When it comes to kitchen renovations, cabinets are often the biggest expense. However, they're also one of the most important design elements and can significantly increase the value of your home. In fact, replacing kitchen cabinets is one of the top five upgrades for adding value to your home.

If you're looking to take your kitchen to the next level, consider adding glass cabinets. Not only do they break up the monotony of traditional solid cabinets, but they're also practical and add an interesting visual element to your space.

Curious about how to seamlessly incorporate glass-front cabinets into your kitchen design? Check out this blog for tips and inspiration.

Why Glass Cabinets are a Great Idea

In today's modern kitchen, you'll most likely find glass cabinetry as a central feature within with overall kitchen design. Most of the time, homeowners opt for a glass cabinet display as a key feature in the kitchen.

Other than this, there are a few reasons why glass cabinet doors are a smart addition:

  • If you have a small kitchen, glass-front cabinetry can create depth and open up the space
  • If your kitchen doesn't have much natural light, glass cabinet doors act as a reflective surface, creating more light
  • Glass-front cabinets allow you to play around with seasonal decor and change up the aesthetic of your kitchen as and when you feel like it

If you're not sure about open-shelving cabinets, but want to add some visual interest to your kitchen, glass door cabinets are the best way to go.

Let's take a look at the many different styles and designs you could incorporate into your kitchen.

1. Reeded Glass

The only downside of glass cabinets is that they're obviously see-through. This is why they're best used for decorative purposes, such as a display area -- only because they don't hide clutter very well!

However, there is a solution to this. If you love the idea of a full kitchen of glass cabinets, reeded glass is your go-to. Essentially, this is a type of textured glass that features repeated vertical lines. This pattern helps to hide what's behind it.

Keep in mind that reeded glass has a ''busy'' texture or pattern to it. So it's crucial to ensure this pattern fits with the rest of your kitchen design.

2. Water Glass

As another textured option, you could opt for water glass. This pattern is a little less non-linear and a little more randomly textured.

However, water glass is a bit more transparent than reeded glass, so it might not conceal as much. Water glass is also a great option if you already have a ''busy'' kitchen in terms of decorative tiling, countertops, etc.

If you love the look of glass cabinets and want texture, but also a more contemporary look, water glass is your best bet.

3. Frosted Glass

This is another savvy option if you love the idea of glass cabinets, but want to conceal what's behind them. Frosted glass has a blurred effect to it, so the cabinet still features a glass insert, but you can't actually see through the glass.

You could mix and match glass effects throughout your kitchen and reserve frosted glass for your storage cabinets while incorporating other types of glass for a more decorative touch.

4. Clear Glass

There is, of course, clear glass as the most traditional and reliable option for glass-front cabinets. If you have a more modern, transitional, or farmhouse-style kitchen, clear glass suits this style perfectly.

But bear in mind that clear glass displays exactly what's behind it, so there's no way to hide clutter and mess. Clear glass also shows off smudges and fingerprints very easily, so they do require a little more cleaning and maintenance.

5. Frameless Glass Cabinets

Most glass-front kitchen cabinets have a traditional wood frame, with a glass panel insert in the middle. Frameless cabinets are essentially just one sheet of glass for the entire front of the cabinet.

Opt for full, frameless glass cabinets if you prefer a sleek, modern, and contemporary look for your kitchen. Complement the entire aesthetic with decorative hinges and handles.

6. Kitchen Island Cabinets

Many homeowners opt to open up their kitchen, allowing for a flow of space into common living areas, such as the dining room or lounge. But they usually choose to divide up the space with a kitchen island, also known as a peninsula.

While the kitchen island is accessible from most sides, if you choose to have cabinets installed either on the island itself or above it, it can close off the space a little.

This is where glass-front cabinets can really help to maintain a sense of openness and flow from one room to the next. Especially if you opt for top cabinets, above the kitchen island.

7. Sliding Glass Cabinets

While these cabinets did their time throughout the 70s, they've made a serious turnaround and are a popular glass cabinet choice today.

Sliding glass cabinets move along a recessed track, allowing for two sheets of glass to travel back and forth. They're a great option for display cabinets or storage cabinets that you access often.

8. Base Cabinets

Most homeowners tend to focus solely on their upper cabinets, and for good reason -- you see them first. But don't forget about your base cabinets.

You can incorporate glass panels into your base cabinetry for an additional touch of character in your kitchen or in the cabinetry of your kitchen island to add something extra to your overall kitchen aesthetic.

Do Glass Cabinets Sound Appealing to You?

If you're keen to switch up your kitchen design and add some visual appeal in the form of glass cabinets, you're making one of the best investment decisions for the value of your kitchen and home.

Cabinet Wholesalers specialize in cabinetry design of all shapes and sizes, including mullion, or glass door cabinets. Learn more about how we can bring your kitchen upgrade to fruition!