Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets

With the arrival of Spring and Summer, it is time to start thinking about home improvement projects- both interior and exterior. Whether you are looking to restore the victorian look of your home, give it a modern spin, or just update it with current trends, the kitchen is going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. New kitchen cabinets can add value to your home and completely change the atmosphere of the room. Whatever kind of cabinets you're looking for, it is important to know the different materials that companies use and the advantages/disadvantages or each.

One of the most popular materials for wood kitchen cabinets is maple. Maple is both durable and versatile. It can be used with many finishes because of its fine, uniform grain. Maple can be painted or stained with ease and can match a variety of kitchens. One of the only downsides of maple is that it tends to yellow in the sun, which isn't a problem if it's painted.

Melamine cabinets are another option. Melamine is a coating that goes over a base material and provides protection against scratches, stains and flames. It comes in a variety of styles- retro, plain white or faux wood grain. How well Melamine will hold up, is really dependent on the material used underneath it, and can vary greatly among manufacturers. The coating doesn't allow moisture into the base material, but if the coating is cracked, melamine cabinets can sag quickly. Otherwise, they are an aesthetically pleasing and relatively durable choice for a kitchen cabinet set.

Metal cabinets are an old style that are making a come back (some say they never lost their popularity). From stainless steel to copper, the variety of metals used in modern kitchen cabinets keeps growing. Stainless steel can appear institutional, but with the right accessories, it can help create a warm and inviting kitchen. Burnished copper and brushed nickel also are two popular finishes on metal cabinets. Metal cabinets can be noisy, so look at all the materials used in the cabinets. Manufacturers often lay the metal over other, less noisy materials such as plywood or pressboard. This takes the noise level down, but can seriously affect durability. As with the Melanie cabinets, the durability of metal cabinets will be affected by the materials used behind the metal sheathing.

Rivaling maple's popularity is oak. Oak is quite durable, but it isn't as versatile as maple because of its distinct look. The distinctive grain of oak lends itself to old-fashioned, country-styled kitchens, but it doesn't match well in modern kitchen styles. Stains and varnishes take to oak very well and can allow its unique grain to really stand out. There are many different colors of oak since it's one of the most common trees in North America.