Everything You Need to Know About Kitchen Cabinets

Whether you’re planning to renovate your kitchen or build a new home, the most essential element of a kitchen is its cabinets; without kitchen cabinets, you have no kitchen.

Kitchen cabinets not only define the layout of a kitchen, but they also set the style and design of your kitchen. So, no pressure when choosing your cabinets! Indeed, your kitchen cabinet selection plays a significant role, but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress or anxiety.

Ross’s Discount Home Centre has been around since the 1970s, and over the last four decades, we have continued to build on our reputation of being the ‘go-to’ place for kitchen cabinets in Perth. From the quality of the materials used to the finish and design of the cabinets themselves, we understand every aspect of a kitchen’s requirements. With this, we have developed what we believe to be the best value kitchen cabinets in Perth.

Pulling from my experience as the product manager at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, I’d like to provide you with everything you need to know about kitchen cabinets in the hope that it helps you choose the best cabinets at the best value price.

Know Your Options

If you have never had to shop for kitchen cabinets before, then you may not be aware that you have options: mainly flat-pack kitchen cabinets, pre-assembled kitchen cabinets, and custom-made kitchen cabinets.

Flat-Pack

Flat-pack kitchen cabinets are the most cost-effective choice of kitchen cabinet. The biggest drawback of these low-budget cabinets is that you have to assemble them. In addition to being a time-consuming task, incorrect assembly or missing pieces can lead to disastrous outcomes.

Pre-Assembled

Pre-assembled kitchen cabinets are quickly becoming preferred over flat-pack kitchen cabinets. This is because they are delivered assembled—you need only fix them into place. Cost-wise, they are a little more expensive than flat-pack kitchens and a lot cheaper than custom-made cabinets.

With pre-assembled cabinets like the range we offer at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, the painstaking task of assembling them is done in the manufacturers’ factory; this also makes them more robust than their flat-pack counterparts.

Custom Made

Although the most expensive, custom kitchen cabinets offer the most flexibility. A cabinetmaker custom-makes them to fit an area and fixes them into place for you.

Know Not All Kitchen Cabinets Are The Same

Once you settle on the type of kitchen cabinets you want to buy, you next need to consider which provider to use. It’s crucial to recognise that you won’t be making a direct comparison. For example, our pre-assembled cabinets won’t be the same as those of other suppliers.

Material

While it isn’t seen on the outside, the material used to form the carcass of a kitchen cabinet is very important. It will determine the durability and, thus, the lifespan of the cabinets.

Look for cabinets with carcasses made from Highly Moisture Resistant (HMR) board; this will provide longevity. The doors will vary based on the finish you choose. At Ross’s, our cabinets feature MDF doors. We sand them, apply one coat of primer paint, two coats of a 2-pack epoxy, and oven-bake them in between each coat.

Warranty

Like everything else, the warranty difference between flat-pack, pre-assembled, and custom-made kitchen cabinets reflects the quality you receive. Make sure to review the warranties provided by each provider. You will find that our pre-assembled kitchen cabinets come with a 5-year warranty.

Know Your Choices

Kitchen cabinets come in a variety of styles and colours, including kitchen base cabinets, wall cabinets, pantry cabinets, and drawers.

Types

As previously mentioned, you should tailor your selection of cabinets to your specific needs. For instance, if you have a microwave, you may wish to include a microwave hutch in your cabinetry. If you cook a lot at home, consider adding pot drawers. What I’m trying to demonstrate is that there are more choices than just kitchen wall cabinets and base cabinets. Choose wisely to create a kitchen that works for you, not against you.

You will see we have accounted for these cabinets, along with many others, in our selection of kitchen cabinets. Read our guide to buying kitchen cabinets and kitchen drawers to help ensure you select the right cabinets for your needs.

Finish

The material that coats or wraps a kitchen cabinet determines its finish. Commonly, this refers to a laminate or 2-pack epoxy. A laminate will provide a matte finish, while a 2-pack epoxy will provide a gloss finish.

A laminate finish offers countless patterns and colours, but it offers less quality than a 2-pack epoxy finish, which is only available in solid paint colours.

At Ross’s Discount Home Centre, our entire kitchen cabinet range is available in a high-gloss white 2-pack epoxy finish. This is a timeless finish that won’t date and will always look elegant.

Accessories

In addition to the finish, kitchen cabinets also offer a range of handles and other accessories, such as organisation solutions, pull-out bins, and other products that make kitchen cabinets more functional.

We offer such accessories in the Ross’s Discount Home Centre cabinet range, which you can view here.

Know Your Appliances

When renovating your kitchen and keeping your appliances, you’ll need to know their sizes to fit in the cabinets you buy. Be sure to measure each appliance and allow 30-50 mm clearance around all sides. Read our article, How to Measure Your Kitchen for Renovation, for more measuring advice.

Know You Can Visualise Them

Previously, homeowners had to wait for the installation of their kitchen cabinets and the completion of their kitchen before they could see the final product. Not today. Now, with our modern technology, you can design and create your new kitchen in 3D to see exactly what it will look like before you settle on a provider!

At Ross’s, we provide cutting-edge technology through our 3D Kitchen Planner. This easy-to-use online tool allows you to create your kitchen space and then arrange your kitchen cabinets into position so you can not only see what products you need and see what they look like in your space but also see how much they will precisely cost.

Seeing your kitchen cabinet layout in 3D is the best way to ease your mind.

Conclusion

Your kitchen cabinet selection is, by far, the most critical element of your kitchen’s design. It will determine not only how your kitchen looks but also its quality and, consequently, how long it is likely to last.

Therefore, choosing kitchen cabinets in Perth isn’t something you want to rush. It certainly pays to do research to determine the best option based on your budget, the longevity you wish to get from your kitchen, and also the desired finished look.

Before you choose kitchen cabinets in Perth, understand that there are various options to choose from: flat-pack, pre-assembled, and custom-made. Recognise that not all kitchen cabinets are the same; it’s crucial to enquire about their material composition and warranty. Know that you also have choices in terms of style, colour, and handles, and lastly, you don’t have to imagine what your kitchen will look like; you can design it with a 3D kitchen planner and visualise it for yourself.

If you’re after quality, high-gloss white cabinets that never date or go out of style, then look no further than Ross’s Discount Home Centre. Our kitchen cabinets hands down offer the best value for money in Perth. See for yourself by visiting our showroom in Guildford today.