Evaluating Cabinetry Choices From Huge Field Shops | Thrifty Decor Chick

How I saved on our kitchen renovation by buying unassembled kitchen cupboards.

I am breaking down the variations in high quality and pricing among the many 4 sorts of cupboards out there from most massive field {hardware} shops. 

I’ve used three of the 4 choices for my DIY tasks through the years and have provide you with a favourite!

After a lot analysis on what sort of cupboard to make use of for our basement kitchenette venture, I made a decision to go along with unassembled kitchen cupboards for the primary time ever, and I am so glad I did! I will be sharing the advantages of those easy-to-assemble cupboards. 

One factor that shocked me was the value of high quality assembled cupboards. It appeared they have been rising in worth by the day! 😬

I did not take into account customized cupboards simply because I can add so lots of the fancy particulars myself.

I’ve all the time utilized in inventory unfinished cupboards for my DIY builds, partly as a result of I am normally impatient and need to go get them once I need them, however principally as a result of the value is unbelievable and so they can simply be up to date plenty of methods. 

However I needed a little bit greater high quality for this house, so after choices for our new kitchen, I made a decision on unassembled cupboards: 

avondale 36 inch drawer base

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We select the Hampton Bay Avondale shaker cabinets from Residence Depot. I discovered you get a number of the bells and whistles of upper finish cupboards, however they price approach much less since you’re doing many of the work. 🙂 

I arrange my cupboard meeting on our lengthy eating desk within the basement with an enormous drop fabric and scrap cardboard from the cupboards on prime. 

The one laborious a part of this cupboard constructing was getting them down the steps. The packing containers have been HEAVY (these are made with plywood as an alternative of the cheaper furnishings board the cheaper variations are fabricated from).

For the bigger cupboards, we opened them up and took the elements down in journeys.

As soon as down there although, the method was pleasantly simple and fast. I am a type of weirdos who does not thoughts furnishings meeting, so this was nearly enjoyable for me…like a puzzle. 

After a pair I had the method down by coronary heart. I used to be totally impressed with the standard — the drawers have dovetail joints: 

dovetail drawers Home Depot

You do not want any fancy instruments for this cupboard meeting. A mallet and drill or screwdriver is all you may want. 

The edges slide collectively after which are simply joined with the supplied nook braces and screws: 

corner brackets on base cabinets

And the cupboards include the whole lot you may want — together with tender shut drawer and door {hardware}: 

soft close drawer hardware

After I received going, the method went fast! I assembled 9 cupboards in a pair days — the smaller ones solely took about half-hour every. The extra complicated drawer items took about 45 minutes to an hour. 

Let’s look nearer on the totally different cupboard choices.

I am breaking down the three sorts of cupboards I’ve used and their worth, plus throwing in particulars of extra customized choices as properly. 

(These are based mostly on Residence Depot’s pricing simply because that is the place I’ve bought from most frequently.)

1. First up, the unfinished cupboards.

dark gray DIY entertainment center

They arrive unfinished and are very primary. No frills, no tender shut, no paint. 

The items are sometimes fabricated from particle board, which isn’t nice, however I’ve discovered it holds up simply superb for DIY tasks like these constructed ins. 

They’re cheap and really simple to replace your self!

I like utilizing these for bookcases like this as a result of I haven’t got to fret about priming and portray over a paint end. I can end them nonetheless I need.

2. The second choice are assembled and painted in inventory cupboards.

This selection is what I used for our pantry — I put in the Hampton Bay Courtland Laminate cupboards: 
tall pantry cabinets for food

These price greater than the unfinished variations, however come assembled and painted. They usually are available in just a few extra configurations (sizes and choices) as properly.

This selection does not include tender shut drawers or something like that, and are additionally made with cheaper supplies. 

Total I wasn’t thrilled with the standard on these and need I might have gone with the variations I used within the basement. The pantry cupboards are holding up simply superb, however the basement kitchen ones have all of the bells and whistles! 

3. Unassembled cupboards (what I used for our kitchenette). 

These are by far my favourite of the three I’ve utilized in our residence, due to the standard and excessive finish particulars which might be included. 

It is the little issues — the drawers are FULLY extendable. This can be a element on our kitchen cupboards that I really like! You may entry the whole lot within the drawer simply:

full extension kitchen drawer

The meeting wasn’t laborious in any respect — a newbie DIYer may simply do it. It could take extra time for those who’ve by no means assembled furnishings. 

Residence Depot supplies nice directions and how-to movies for these as properly.

4. Particular order customized cupboards.

I’ve by no means used customized cupboards in our houses, so I am unable to communicate to them personally. However they are often made to suit your room specs and the drawer and door design choices are limitless!

Customized cupboards may also be constructed with helpful organizational additions like pull out cabinets, spice racks, and so on. 

As anticipated, these are normally the most costly of the 4 choices. 

Evaluating the value of those cupboard choices.

Let’s discuss pricing, because it varies fairly a bit relying on what you choose! 

I gathered costs for 2 cupboards (a base cupboard with drawers and a 36″ sink base) to check the pricing for every. (Once more, these are all Residence Depot cupboards.)

Thirty-six inch vast sink base:

  • unfinished sink base/$189
  • assembled in inventory sink base/$200
  • unassembled completed sink base/ $339
  • customized sink base choice/$658

Thirty-six inch drawer base cupboard:

  • unfinished (largest measurement I may discover is 24″)/$215
  • assembled in inventory drawer base/$462
  • unassembled completed drawer base/$360
  • customized drawer base/$1073

For probably the most half, the unassembled cabinetry goes waaaay additional for the cash. 

I extremely suggest going with the unassembled cupboards for those who’re in search of a deal and do not thoughts the additional time and work they entail.

I made a useful graph so you possibly can see the professionals and cons in a single spot: 

comparing store bought cabinets

I ought to point out, IKEA is all the time an awesome choice for cupboards, however I am overwhelmed each time I look into them. There are such a lot of choices and elements, it freezes my mind. 🙂

To not point out they normally find yourself costing greater than the ironmongery store choices I’ve used.

We had our cupboards put in by contractors and I am so glad we did. I’ve put in many cupboards, however not with the variety of corners and spacers we would have liked for this house. 

This is a peek at how they got here collectively: 

light gray Avondale Home Depot cabinets
We began with these cool brass pulls which might be put in excessive of the drawer fronts, however they have been a little bit fashionable for my style, and so they have been so jiggly. 
pull out trash can cabinet
shelves with baskets in base cabinets

My little in-built cabinets work so properly for us! We had some awkward house out there so I made a decision to make use of it for baskets. 

As an alternative of utilizing the fridge enclosure elements out there on this cupboard assortment, we used plywood ripped right down to measurement to border it out: 

DIY fridge enclosure

You may see a little bit of the flooring in these pics. I lastly received that put in over the vacations and I am unable to wait to point out you.  

dusk cherry LVP flooring

A lot to catch you up on! I will be sharing extra progress quickly!    

Have you ever used any of those cupboard choices in your house? I might love to listen to your expertise.