What is the most popular style of kitchen cabinets?
When choosing a kitchen style, do you feel pressured to pick something unique or expensive? This often leads to choosing a trendy look that will feel dated in just a few years.
The most popular kitchen cabinet style is, by far, the Shaker door. Its simple, clean lines and incredible versatility make it a timeless choice. It serves as a perfect foundation for almost any design, which is why it’s a global favorite.
Many people think the most popular style must be the most decorative or special. But in my experience exporting cabinets for projects all over the world, I’ve learned the opposite is true. The most popular choice is the one that is the most practical and hardest to get wrong. That choice is the Shaker cabinet. Developers, designers, and homeowners all love it. Not because it is flashy, but because its simple design can be adapted to almost any style. Change the hardware or the color, and a Shaker cabinet can feel modern, traditional, or farmhouse. If you’re worried about making a mistake with your kitchen style, starting with a simple, high-quality Shaker or flat-panel door is the smartest, safest decision you can make.
What is the most popular style of kitchen cabinets?
Are you afraid of choosing a trendy cabinet that will look old in five years? This very common fear can make it hard to make any decision at all. The safest choice is also the most popular one.
The Shaker cabinet is overwhelmingly the most popular style. Its simple frame-and-panel design works with almost any home aesthetic. It’s a favorite for developers and designers because it provides a reliable and timeless foundation for any kitchen project.
I like to call the Shaker cabinet the "little black dress" of the kitchen world. It is classic, simple, and always appropriate. Its design consists of a five-piece door with a four-piece frame (what we call stiles and rails) and a single flat, recessed center panel. This simplicity is its greatest strength. It has no complex details that can tie it to a specific trend or decade. This allows it to act as a blank canvas for designers. I’ve seen my clients use the exact same Shaker door profile to create completely different looks, just by changing the finish and hardware. It’s a smart investment for developers who need to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers.
| Design Style | How Shaker Style Adapts |
|---|---|
| Modern Farmhouse | White or off-white paint, matte black cup pulls and knobs. |
| Scandinavian | Natural light wood finish (like white oak), simple round knobs. |
| Transitional | Soft gray or navy blue paint, sleek polished nickel handles. |
| Minimalist | Neutral color, integrated handles or push-to-open hardware. |
What kitchen cabinets does Joanna Gaines use?
Do you love the modern farmhouse style from TV shows but can’t find the exact cabinet brand? The secret is not in a specific brand; it’s a classic style that any good manufacturer can produce.
Joanna Gaines almost exclusively uses Shaker-style cabinets to create her signature look. She often has them custom-built by local woodworkers and painted in classic colors like white or gray. The focus is on achieving her timeless aesthetic, not using one specific brand.
Clients from all over the world send me pictures from her shows. They want to know where to buy those exact cabinets. I always tell them the same thing: we do not need to find her supplier. We just need to replicate the specifications. The "Fixer Upper" look is a masterclass in using simple, foundational elements to create a beautiful space. The key ingredients are almost always the same. First, a simple Shaker door profile. Second, a classic color palette, usually a high-quality matte paint in white, black, or a soft gray-green. Third, simple and functional hardware, often matte black. Any good manufacturer, including my team here in Foshan, can produce this look perfectly as long as we have clear specifications. It’s a great lesson that you don’t need a famous, expensive brand name to get a high-end look. You just need a clear vision and a quality supplier.
What is the latest trend in kitchen cabinetry?
Do you want a kitchen that feels fresh and current? Following fast-moving trends can be a very risky and expensive strategy. The most current trend is actually about building a more personal and lasting look.
The latest trend is moving beyond a single look. Key trends include using flat-panel doors for a clean minimalist aesthetic, bringing in natural wood tones like white oak, and mixing different materials. The overall focus is on clean lines, warm textures, and personalization.
After years of all-white Shaker kitchens dominating, we are seeing a clear shift towards more warmth, texture, and minimalism. As a manufacturer, I see the new orders coming in every day. The biggest trend is the rise of the flat-panel, or slab, door. This is the ultimate in minimalist design, and it’s very popular for modern city apartments. Another major trend is the return of wood, but not the old styles. We are producing a lot of cabinets in natural, light woods like white oak. It brings warmth back into the kitchen. Clients are often using it in a "two-tone" kitchen. They might specify wood for the base cabinets or a large island and then use simple white painted cabinets for the upper walls. This creates a beautiful contrast and visual interest. The hottest color right now isn’t a bright color at all; it’s the natural tone of wood grain.
What cabinets are out of style?
