If you plan on installing new kitchen cabinets in your home, you'll have many decisions to make. Your choices will depend on personal taste, the amount of labor you're willing to commit to, and the level of quality you're looking to achieve. Don't let the process overwhelm you, as it is typically not as difficult as you imagine it will be. However, it's important to make your decisions carefully, as you will likely have your new cabinets for a very long time.
Material
The first choice you'll make is which material you would like to use. The most common materials that are used to build cabinets are plywood, particleboard, and stainless steel. While particleboard is a very affordable material, it is not the best choice. Not only does it not hold screws very well, but it also becomes brittle when exposed to water. Stainless steel is a great material to use, but it's the most expensive. Plywood, on the other hand, is relatively inexpensive and quite durable.
Pre-assembled or partially pre-assembled
You could have your cabinets come already pre-assembled. This will cost you more money, but it will save you a lot of time on labor. Partially pre-assembled cabinets will come with everything you need to put them together. The process of assembling them is not very difficult, but it will take you a day or two to complete. This choice will come down to your budget, and how much time you're willing to spend on the project.
Style options
The style of cabinets you choose will determine how good they look in your kitchen. You must consider what your home and kitchen look like now when deciding the color and style of your new cabinets. You can either choose a look that will be neutral enough to not disrupt the look of your kitchen or one that will complement it.
Amount of overlay
The doors on your cabinet will come in two different styles. Traditional overlay means that the doors don't completely cover the faces of the cabinets. In this situation, there is no need for hardware in order to open the doors. Full overlay doors will cover the entire face of the cabinet. That means you will need hardware installed in order to open the doors, as there won't be enough room for your fingers to open them from the side. Choosing between these two options will depend on the look that you're trying to achieve, and whether or not you want exposed hardware on the cabinet doors.
