The Ultimate Guide – Shaker Cabinets
Styling Your Shaker Cabinets: 9 Ways to Make Them Stand Out.
Shaker cabinets are extremely trendy for their simple and clean design. They can transform a space to feel anywhere from contemporary to modern. Shaker cabinets are timeless and beautiful on their own. There are many ways to make shaker cabinets stand out and become the focal point of your kitchen.
1. Choose a color that makes them stand out.
White shaker cabinets are one of the most popular cabinet colors because of their clean and versatile look. But they can sometimes look a little too sterile. Homeowners today are choosing bolder kitchen looks. If white just isn’t your thing, try picking a cabinet color that really makes a statement about your home.
Shaker cabinets come in a variety of popular colors. If you’ve been unsure about brighter cabinet colors, don’t be! Warm neutrals and striking hues are making a major comeback and are the perfect way to add character to your kitchen.
Once you have settled on an overall color palette for your space, you can choose a cabinet color that ties it all together and also adds dimension and personality!
2. Replace hardware with something more modern and unique.
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to incorporate a new style is to update your cabinet handles or knobs. Nothing changes a kitchen’s look as quickly as replacing your hardware.
There are so many choices when it comes to handles or knobs so decide on your kitchen style first and pick hardware that reflects the look you are going for.
For a farmhouse, bronze cup pulls are a beautiful choice. Tubular bar pulls are classic and modern for shaker cabinets and glass knobs will give your cabinets an elegant, classy look.
Classic, metal knobs are easy and go with anything. Many like to mix both bar pull handles and metal knobs. It’s fun to mix and match and see what you can come up with to make those shaker cabinets shine.
3. Add some decorative molding around the top of your shaker cabinet to add an extra detail.
A great way to make shaker cabinets stand out is by adding some decorative molding around the top. This will create a more defined look and make your shaker cabinets look even more high-end.
Crown molding is the decorative piece that covers the top of your cabinets so that there is no gap between cabinet and ceiling. Even if there is a gap between the ceiling and the shaker cabinet, the molding will draw a more elegant appeal. Most cabinets don’t automatically come with crown molding, but it’s a pretty easy DIY. This design trick takes a regular cabinet and makes it look more traditional. The extra detail will draw your guest’s eyes upward, making your cabinets the main focal point.
4. Incorporate a kitchen island.
Kitchen islands are popular because they provide additional storage as well as work space. As long as you have the space, a kitchen island adds a huge center piece to the room that is both functional and decorative.
A shaker style kitchen island can become the focal point of the entire room. Give yourself some creative freedom and choose a color that contrasts the rest of the kitchen. Two-toned cabinets or a contrasting color to the rest of your cabinets is definitely a way to stand out. The design idea is gaining some traction as well, so deciding to go with two-toned cabinets won’t make your kitchen look bizarre.
5. Use decorative lighting inside shaker cabinets for a dramatic effect.
Lighting is a great way to make shaker cabinets stand out. Shaker cabinets can be installed with lighting inside or you can add a spotlight on the cabinets themselves.
When installing lighting inside the cabinets, think about if you want it for practical or aesthetic reasons. Inside lighting with glass door fronts can showcase fine china or glasses. But nothing feels fancier than opening your cabinets at night and being able to see everything!
Lighting underneath shaker cabinets give your cabinets a wonderful, ambient feel. You can achieve this look by adding puck lights or a lighting bar underneath. The best bonus is that you can still read your recipes at night!
Lighting above the cabinets really sets the mood for the whole kitchen! It not only shows all the beautiful details of your shaker cabinets, but creates a calm and inviting atmosphere.
6. Install integrated appliances.
A modern shaker cabinet kitchen often incorporates functional and sleek storage ideas. Shaker cabinets are designed for clean and simple lines but sometimes that can make bulky appliances stand out. One way to accomplish a streamline look is to integrate your appliances into the design of your kitchen.
Everything from your fridge, dishwasher or even oven can be designed directly into your cabinets. Your results are a clean and minimalist feel that will make your beautiful cabinets truly take center stage.
7. Add plants or art to the top of your shaker cabinets for a more aesthetic appeal.
Think shaker cabinets are too boring for your kitchen? Think again! Whether you love vintage pieces or simply want to add height to the room, adding art to the top of your cabinets can be done in a thoughtful and coherent way. You might want to start with a decorative sign that has meaning to you and add some pieces around it. This decor choice can take your shaker cabinets from looking a little more plain to looking like it belongs on display.
Another option is to add an indoor garden on top of your kitchen cabinets. If you have a green thumb and are ok with climbing to water them, this look can add a peaceful, aesthetic beauty to many different colored cabinets. If you don’t have a green thumb, go for the fake plants!
8. Use a contrasting color for your shaker cabinets.
To make shaker cabinets stand out against the rest of your kitchen, choose a contrasting color like blue or green! A lot of modern kitchens end up having many neutral colors with wood floors and light countertops. Choosing a color that contrasts the rest of the kitchen is an exciting way to make those cabinets stand out on their own.
Choosing different colors for the upper and lower cabinets is another way to contrast some color in your cabinets. A popular choice is to make the upper cabinets white and the lower cabinets dark blue. People will notice right away that you’ve chosen two different cabinet colors!
9. Install glass doors on some of your shaker cabinet fronts.
Glass cabinet fronts were a huge trend in the 90’s and they are coming back! Adding glass fronts to your shaker cabinets is a great way to add dimension to the room and showcase some of your favorite treasures. The key to glass fronts is to keep the showcased items to a minimum. Remember, the attraction to shaker cabinets is all about simplicity and no clutter!
