Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Whether you're installing brand-new kitchen cabinets or updating existing ones, it can be a daunting task—but one way you can make the process more efficient is by considering semi-custom kitchen cabinets. Available from a wide range of home improvement and design stores, semi-custom kitchen cabinets allow for a great balance between cost, efficiency and custom design.

There are three basic types of cabinet designs. Custom cabinets are created from scratch according to a specific design requested by the customer. Semi-custom cabinets incorporate stock elements but allow for some customization by the customer. Stock cabinets come completely designed and assembled "as-is."

Each cabinet type has benefits and challenges. Custom cabinets offer total freedom in terms of design, but are by far the most expensive. Semi-custom cabinets are in the mid-range in terms of cost, but they do offer some design freedom. Stock cabinets are the cheapest, but you have to content yourself with the manufacturer's design.

If you're looking for a good combination of flexibility and cost, semi-custom kitchen cabinets may be the best option for you. You can often choose colors or finishes, different door and hardware types, or even a range of materials for your semi-custom cabinets. They will take slightly longer to deliver than stock cabinets, but many homeowners find the freedom of having design input to be worth the added cost and time.

See also: Kitchen Remodeling Ideas, Options and Solutions