What are the different Kitchen Cabinet Finishes?

Choosing the right finish for your kitchen cabinets can feel overwhelming, but it’s such an important decision that can truly impact both the look and durability of your kitchen.

To help you navigate this process, here’s a quick guide to some of the most popular finishes you might come across. From budget-friendly options to high-end designer styles:

• Melamine – A tough, affordable finish made by sealing decorative paper onto the board, great for everyday use.
• Laminate – A thicker, durable surface layer available in a wide range of textures and colours.
• Polyurethane (Poly) – A smooth, painted finish applied to MDF, offering a sleek and seamless look.
• Timber Veneer – A thin slice of real timber bonded to the board, giving a natural timber appearance.
• HPL (high pressure laminate) – A hard wearing, often matt finish, scratch resistant and in some cases fingerprint resistant product often glued to an MDF board perfect for modern, high-end kitchens.
• MDF – A strong, smooth base material often used under other finishes like poly or veneer.

What is the best Kitchen Cabinet Finish?

When it comes to picking the perfect kitchen cabinet finish, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Your Kitchen cabinet finish reflects your unique style, budget, and how you use your kitchen. To make it a bit easier, here’s our suggestions for the best kitchen cabinet finish:

1. Best for durability & easy cleaning: Melamine and laminate are great for busy households. They’re affordable, low-maintenance, and resist scratches, stains, and moisture.
2. Best for a high-end look: HPL, high end melamine’s and woodgrain finishes offers a sleek, matt textured finish with a modern feel, while polyurethane (poly) gives you a smooth, seamless painted look in custom colours and finishes.
3. Best for natural warmth: Timber veneer is perfect if you love the look of real timber but want a more cost-effective and stable option.
4. Best base for detailed styles: MDF isn’t a finish on its own, but it’s a popular base for finishes like poly or veneer because it’s smooth, strong, and ideal for routed designs like shaker doors.

In short, if you want stylish and low-maintenance, choose melamine or laminate. For a luxury finish, choose polyurethane or HPL. And if you love natural timber tones, veneer is a beautiful choice.

What is the standard Kitchen Cabinet Size?

Standard kitchen cabinets come in fixed sizes, allowing for easy mass production and availability. While this convenience is a plus, it can sometimes lead to a less-than-perfect fit for your specific space.

In Australia, the standard cupboard widths generally range from 300mm to 1200mm. Increasing in regular increments of 300mm, 450mm, 600mm, 750mm and so on. Although these widths are fairly consistent across various cabinet types, the height and depth can differ based on whether the cabinet is a base, wall, or pantry unit.

Industry standard for base cabinets is approximately 700 – 730mm (excluding the kickboard) and have a depth of 600mm including bench top. This standard height is designed to achieve an overall benchtop height between 850mm and 1000mm meaning you could be left with a kickboard height of 150-300mm losing valuable storage space. For most people, an ideal benchtop height falls in the range of 900mm to 950mm, ensuring comfortable use. Therefore, while the base cabinet measures 720mm, when you add the benchtop and the kickboard, the total height from the floor to the top of the benchtop can reach 900mm.

At Harrington kitchens our ‘standard’ base cabinets are 780mm high and 630mm deep to ensure we are maximising all aspects of your kitchen space and providing you with the best possible solutions to your storage and cabinetry needs. Industry standard for kickboard height is 130-150mm we set up our kickboards at 100mm high ensuring that the kitchen cabinets and drawers above are as large as possible.

Wall cabinets range in height depending on height of ceiling and splashback height requirements, but are generally shallower in depth, ranging from 300mm or 450mm, creating a more open feel and providing extra headroom.

Tall or pantry cabinets range in height from around 2000 – 2400mm depending on ceiling height and are usually 600 – 700mm deep, allowing for ample vertical storage.

Whether you choose custom or standard cabinets, knowing the dimensions will help you get the best kitchen layout and make the most out of your space.

How are custom Kitchen Cabinets made?

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, there’s no comparison between off-the-shelf options and custom-built ones. Off the shelf are mass produced and limits any customisation.

Custom kitchen cabinets are designed just for you by a skilled craftsman. They read your kitchen plans and build cabinets that fit your space perfectly and match your style. When you choose custom made cabinets you get something special that looks great and lasts a long time.

Is it worth getting Custom Cabinets?

If you are after stock standard with limited cabinet sizes off-the-shelf designs are a safe and practical option. But if you want to take your kitchen to the next level, custom cabinetry is the way to go!

With custom cabinets, you can design around your built-in appliances, make the most of those tricky spaces, and create a kitchen layout that perfectly fits your cooking style and lifestyle. It’s all about making your space feel truly yours! Plus, a well-designed custom kitchen can boost your home’s appeal if you ever decide to sell.

Still curious about kitchen cabinets? You’re in the right place. From how to choose quality cabinets to selecting the best finish for your kitchen cabinets and more, we’ve got plenty of inspiration to help you create your dream kitchen. Let’s dive in