Remodeling 101: Everything You Need to Know About Shaker-Style Cabinets

Among the many types of kitchen cabinet doors, we do have (we’ll admit it) a favorite: the Shaker-style cabinet front. Here are the ins and outs:

What is a Shaker-style cabinet front?

First, a bit of history: The Shakers were a religious group that fled to the American colonies in the eighteenth century to establish a utopian society, which included making all their own furniture.  Simplicity, utility, and honesty were the hallmarks of Shaker style, as well as attention to form and proportion. And the simplicity and utility of Shaker design still appeals to this day.

Technically, a Shaker-style cabinet front is a “five-piece door with a four-piece frame—two stiles on the left and right, two rails on the top and bottom, and a flat, inset panel,” according to John McDonald, founder of SemiHandmade, a company that makes Shaker-style cabinet doors for Ikea cabinet boxes (“half of what we sell is Shaker style. I hate to use the word timeless, but they really are”). Adds Charles Denning, owner of Denning Cabinetry in San Francisco, “The doors are usually rectangular,” he says, “because a door that is taller than the width is less likely to sag.”

Every designer and architect we interviewed used the same word to describe Shaker-style cabinets: simple. The next most common word was flexible. “Shaker cabinets are not traditional, and they’re not contemporary,” says New York interior designer Fawn Galli, “so they can really work in any type of interior. Shaker style gives some interest and depth without being stodgy, old-fashioned, or complicated.”

What finishes work well for Shaker cabinets?

Several experts reminded us that solid, natural wood—most often maple, cherry, or walnut—is the traditional Shaker look. But painted cabinets are increasingly popular, according to Parker of deVOL, who is especially fond of Shaker cabinets in dark colors.

What kinds of cabinet pulls work best with Shaker cabinets?

Brass works well, according to our experts. (Galli recommends the unlacquered type.) If you’re a traditionalist, the best choice is a wooden knob or very simple wood pull, notes Denning. Avoid anything too fancy or shiny, says Parker: “I think anything you choose that’s understated is fine.”

Can I mix Shaker-style cabinets with other styles?

Many kitchens mix five-piece Shaker cabinet doors with solid, “slab-front” door panels. John Troxell of Wood Mode notes that Shakers themselves would have used both, since “there was less work involved” in making a slab-front style. To him, the all-Shaker look is a more contemporary interpretation. “As the look has evolved,” he said, “people are less concerned with the genuine ease of construction and simplicity. Instead, it plays into the architectural aesthetic that people are going for.”

Slab-front door are a good choice on smaller drawers and ancillary cabinets, our experts told us. And there’s a cost-savings in play. “Some people think it’s too much to have all-Shaker cabinets in the kitchen,” according to John McDonald, “and others do it because you can save some money with slab panels.”

How do Shaker cabinets compare, price-wise?

Generally speaking, Shaker-style cabinets tend to be more affordable than more traditional door styles because of the very basic construction, materials, and proportions. “Shaker cabinets will keep the pricing a little more reasonable,” says Wood Mode’s Truxell. “That’s probably part of their appeal.”

But Denning says that it depends. “A custom cabinet in the Shaker style would not necessarily be more expensive than some other style of cabinet,” he said. “There are many ways to interpret the Shaker style, and some makers will go for simplicity and utility. Others may focus on the subtle details that can make our work more time-consuming, but is better fitted to the particular client and surroundings.”

Are Shaker cabinets best in the kitchen?

Shaker-style cabinets work well everywhere (in fact, “The Shakers used cabinets for storage throughout the home,” according to Denning). DeVOL kitchen customers often ask for coordinating bathroom or storage cabinets elsewhere in their homes. “We like people to have an eclectic mix of things in their homes,” Parker said, but coordinating cabinetry is a nice unifying look.

How can I get Shaker-style cabinets on a budget?

Two of our experts specialize in giving their clients the Shaker cabinet look on a budget. “Everybody does the Shaker style,” said interior designer Galli, who’s a fan of Ikea’s (they offer several versions). “I love them, personally, and I use them all the time.” She especially likes to pair the door fronts with vintage hardware.

John McDonald’s SemiHandmade offers customized Shaker cabinet fronts to pair with Ikea cabinet boxes for a part custom, part off-the-shelf solution. “I was a maker of custom furniture for a long time,” said McDonald, “and it gives you everything you want, but it comes at a price.”

But why not just use the Ikea door fronts that Galli uses? He points to a “D-groove” joint that Ikea uses, which makes a tiny indentation on the door front. “They’ve tried to make it look like a design choice,” he says, “but there’s a practical reason that they do that”—to account for wood movement. He may be picky, he admits, but to him, Ikea’s doors just don’t look right.

What decisions will I need to make when choosing Shaker cabinets?

The width of the four-piece frame is the biggest variable. deVOL’s own frames range in width from about 3 to 5 inches, while Wood Mode’s vary from about 2.25 inches to just over 3 inches wide. “It needs to look quite substantial without looking clunky or heavy,” said Parker.

You’ll need to decide whether you want to mix the Shaker-style doors with slab-front drawers or cabinets. And you may have a say in edge profiles, but most of our makers recommended squared edges with just a little bit of easing, to avoid a knife-sharp edge. (That will also lessen the chance of denting, notes Denning.)

To get more ideas on how to evaluate and choose kitchen cabinetry and hardware, see our Remodeling 101 Guide: Kitchen Cabinets & Hardware. And for a complete guide to kitchen cabinet styles, see Remodeling 101: A Guide to the Only 6 Kitchen Cabinet Styles You Need to Know.

N.B.: This story originally ran on November 4, 2016 and has been updated with new information and imagery. Featured photograph by Thomas Leonczik, courtesy of SPACES by Hollie Velten, from Kitchen of the Week: ‘Cotswold Charm and Japanese Simplicity’ in New Jersey.