Browse through the kitchen cabinet section of your local hardware store, and you’re sure to come across dozens of styles. Before you start looking into the style choices available, you might want to know a little more about how kitchen cabinets are actually constructed.

Kitchen cabinets are generally constructed in two ways: framed and frameless. Framed cabinets have an actual front built onto the cabinet box, making them stronger and easier to install than frameless designs. They also feature a more traditional look, which may explain why they are a staple in American kitchens. Because of the front, however, they offer less storage space and cost more. Frameless cabinets have no front. The doors attach right onto the cabinet sides, allowing for ample storage space. With minimal space between doors, frameless cabinets make for a clean design. They are typical of European kitchens.

Kitchen cabinet doors come in three main types: inset, full overlay and 1/2 inch overlay. Inset doors fit entirely within the cabinet front. While they look nice, they are harder to install and require an even temperature to be maintained in the home to avoid contraction and expansion and ultimately sticking. Full overlay doors completely cover the cabinet front, while 1/2 inch overlay doors cover the cabinet front partially. Because you can see some of the front, 1/2 inch overlay doors work well for vintage or duotone designs.

These are the construction basics. If you are planning a kitchen cabinet purchase, knowing whether you want framed or frameless cabinets, along with the style of door, will help you narrow your choices considerably. The sales associate can then show what styles are available for those selections. You may still wind up with several choices, but with the construction basics out of the way, you can concentrate on the aesthetic appeal of the cabinets and make sure the style you choose reflects the kitchen design you hope to create, whether contemporary, French country or Italian.

When you are ready to shop for kitchen cabinets, learn everything you can about what is available and take the time necessary to choose the right ones. Kitchen cabinets can be costly, $3,000 and up, depending upon whether you choose stock or custom cabinets. Make sure you choose the right cabinets for your needs the first time around.