When remodeling your kitchen or considering cabinet replacement, you want the kitchen and the cabinets to look elegant and beautiful. However, there are some things that can negatively impact the appearance of the cabinets and make them look cheap. So, before updating your cabinets or buying 1951 cabinets, keep these things in mind so you avoid them.

What Makes Kitchen Cabinets Look Cheap?

Particleboard Cabinets

Particleboard is the cheapest cabinet material and it also looks cheap and mediocre. The material is a good choice for those who want to buy cabinets at the lowest cost, such as rental property owners or homeowners who seek a temporary option for a few years, but it does appear cheap too.

Moreover, laminate or thermofoil, when used with particleboard cabinet doors, doesn’t look that great, especially when the laminate layer starts peeling, which happens quite soon and it throws off the look of the entire kitchen.

So, if you want your kitchen cabinets to look at least decent, even if you want them to be cost-effective, pick MDF cabinets. They are in the middle lane. They don’t appear too bad and are also fairly durable. Moreover, MDF cabinets can easily be painted. And if painted well, they look pretty good. Plus, you can simply repaint the cabinets to change the appearance of your kitchen.

Furthermore, if you want the best-looking kitchen cabinet options, then go for plywood or solid wood cabinet doors. Plywood is highly recommended as it’s more durable than solid wood, MDF, and most other options.

Poor Cabinet Paint Job

Painting cabinets can instantly change their appearance, but only when done properly. A poor paint job will leave your kitchen cabinets looking cheap and messy. People only associate a bad paint job with DIY painting, however, even when you hire a painting contractor, they can sometimes perform poorly.

If you can see visible brush streaks and lines, paint drops, patchy color, flaking paint, too rough texture, or bubbles, you know it’s a bad paint job. Minor problems can be fixed with sanding, but if the issue is major, you will need to repaint the cabinets entirely.

If you’re painting kitchen cabinets yourself, check the material too because a few materials or finishes, such as laminate, thermofoil, and particleboard, are not suitable for painting. Paint is best for MDF, plywood, and wood cabinets.

The Wrong Finish

Paint is one type of cabinet finish and we have discussed when it can look cheap. There are some other cabinets finishes and colors that look too budget and low-end. Very high gloss finishes are at the top of that list because they are extra glossy and every fingerprint and smudge appears clearly on the cabinets and it doesn’t look good, to say the least. High gloss finishes become even more problematic if you choose white or light colors.

Moreover, thermofoil and laminate can also give off a cheap look that you don’t want. As stated earlier, they may look plastic-like and fake. But the problem begins when they start peeling from the edges. It can make any type of cabinet material, style, or color look bad.

Plus, there are laminate options that mimic wood. They appear wood-like from a distance, but if someone stares at them for a little while, they will notice the uniform, repeated patterns and the color to be too yellow or orange, giving away that it’s not real wood. This looks cheap.

Cheap Hardware

Cabinet hardware may not seem like something that makes a difference, but it does. And a huge one in many cases. The hardware can improve or degrade the appearance of cabinets. So, you have to pick the style, material, and finishes mindfully.

When it comes to hardware materials, plastic and acrylic are a big no. Anything that looks like plastic on cabinets will look cheap. Moreover, zinc or thin metal hardware that has a coating of a high-end material also appears cheap because the coating chips over time and makes the cabinets look bad. So, pick stainless steel, heavy aluminum, and solid brass hardware.

Moreover, avoid knobs that look like crystals but are made of plastic or any other low-quality material. Plus, ornate hardware also looks dated and cheap. And if the hardware is too shiny, it equals too cheap.

In addition to that, make sure the hardware matches the theme and style of the kitchen and there is no mismatch. A mismatch will appear cheap, mostly, even if you use contemporary designs and good quality hardware. So, when choosing Timberlake cabinets MD, make sure to take care of the hardware as well.

Outdated Door Styles

There are many cabinet door styles and almost all of them can appear decent with the right material and finish. However, you should still steer clear of some classic, outdated door choices, such as raised panel doors, cathedral door styles, louvered cabinets, distressed or glazed finishes, and honey oak finishes. Plus, following the latest kitchen trends can also backfire as they get outdated in a few years.

Remember that shaker and slab door styles are common and can look good and timeless if you don’t choose too thin a frame width or cheap finishes (laminate, thermofoil, or glossy). The frame width should be medium and the finish should be matte, natural, wood veneer, or lacquer.

Thin Doors

The standard thickness for cabinet doors is 3/4 inches, so they appear nice and sturdy. However, if the thickness of your slab door or frame and panel door is lower than that, it will look cheap. So, when choosing cabinets, make sure that the thickness is at least 3/4 inches. And keep in mind that the door style, finish, and installation matter as well.

Poor Installation

Cabinet installation involves various steps that must be performed with care to ensure proper installation. Any errors can create flaws that look bad and cheap, even if the cabinets are made of solid wood or plywood, and the hardware and finish is high-end.

Mistakes like incorrect measurements, improper surface preparation, layout planning issues, low-quality materials, improper leveling and alignment, rushed installation, or external issues (moisture, uneven wall, etc.) can lead to poor installation, and it will show and look cheap.

So, when installing kitchen cabinets, find a reliable installer or a dealer who either has a team that installs the cabinets or can connect you with reputable installers. Of course, you should choose medium or high-quality materials to begin with.

Cabinet Colors Mismatching With The Kitchen

Even when the cabinet material or design is not the problem, not choosing the cabinet color properly and not matching it well with the kitchen can look rushed and cheap. The cabinets won’t feel integrated with the kitchen and will appear bad.

For instance, cabinets clashing with countertops will create problems for both.

Skipping Important Interior Details

Many things about the cabinet exterior can make or break the appearance. However, that’s also true for the interior of cabinets. Things like unfinished cabinet interior, too-thin shelves, uneven spacing between shelves, no soft-close hinges and drawers, particleboard drawer box, misaligned doors, uneven seams and gaps, and others can give away cheap cabinets or improper installation.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned guide shows how important it is to be careful when choosing cabinets. Some mistakes can make the cabinets look cheap. If you don’t want your kitchen cabinets to look bad or cheap, get in touch with a 1951 cabinetry dealer MD to buy and install cabinets.