets
1. Base Cabinets
These serve as the kitchen’s structural backbone and are also referred to as bottom cabinets. These cabinets are typically 24 inches deep and 28 inches high (without skirting). Depending on certain needs or uses, the depth can be raised to 27 inches. The base cabinets’ height is chosen to promote ergonomic design and simplicity of usage. Base cabinets in certain kitchens are raised to a height of 32 inches by resting atop a “toe kick or skirting.”
2. Cabinets on the Wall
These are mounted to the wall above the countertop and are also known as upper cabinets. Upper cabinets are more adaptable than base cabinets, and their quantity and placement may be changed to suit the size of the kitchen and practical needs. The depth of upper cabinets is normally 12 inches, but it may be raised to 17 or 18 inches if necessary.
3. Elevated Cabinets
In addition to food and utensils, these cabinets are made to hold appliances. Usually, they are customized to fit the kitchen’s layout. With a maximum height of 80 inches, these containers serve as excellent storage spaces.
4. Particular Cabinets
Not present in every kitchen, they are made to meet functional needs while also adding aesthetic appeal and demonstrating the ingenious and discrete use of limited kitchen space. Special units keep the kitchen more organized and reduce wasteful use of space. These consist of bottle racks, counter extensions, corner cabinets, tall cabinets with appliance storage, and suspended worktops.
How to Keep Kitchen Cabinets Clean
Cleaning kitchen cabinets once a week is a good idea to prevent grease from the oils and spices. If you make it a practice to wipe off spills and unclean areas as soon as you discover them, cleaning kitchen cabinets won’t be difficult. One of the most important tasks is keeping the kitchen clean. By doing this, you may avoid insects and other pests that are drawn to the dirt and food scraps that collect beneath the sink cabinets. To maintain the kitchen cabinets’ cleanliness and luster, adhere to following guidelines:
Empty the kitchen shelf and use a dry towel to wipe away any dust that has gathered in the storage boxes.
If you are cleaning your cabinet after a lengthy period, vacuum it to get rid of cobwebs and dust.
The cabinet shutter’s exterior may be cleaned with soap and water, and the slider or other difficult-to-clean areas can be cleaned with a toothbrush.
To prevent moisture in the cabinets, particularly in under-sink cabinets, use naphthalene balls.
While cleaning the cabinets beneath the sink, clear your dustbins and wipe up any food spills.
Glass cabinets may be cleaned with newspaper or a commercial glass cleaning solution. Mirrored cabinets may be cleaned using the same method.
You may clean a smaller area of the kitchen cabinets by using a toothbrush to clean the handle.
Make it a habit to keep your kitchen cabinet clean by doing these actions once a week.