Glass Cabinet Door Styles and Your Options

Are all glass cabinet doors the same? You might be ready to renovate your kitchen, but perhaps you're not sure what to do with the cabinets. Whether you're starting from scratch or you just want to refinish the existing kitchen cabinetry, take a look at what you need to know about glass cabinet doors and your options.

Why Choose Glass Cabinet Doors?

Before you learn more about the types or styles of doors, you may want to understand the benefits of glass for your cabinets. The top reasons to choose glass cabinet doors over wood or another similar solid style include:

• Aesthetics . Glass has a fresh, clean look that can upgrade your kitchen's décor. This type of cabinet door coordinates with a variety of design styles, allowing you to match glass with a modern, traditional, rustic chic, or eclectic kitchen.
• Function . Eliminate the need to constantly open and close your kitchen cabinets with glass doors. Translucent glass allows you to see what is inside of the cabinet. This makes it easy to find anything inside and reduces wear on the door.
• Light . Is your kitchen dark or small? Glass doors create a lighter look that can add the appearance of extra space. You can also light the doors from within to brighten the room.
• Replacement . Would you rather just replace the door instead of the entire cabinet? With a glass door, you won't need to worry about matching wood colors or grain or finding a long-gone style that coordinates with the existing cabinetry.

Glass doors also provide you with décor options. Even though you may think of translucent panels as traditional glass doors, these cabinet accents are available in more than just see-through styles.

What Are Popular Glass Cabinet Door Styles?

Which type of glass cabinet door is the best option for your kitchen upgrade project? While plain or completely clear panels are classic and have a fresh, crisp style, you may also want to consider:

• Etched glass cabinet doors . This decorative type of glass is exactly what the name implies. Instead of a clear finish, etches (small cuts) are made on the surface to create an image, pattern, or design.
• Frosted glass cabinet doors . Frosted glass is another decorative option that won't provide a full translucent finish. This option creates a cloudy look that allows light through—but won't show everything inside.
• Leaded or stained glass cabinet doors . This highly decorative option includes leaded inserts that divide the panel into a pattern or design. Stained glass adds a pop of color to your kitchen's design.

Other popular options include grooved glass, patterned doors, and slightly opaque (partially frosted) cabinet doors.

Which Kitchen Cabinet Doors Are the Best Choice?

There is no universal answer to this glass cabinet door question. If you're not sure which way to go, consider:

• The existing cabinets . Will you keep the existing base and replace the door? If this is your first-choice option, think about how the type and style of glass looks when paired with the base of the cabinet.
• The style of your kitchen . A translucent piece of glass may look better in a contemporary kitchen, while an etched option may work well with a traditional or rustic chic style.
• Your personal preferences . Do you like the look of clear glass—or does a frosted panel align with your personal aesthetic? You will live with the doors for years to come. Choose the glass doors that you like the look of.

If you're still not sure which doors to choose, talk to a professional. A glass contractor can review the options and show you photos of real-world examples. This can help you to select the best style of glass for your kitchen cabinet upgrade.

Do you want to learn more about glass cabinet doors? Contact Concord & Antioch Glass, Inc. , for more information.