Frameless cabinets are ideal for kitchens where storage space is important, eliminating center stiles that reduce the capacity of your cupboards and drawers and providing a modern, European-style finish.
Unsure how face frame versus frameless cabinets compare? The difference is that the edges of frameless cabinets are flush with the storage space behind them and look minimalist and less cluttered.
We’ll run through how to install frameless cabinets, with hints and tips to ensure your finished kitchen looks flawless with smoothly opening doors.
Pros and Cons of Frameless Kitchen Cabinets
Frameless cabinets require a slightly different fitting process than a conventional face frame unit. A frameless model requires a full overlay door connected to the cabinet box. Normal framed cabinetry systems are built differently, with brackets and hinges attached to the frame rather than the box itself.
Do frameless cabinets look cheap? No–they are high-quality, sophisticated storage systems and provide a modern aesthetic with advanced functionality and that important extra storage space many of us prioritize.
Options for Building Frameless Cabinets
There are two options; hiring a professional to come and build your cabinets and secure them to the wall or undertaking the job yourself. For most people, frameless cabinets are relatively simple to build, and if you have a few tools, you should have everything you need to hand.
The only tricky aspect is sizing and measuring, so provided you have taken careful dimensions before ordering your cabinets, they will usually be simple to put together and position in your kitchen.
Building a Frameless Cabinet
Our cabinets and premium frameless kitchens are ready to assemble, and you can follow the guides step by step to ensure you connect each component in the right order.
Before you begin, you should check the wall is level. It can be difficult to affix a completed cabinet to an uneven wall because the back of the cabinet will not sit flush. One solution is to use a wooden shim or wedge between the cabinet box and the wall, concealed behind the cabinet, which helps ensure it rests nicely on the surface.
When your cabinets arrive, the initial step is to open each box, using a box cutter carefully, since you could cut or scratch a wood panel. Lift each cabinet out and recycle the cardboard.
It is always wise to inspect the cabinets to ensure no damage has occurred during transit and to leave them in a dry area away from moisture which can cause the timber to expand.
Assembling a Frameless Cabinet
Putting the cabinets together should always be a separate process from installing the cabinets against the wall, beginning by checking each door, drawer, and shelf and stacking them in order according to the assembly instructions.
You will need your installation kit, screws, hinges, and hinge plates to assemble the doors. To build the cabinets, follow these steps:
- Start with the cabinet boxes, which can be heavier and thicker than framed units because each side of the cabinet needs to be strong and stable.
- Be sure to use the provided screws, as bulkier, thinner, or weaker screws can affect the durability of your completed cabinet.
- Check that your floor or preparation surface is solid and flat to avoid deviations where the completed cabinet is not perfectly even or level. It is inadvisable to screw panels together on a softer surface, such as a carpet, as this can cause the panel to split.
- Finally, attach the hinge plates to the inner side of the cabinet, using the pre-cut spaces provided, and slot them onto the hinge on the rear side of the frameless door.
Frameless kitchen cabinet doors slot on, making it very easy to remove them for deep cleaning or if you decide to refresh your cabinet doors in the future with a different paint or varnish.
Most people will need a friend or family member to help with installing the cabinets because they can be heavy. Lifting an assembled cabinet overhead to fit onto the wall is much safer working with two people, with one to hold the unit in place and the other to mark the studs on the wall.
How Much Extra Space Do Frameless Cabinets Provide?
Depending on the size of your kitchen and the number of cabinets you install, your storage capacity increases by as much as 15%. You can also opt for slimline frameless cabinets to improve the space available in smaller or more compact kitchens.
