There are dozens of cabinet door styles and materials to consider. It can seem overwhelming to navigate all the details. As a Milwaukee custom cabinet shop, MKE Cabinetry is here to guide you in choosing the best cabinet door styles and material for your project.

We get a lot of questions: What type of cabinet doors do you offer? What material is best for my cabinets?

Here is a guide to cabinet door styles and cabinet door materials.

Slab Cabinet Doors

Slab doors are flat-panel doors without any ornamentation or beveling. For this style, a form of contoured design is used and the edges are 90 degree corners. This style gives a modern or contemporary look to kitchens and bathrooms. Slab doors are easy to clean and perfect for a minimalistic look.

If you want a slab door, choose our Jacob door. This flat panel door is used for modern, contemporary and transitional spaces. Available in wood, painted and laminate finishes.

Cabinet Door Styles: Raised Panel Doors

One of the more formal designs, a raised panel door features a center panel that is a little higher than the surrounding wood. The effect is to make the cabinet door appear as though it was carved out of a single, large plank. The overlay around the panel is generally grooved or has a decorative edge. This cabinet door style is predominantly used in traditional style kitchens.

Work with a MKE designer if you want a raised panel door.

Shaker Cabinet Doors

The most popular door style – the shaker style – is known for its functionality and polished, well-crafted woodwork. A shaker door is a five-piece door with a four-piece frame and one recessed flat panel. This classic, timeless style can be described as austere and utilitarian. Stained or painted shaker doors are used in many design styles from farmhouse to contemporary to traditional.

We offer shaker doors in a variety of materials – laminate, Ranger Board MDF and wood frame doors.

Shaker Doors

Glass Cabinet Doors & Mullion Doors

Mullions, or muntins, are the dividing bars that separate glass panes in a door, much like those found in window panes. Most commonly, they serve as decorative accents over a single pane of glass. For years, mullioned glass cabinet doors were the most popular choice among homeowners. Glass doors are a great way to display glasses, dishes and collectibles. Glass and mullion doors are most commonly used in traditional and transitional design style.

Glass doors can be used to display glasses and dishes.

Mullions (the dividing bars on a cabinet door) add a decorative detail to glass cabinet doors.

Wood Cabinet Doors

Wood doors are made from a slab or wood or construction from five-pieces. They are versatile and can be easily customized. Because of this, you can “mix and match” a variety of finish options to meet the specific remodel project. Choose from a variety of wood species including maple, oak, cherry, hickory alder and walnut. Wood doors are durable and easier to repair than cabinets made from any other material.

The drawbacks to wood doors include susceptibility to humidity, higher cost and more maintenance. You should also know that when painting a wood door, the seams are often exposed over time where the frame is connected in the corners. Because wood moves (expands and contracts), hairline cracks in the paint may appear.

At MKE Cabinetry, we can paint your cabinets any color.

Wood doors can be stained or painted. This kitchen includes both stained walnut and painted cabinets.

Routed Doors - Ranger Board MDF

One of the most popular choices in cabinet doors is medium density fibreboard (MDF). We offer several doors in Ranger Board MDF, which is made of sawdust and resin.

This material is flat and durable, making it great for paint-grade pieces. There are no seams in the door because it is a large sheet of material that is routed on our CNC machine. At MKE Cabinetry, we use MDF for making anything from fillers between cabinets, to shelving and decorative elements.

MDF is a more affordable option than wood, not because it’s a lower quality product. It’s because these doors are constructed using CNC automation, which takes less time and labor than constructing a 5-piece wood door.

While you might think that wood is the strongest material, MDF is hard and durable. Because of its versatility, it can replace wood in many interior design aspects like cabinets, molding and flooring.

Routed Doors

Combined Material Doors (Wood & MDF)

Another great option for painted doors is a 5-piece door made with combined materials – a MDF center panel and solid wood frame. The MDF center panel will paint nicely and not warp over time. The solid wood frame is good for screwing in the hinges and hardware. Remember that with solid wood frames, you may notice hairline cracks in the seams over time. This is normal and expected.

Laminate Doors

Laminate doors have many upsides. They are quite durable, affordable and offer an extensive variety of unique designs. They are very easy to clean and disinfect. Laminate doors come in a wide variety of colors to suit any design aesthetic.

Laminate vanity doors are easy to clean and maintain.

This Milwaukee condo features laminate cabinet doors in a soft, earthy beige.

Choosing the Best Door Materials

Best Material for Painted Doors

If you want painted cabinets, we highly recommend ordering one of our Routed Doors, made of 1-piece Ranger Board MDF. These doors finish beautifully with no joints, no movement, no caulking, and a smooth flawless finish. When temperatures fluctuate in your kitchen during cooking or humid weather, you don’t need to worry about the center panel moving or the joints cracking because there are none.

Another great option we recommend is a 5-piece combined wood/MDF door, which has a MDF center panel and solid wood frame.

Best Woods for Stained Doors

Remodeling your home is a big undertaking and choosing the right wood and stain is important. You want to choose a wood that is durable and will absorb the stain color you desire. Speak with our staff at MKE Cabinetry to discuss what you are looking for. We will help you choose the right wood and stain color for your project. Some woods absorb stain color well while others are blotchy and streaky. Every wood has a unique grain and color undertone, which affects the final results.

Woods that stain the most consistent color include oak, ash and hickory. Woods that have more variation and blotchiness when stained include maple, cherry, birch, poplar and pine. In the end, remember that color variation is normal, which is part of the beauty of stained cabinets.

Quality Materials

When shopping for bathroom or kitchen cabinets for your Milwaukee home, be sure to investigate all your options. There are many types of cabinet doors in a variety of materials. Each material has pros and cons, so be sure to do your homework. At MKE Cabinetry, we are here as your resource to help you find the perfect custom cabinet doors.

Start shopping online or book an appointment with a MKE Designer.

Frameless Cabinets

Order frameless cabinets from the MKE Cabinetry line. Custom made in our Milwaukee shop and available for pickup or delivery.

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Inset Cabinets

Order inset cabinets from the MKE Cabinetry line. Custom made in our Milwaukee shop and available for pickup or delivery.

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Design Services

Work with a designer at MKE Cabinetry to design your cabinets. We handle the design and ordering of your project. Installation is also available.

Design Consultation

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