Nobody wants to invest thousands of dollars in a new kitchen only to realize their choices are already dated. Are you worried that your dream kitchen will look old as soon as it’s installed?
Heavily distressed or glazed finishes, ornate raised-panel doors, and specific wood tones from the 1990s and 2000s, like honey oak and red-toned cherry, are out of style. The modern preference is for cleaner lines and more natural, authentic finishes.
The common theme for what is "out of style" is anything that looks overly decorated or artificial. The market today strongly prefers simplicity and authenticity. The first thing that looks dated is any kind of ornate detail. This includes raised-panel doors, heavy crown molding, and especially doors with a "cathedral" arch on top. These styles feel too busy for the modern eye. The second is fake-looking finishes. The heavily distressed look, where the paint is sanded off the edges to look old, now just looks artificial. The same goes for glazes that create dark lines in the door details. Finally, specific wood tones are very tied to their era. The orange-tinted honey oak of the 1990s and the dark, red-toned cherry of the "Tuscan" kitchen trend in the 2000s are clear giveaways of a dated kitchen. While wood is very popular again, the tones are completely different now.
What is a timeless look for kitchen cabinets?
Do you want to invest in a kitchen that you will love for decades, not just a few years? How do you choose a style that won’t feel old and require another expensive renovation?
A timeless look is achieved with simple, classic designs and neutral colors. White or off-white Shaker-style cabinets are the number one choice for a timeless foundation. Their clean form creates a versatile backdrop that can easily be updated with new hardware or paint over the years.
Creating a timeless look is not about being boring. It is about creating a solid, beautiful foundation that can adapt as your tastes change. I always advise my clients who want a long-lasting look to focus on three things. First, choose a simple door style, like Shaker or a flat panel. These styles don’t have trendy details that can date them. Second, choose a neutral color palette. White is the ultimate timeless choice, but soft grays, deep navy blue, and natural wood tones can also be timeless when paired with a simple door style. The key is to avoid extreme, of-the-moment colors for the cabinets themselves. Third, insist on quality materials. A cabinet made from plywood with good hardware is physically built to last, which reinforces its timeless appeal. The smartest strategy is to keep the most expensive element—the cabinets—timeless. You can add trendy colors through things that are easy to change later, like the wall paint, bar stools, or decor.
Are wood cabinets coming back in 2025?
Have you felt like every new kitchen for the past ten years has been white? Are you starting to crave more warmth and texture in your space? You are not alone, and the market is definitely responding.
Yes, wood cabinets are absolutely coming back in a big way for 2025. However, this is not a return of the old styles. The trend is for light, natural wood tones like white oak, and rich, elegant woods like walnut, with simple profiles and matte finishes.
The return to wood is a direct reaction to the years of all-white kitchens. People want to see more texture, more warmth, and more natural materials in their homes. From my perspective as a manufacturer, the demand for high-quality wood veneer cabinets has grown dramatically. White oak is the number one most requested wood right now. Its light color and beautiful, straight grain make it incredibly versatile. It can be used to create a warm minimalist, Scandinavian, or Japandi look. Walnut is another popular choice, usually for a more dramatic, high-end, and sophisticated aesthetic. These woods are almost always paired with simple flat-panel or Shaker doors and finished with a matte or low-sheen clear coat. This lets the natural beauty of the wood become the star of the show. The thick, glossy, orange-tinted finishes of the past are completely gone.
Are shaker cabinets going out of style?
You have heard that Shaker cabinets are the most popular style. But does that popularity mean they are about to become overused and go out of style, like a past trend?
No, Shaker cabinets are not going out of style. They are a timeless classic, not a fleeting trend. Because of their core simplicity, they continuously evolve with new colors and hardware, which keeps them feeling fresh and relevant in any design era.
It’s important to understand the difference between a classic and a trend. A trend is something that becomes popular very quickly and then disappears. A classic is something that has fundamental, lasting appeal. Shaker cabinets are a classic. Think of them like a pair of classic blue jeans or a simple white t-shirt. They are a foundational piece that never truly goes away. Their popularity is not a sign that they are a "fad" about to end. It’s proof of their incredible utility and aesthetic balance. From a manufacturing side, I can tell a trend from a classic. Trends often require very specific techniques that are difficult to produce, like a certain type of fake distressing. Classics like Shaker cabinets are all about perfecting the fundamentals: making sure the joinery is precise, the paint finish is flawless, and the materials are high-quality. This is why designers always come back to them. They are the perfect canvas.
Conclusion
The most popular cabinet styles, like Shaker, are chosen for a reason. They are timeless, versatile, and represent a smart, safe investment. Focus on simple forms and quality craftsmanship.