When choosing your ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets, you have a variety of styles and specifications to pick from. These can include the size, color, cabinet finish, style, and hardware of the cabinets. Two of the most common styles of kitchen cabinets are raised panel and flat panel.
Raised panel cabinets are a traditional style found in many kitchens. On these cabinets, the panel protrudes slightly and is often accompanied with a matching raised panel around the door’s perimeter. Raised panel cabinet fronts require high quality craftsmanship to ensure that the doors are integrated into the cabinet box. A popular type of raised panel door is the cathedral style. This door style gives an elegant look with their Neo Gothic design. They feature an exaggerated arch at the top of the raised panel, which is usually used on the upper cabinets.
Flat panel cabinets, which are also sometimes referred to as slab cabinets, are constructed from a single flat piece of material- usually wood, laminate, or steel. There are no raised or recessed parts, which provides a simple design with clean lines to blend with your home’s style. This type of modern kitchen cabinet adds a contemporary look, especially in trending colors like blue, green, or gray. For those who prefer clean and sleek designs, frameless slab kitchen cabinets are a great option.
Now that you know the difference between these two types of RTA cabinet doors, it’s time to choose the right hardware for the cabinets. You may think that any type of hardware (knobs, pulls, hooks, etc.) will do, but there are certain styles, colors, and types that look best on each type of cabinet door.
For raised panel cabinets, you want to focus on more intricate and ornate hardware to balance out the design of the door. Raised panel cabinets can sometimes appear more like a piece of furniture than a plain cabinet, which allows you to use hardware that you would typically find on fancy furniture. Backplates are another type of hardware that works well with raised panel doors. This also can give the cabinets a furniture-like appearance, like this antique brass backplate. Choose pulls with fun accents, such as this small rosette pull, to add a hint of embellishment to your kitchen. Lastly, you can’t forget about knob options. Wood knobs mesh well with the traditional style of most raised panel cabinets.
For flat panel cabinets, minimal and subtle hardware usually looks better. Stainless steel pulls are a popular choice, since they add a modern touch. Tubular and flat styles are your best options for these types of pulls. Recessed pulls add depth to the flat panel, creating a professional look that you’d see in offices. These pulls, like this rectangular flush pull, don’t stick out as much as other options. For a simple and affordable option, wire pulls are always a classic choice. They often feature little to no detail, allowing your sleek, high quality RTA kitchen cabinets to take center stage.