Cabinet Selection: Why IKEA Is Sometimes Right and Custom Is Sometimes a Trap
A completely practical guide to cabinets that does not judge you for whatever you choose, but does judge the decisions that lead to regret.
Cabinets are the most expensive decision in most kitchens. The gap between a good cabinet and a foolish one is usually about four thousand dollars and one argument about shaker doors.
IKEA cabinets are underrated and also correctly rated. The hardware is annoying. The price is real. The finished result is frequently indistinguishable from cabinets that cost three times more.
Custom cabinets make sense when your kitchen is not a standard shape. If you have odd angles, unusual depths, or a specific vision that cannot be achieved with modular systems, custom is worth the premium.
Soft-close hinges should not be a luxury feature in 2025. They just should not. If a cabinet door is slamming in your house, that is a problem and also a sound that nobody should have to hear anymore.
Plywood boxes outperform particleboard in humid environments. If your cabinets are near a dishwasher or a sink, pay the extra money for plywood. Your cabinets will survive the marriage.
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