If you’re considering updating your kitchen cabinets, you may be wondering about the different styles of cabinet doors available. One option that is becoming increasingly popular is inset cabinet doors.
Inset doors are inspired by the work of craftsmen and artisans of the Georgina and Victorian periods. They are set into the cabinet frame, rather than sitting on top of it, giving them a classic look.
This style of door can also add character and value to your home. When choosing inset cabinet doors, it’s important to consider the overall style of your kitchen.
If you have a traditional kitchen, for example, classic wood doors would be a good choice. If you have a more modern kitchen, you might opt for doors with clean lines and a simple design. Whatever your style, inset cabinet doors can help give your kitchen a fresh new look.
There are common questions that come to mind when someone considers inset cabinets. I will answer them in this post.
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Are inset cabinets framed or frameless?
The most common understanding is that inset cabinets must be attached to framed cabinet boxes in order for the doors and drawers to fit inside the face frame. However, this is not necessarily always true. Inset cabinets can be attached to both, framed and frameless cabinet boxes.
However, if a frameless cabinet box is used to host inset cabinet doors, the cabinet box should be made of thick durable material, preferably hardwood.
An inset cabinet on a framed cabinet box is often used to achieve a classic look, especially if we are talking about the UK or American designs. On the other hand, a frameless cabinet box is often used to achieve a modern European look.
Are frameless cabinets the same as insets?
Frameless and Inset cabinets are of different categories. Frameless or framed refers to cabinet boxes, while Inset, partial overlay and full overlay refer to cabinet fronts.
This is the article I wrote that explains in detail what frameless and framed cabinets are, and how they relate to Inset, Partial overlay, and Full overlay cabinet fronts.
To put it simply, oftentimes, people mean Inset cabinets when they mention Framed cabinets because in American or English designs the Inset cabinets are usually attached to framed cabinet boxes. However, this is not the case for many European kitchen cabinet producers: there are many beautiful examples when an inset door is attached to a frameless cabinet.
Are inset cabinet doors more expensive?
Yes, in general, inset cabinets cost 15-30% more than partial or full overlay cabinets. There are two reasons for this:
Firstly, inset cabinets need to be adjusted super precisely. The gaps between the cabinet boxes and cabinet fronts need to be equal. Otherwise, the whole design will look messy and low quality. It takes a lot of time and a skillful craftsman to achieve this.
Secondly, if you are going for inset cabinets you have two options: framed cabinet box, or unframed cabinet box. If you are going for a framed cabinet box, it means that the cost of the frame material is added to the overall price.
However, if you are going for unframed cabinet boxes with inset cabinets, you need to make sure that the cabinet boxes are solid enough and made of a high-quality material, usually hardwood.
Usually, cabinet boxes are where people save a lot of money by choosing more affordable materials, such as melamine. In the case of inset cabinets, you can not use low-quality but cheap materials, because the cabinet boxes are going to be exposed.
Are inset cabinets custom?
Usually, yes, inset cabinets are custom. However, there are some companies that offer RTA (Ready To Assemble) inset cabinets, and they claim that the price of their inset cabinets is the same as that of partial or full overlay cabinets.
However, there is a big consideration here: the low cost is achieved by the fact that the buyer is supposed to DIY assemble the cabinetry. They even provide full video tutorials on how to do it, but I still believe that this project is not for everyone. It takes solid skills and tools to do it yourself.
In any case, here are some of the companies that offer modular inset cabinetry:
Cabinet Joint offers RTA inset cabinets. They also offer assembly services if you live within 150 miles of Myerstown, PA.
The Cabinet Spot is another great option if you are looking for an inset cabinet design that is RTA and more affordable than custom cabinetry. I really like the quality they offer, especially for the price.
Best Online Cabinets showcase stunning work and their cabinets would be perfect for you if you are looking for a less costly alternative of custom cabinetry with inset cabinet fronts. They use high-quality natural materials, such as 5/8″ Solid Wood Dovetail for cabinet boxes, and
wait for it
they provide 20 years of warranty.
Best Online Cabinets provide assembly instructions and free design, but I suggest you consider your craftsmanship skills very carefully before placing an order for Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) Inset Cabinets.
Kitchen remodel checklist
DIY kitchen remodel projects can be intimidating. If it’s your first project, you might feel overwhelmed and anxious. I have created this kitchen remodel checklist, which you can share with anyone and track the progress of the project.
Simply, duplicate this page and edit it as you wish: check and uncheck boxes, add notes, and add items.
If you find this resource helpful, write a review!
Do inset cabinets have less space?
Yes, inset cabinets have less space inside the cabinets, because the front of the cabinet sits on the edge of the cabinet box, and the thickness of the door is taking space from the interior of the cabinet.
However, if your concern is the space outside of the kitchen cabinets, then inset cabinets are right for you – it takes up less space from the exterior of the cabinets.
How much space do you lose with inset cabinets?
You lose approximately 7/8″ in the interior of the cabinet if you go for inset cabinets. The reason is that the front of the cabinet sits on the edge of the cabinet box, and the thickness of the door is taking space from the interior of the cabinet.
However, if you have a really small kitchen where your concern is the space outside of the kitchen cabinets, then inset cabinets are right for you – it takes up 7/8″ less space from the exterior of the cabinets.
Can you reface cabinets with inset doors?
You can reface the cabinets with inset doors. First, you need to reface the cabinet frames and make sure the veneer you use matches the material that you will use for cabinet fronts. This way you will create a cohesive coordinated look.
There might be two cases when you would want to reface inset cabinets: if you had overlay cabinet fronts before and now you are changing them with inset cabinets, and if you had inset cabinets before and you are just refacing the cabinet fronts.
In either case, making sure that you reface the cabinet frame is crucial since the cabinet frames are exposed when you install inset cabinets. Here is what the cabinet refacing process looks like, no matter the cabinet style:
Can You Change Cabinet Doors to Inset?
You can change cabinet doors to inset. You will need to reface the cabinet frames first and make sure the veneer you use matches the material that you will use for inset cabinet fronts. This way you will create a cohesive coordinated look.
There might be two cases when you would want to reface inset cabinets: if you had overlay cabinet fronts before and now you are changing them with inset cabinets, and if you had inset cabinets before and you are just updating cabinet fronts.
In either case, making sure that you reface the cabinet frame is crucial since the cabinet frames are exposed when you install inset cabinets. Here is what the cabinet refacing process looks like, no matter the cabinet style:
