Let’s be honest. In a perfect world, one would always go for custom, custom-built kitchen cabinets designed and installed by a professional craftsman. Nobody would even dream of trying to remodel a kitchen with pre-made modular kitchen cabinets.
Custom cabinets would offer much more than modular versions. They would be designed with your kitchen and your vision in mind. they would fit perfectly. They would offer timeless beauty and incredible longevity that alternatives could never even hope to rival.
Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. Some of us can’t imagine spending the money to insure custom cabinetry. As the economy continues to struggle, more and more people are beginning to share that perspective. This is why we are seeing a growing level of interest in modular kitchen cabinets.
Modular cabinet collections consist primarily of individual, pre-built cabinets. In some cases, these cabinets can “grow” with the buyer through the use of additional components. Both variations share two very important features in common. They are ready to install “out of the box” and are available at much lower prices than the alternatives.
Modular kitchen cabinets have a few things going for them. They are cheaper than the alternative. They are now available in a surprisingly wide variety of colors and styles. They are relatively easy to install. In the right situations, it’s possible to create a look that’s almost as impressive as could be achieved with high-end custom work. However, those ideal circumstances are not necessarily common. In most cases, there will be a noticeable difference in appearance.
There are also other negative aspects of modular kitchen cabinets. They don’t offer as much flexibility as custom cabinets. Designs tend to lean towards a more modern look, which could frustrate those who want a different overall look. They are usually not built to the highest quality standards.
So are modular kitchen cabinets a smart buy? That is a difficult question to answer. It really depends quite a bit on the situation of the individual buyer. Those who can afford to look for options that are more expensive should probably do so. They will be happy in the short term with the appearance of the cabinets and in the long term with its durability and lasting value. Those in need of a “quick fix” and working on a tighter budget, on the other hand, may find modular cabinets to be an ideal solution, at least in the short term.
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have modular kitchen cabinets. However, the world is far from perfect. That’s why modular cabinet manufacturers stay in business. It’s also why they’re going to great lengths to create products that capture at least some of the beauty of more expensive cabinetry options.