Shaker or Raised Panel: Which Cabinet Style is Right for You?

Are you looking for cabinets for your next kitchen renovation? If you’ve been shopping around, you may have heard of the two most common cabinet door styles: shaker and raised panel. Let’s break down the main differences between these two popular cabinet door styles.

Shaker Cabinets

Shaker cabinets feature a flat, low centre and a raised frame on the outside of the door. The border offers a simple design element that can vary in embellishment, width, and thickness. Shaker cabinets work for almost every aesthetic, across traditional, transitional, and modern styles. For modern looks, shaker cabinets are designed with thin, flat borders, and for traditional aesthetics, they feature wide borders and decorative embellishments.

This Selba kitchen features shaker cabinets with a thin frame.

Raised Panel Cabinets

Like shaker cabinets, raised panel cabinets have a raised border on the outside of the door, however, they also feature a raised portion in the centre of the cabinet. This style offers a more traditional look and is often accompanied with decorative embellishments. It works for traditional-inspired aesthetics like French country or farmhouse. Raised panel cabinets are generally more expensive because they require extra material and labour. These cabinets can also involve more maintenance as dust can settle in the additional grooves.

These raised panel cabinets by Selba offer a dynamic, traditional-inspired look.

Which Should You Choose?

Deciding between shaker and raised panel cabinets is mainly dependant on personal design vision. Shaker cabinets are a safer and more neutral option, while raised panel cabinets offer a traditional aesthetic that will add more character to a kitchen. Consulting with experienced professionals will help you decide between shaker and raised panel cabinets.

Visit our Vaughan showroom today and consult with industry experts.