Flat Panel Versus Shaker Cabinet Doors

When it comes to selecting the best cabinet door options for your kitchen, both flat panel and shaker cabinet doors stand out as top choices. Flat panel doors offer a sleek, modern look with their smooth, unembellished surfaces, making them ideal for contemporary and minimalist kitchen designs. 

On the other hand, shaker cabinet doors, with their classic five-piece construction and recessed center panel, provide a timeless appeal that complements traditional and transitional styles. Each option has its own unique advantages, from the ease of maintenance of flat panel doors to the elegant detailing of shaker doors, so you’re sure to find the perfect match for your kitchen's aesthetic and functional needs.

Whether you’re replacing cabinet doors or buying new cabinets, choosing the right cabinet doors for sale to deck out your kitchen is a big decision. Your cabinets tie up your kitchen’s look, and you’ll want something that can express the style and design that you envision for your perfect space. 

Flat panel cabinet doors, also known as ‘slab doors,’ are made from a single panel. They have a completely flat front, without any special trims on the sides. They’re a popular choice in modern homes since they’re very flexible; they blend well into various kitchen designs, whether classic, contemporary, or traditional. You can even keep them should you decide to change the overall aesthetic of your space down the road.

Shaker cabinet doors are five-piece doors with a four-piece frame and a recessed center panel. They’re characterized by two rails on the top and the bottom and two stiles on both sides, resulting in a special uniform trim. They’ve been a kitchen option for ages, and they’ve stood the test of time thanks to their timeless beauty and their ability to elevate simple cabinetry.

Both flat panel and shaker cabinet doors are great options for any kitchen. Choosing between the two ultimately depends on the style you’re going for, your budget, and your expected maintenance. Here’s a comparative breakdown of the two styles:

Flat panel cabinet doors are great if you’d like a cleaner and more modern look for your kitchen. Meanwhile, shaker cabinet doors are an ideal choice for a space with a more classic style or vintage character–which you can emphasize by adding unique knobs on the doors, as well.

Flat panel cabinet doors are cheaper than shaker cabinet doors as they require less material and work to put together. Shaker cabinet doors need extra resources to be able to add those lines and recessions.

Because of the design of shaker panel doors, they’re more tricky to install. Flat panel doors, on the other hand, are much simpler to mount because they don’t have any intricate features to take extra care of.

The durability of both flat panel and shaker cabinet doors will depend on the material used to make them. Shaker cabinet doors used to be mostly made out of natural wood, making them sturdier (especially versus flat panel cabinet doors made of composite material)–but nowadays, you can have either cabinet door style made using whatever material you like.

Shaker cabinet doors need a little bit of extra TLC during maintenance because you have to mind the ridges. Because flat panel doors have simpler faces, they’re much easier to clean in a swipe.

The choice between flat panel cabinet doors and shaker cabinet doors depends on what you’re looking for in your kitchen. If you’re looking for something younger, budget-friendly, and easy to maintain, flat panel cabinet doors are better. If you have a bit more to splurge, don’t mind the maintenance, and are looking to add more character to your kitchen, shaker cabinet doors are the way to go.

Whether you’re building a new kitchen or replacing just your cabinet doors, you can find all types of cabinets on 27EStore. You can choose between different colors, styles, and finishes, and even have custom-built cabinetry made to complete your perfect kitchen space. Check out 27EStore’s catalog for flat panel and shaker cabinet doors today!