Flat Panel Cabinet Door Styles

Minimalism doesn’t mean boring. In fact, flat panel cabinet door styles are the total opposite. With a simple smooth construction, these doors can take on many colors and finishes and combine with various design elements. Altogether, they are perfect for many modern and contemporary kitchens.

When blended with either matching or tastefully contrasting design elements, these doors can make your kitchen stand out. There are many ways you can incorporate flat panel cabinet doors to refresh the look of your kitchen.

What Are Flat Panel Kitchen Cabinet Doors?

Flat panel cabinet doors are constructed exactly as they are named. These doors follow a very simple design, as they are designed with a completely flat front panel, with no bevels, imprints, or contour. The doors have perfect 90-degree angle corners and no frame, as the door is made of one full piece.

Flat panel cabinet doors are also known as slab cabinet doors. Many people love these doors as they fit perfectly with a modern or contemporary kitchen due to their minimalist design. They are also easy to clean, as an added benefit. Although they do not provide the same elegance of more intricate design constructions, they are still plenty interesting in a kitchen.

Shaker vs. Flat Panel Cabinet Doors

Flat panel cabinet doors are becoming increasingly popular, and they are often near the top of a list of options for a cabinet door replacement. When homeowners decide on the right cabinet door for their kitchen renovation, the flat panel cabinet door is often put against the ever-popular shaker-style cabinet doors.

Shaker cabinet doors are symmetrical doors that have a recessed center panel with square edges. The construction of these doors gives them sharp 90-degree angles and clean lines. They are similar to flat panel doors in that their design is also usually more simplistic and features little detailing or ornamentation.

The key difference between shaker cabinet doors and flat panel cabinet doors is their construction. The shaker construction means that the door consists of multiple pieces, the frame and the panel, while flat panel doors are just one slab of wood.

Shaker doors and slab cabinet doors are both excellent choices for a modern style, but with a smooth surface, slab cabinet doors are an undeniably great selection.

Flat Cabinet Door Design Ideas

With the right touches, flat panel cabinet doors can really accentuate a kitchen. Part of the simplicity of these cabinet doors is that they are also versatile and can be used with a wide range of designs. Whether you are hoping to achieve a minimialistic modern design or a more involved contemporary style, there is plenty you can try to do with flat panel cabinet doors.

1. Go All-Natural

The biggest strength of flat panel cabinet doors is that they can take on virtually any finish and still look great in your kitchen. However, this also means you cannot go wrong using natural wood with a stained finish. Slab cabinet doors tend to look better with less knotty woods, like alder, oak, or maple, with the natural grain running down the length of the door.

In contemporary kitchens, these doors look particularly sharp with a natural wood panel that features a glossy finish. You can use lighter wood to accentuate a brighter kitchen that incorporates bright colors or white features. Consider using darker woods in kitchens with darker colors and more black elements.

2. Create a Strong Pop of Color

Both contemporary and modern design styles can thrive off of colorful elements that brighten up a space and make it unique. Incorporating bright cabinet doors can transform your kitchen, as the colors are more energizing and exciting.

When aiming for contemporary colors, anything from neon yellow to red can make a strong statement in your kitchen. Even orange has become a more popular choice recently. Bright blues and greens can also pop in your kitchen. No matter what color you choose, make sure to choose complimentary colors throughout the kitchen for the best effects. For example, orange or gold elements go well with blues, and red elements go well with greens.

With more unique colors, finding a cabinet door that fits your vision can be challenging. If you already have the perfect color in mind, you can always choose a flat panel painted cabinet door and choose your ideal color.

3. White Out Your Kitchen

Nothing brightens your kitchen than white painted features. Modern flat panel cabinet doors are all about minimal design, and a white kitchen is peak minimalism, making them the perfect pairing. You can use white cabinet doors to make your kitchen feel brighter and more open as the color is more likely to reflect light.

These cabinet doors will shine even more when paired with black appliances and gray elements throughout the kitchen. Also, when given dark, contrasting hardware, like matte black or gold, white cabinet doors make a statement.

4. Use Earthy Colors

On top of all the other potential these doors have, flat panel cabinet doors wear earthy colors well. If you want to create a cozy, comforting feeling in your kitchen, try using warm, natural tones like charcoal, deep blue, beige, or olive green.

These tones are great for making your kitchen feel more inviting. Warm colors like these also have a more calming effect. Earthy colors are great for turning down the light as well. If you want a well-lit but not overpowering space, natural matte colors help provide that perfect contrast. These colors go exceptionally well with marble, granite, or other white countertops.

5. Use Bold Hardware

When your cabinet doors follow a minimalist design, they allow other elements to pop. One of the elements you can highlight is the kitchen cabinet hardware. When choosing hardware, you can decide between knobs and pulls. In a modern design, either can work, but consider pulls and knobs that complement the minimalist appearance with more sleek, less ornate designs.

Consider using larger hardware to make the elements stand out. You can also experiment with various types and finishes of metal, from matte black to bronze. The choice of hardware gives you a unique opportunity to either blend the whole kitchen together or provide a bit of contrast to the space.

Consider using matte black hardware with natural wood doors or gold hardware with blue painted cabinet doors. Hardware that stands out is sure to turn heads.

Install Flat Panel Cabinet Doors in Your Home

With their sleek design and their minimalist appearance, flat panel cabinet doors have limitless potential. As you consider refreshing the cabinet doors in your home, don’t overlook a flat panel cabinet door replacement and the many design styles it can work with.

To see all of your options for kitchen cabinet doors, explore our inventory at CabinetDoors.com. Not only do you have access to a long list of great styles, but you can also enjoy custom-built doors at manufacturer’s prices delivered straight to your door. We have over 40 years of experience crafting custom doors, so you can be confident we’ll get it right. Order from CabinetDoors.com today to take the next step toward refreshing your kitchen.