Guide to Unfinished Cabinet Doors

Unfinished cabinet doors are an affordable alternative that offers a variety of customization opportunities. Think of an unfinished cabinet door as a blank canvas. Whether you want to stain, paint, or seal them, you can bring any creative vision you have to life when you invest in high-end unfinished cabinet doors from a credible manufacturer. 

Whether you love DIY projects or you're getting ready to give your kitchen a home makeover, there are a few things you'll need to know and prepare for before you make the investment.

In this guide, we'll discuss everything you need to know about unfinished kitchen cabinet doors. We hope you can use this guide to navigate the customization capabilities of unfinished cabinet doors and find a solution that aligns with your needs. 

Why Choose Unfinished Cabinet Doors?

There are many advantages to investing in unfinished cabinet doors over finished cabinet doors. Some of the benefits include:

  • Affordability: Unfinished cabinet doors are more affordable than finished cabinet doors. However, you'll want to consider the cost of paint, stains, or finishes you plan to add.
  • Customization and Flexibility: Unfinished provides more opportunities for creative freedom. You can paint or stain the doors to your liking on your own time.
  • Perfect Match: Need to replace one or two cabinet doors? Investing in an unfinished cabinet makes it easier to paint or stain the doors to complement your existing cabinets.

Exploring Popular Cabinet Styles 

There are many different cabinet door styles to choose from for your project. Some of the most common types include:

  • Shaker Style: Simple and traditional, great for contemporary or modern home designs. 
  • Slab: Features a flat surface and lacks ornate details, ideal for modern or Scandinavian aesthetics. 
  • Raised Panel: Features a raised center panel. Great for adding depth and dimension to a space. 
  • Recessed Panel: Features a recessed center panel that adds depth without making your kitchen feel cluttered. 

When exploring the different styles available, it's best to consider the kitchen aesthetic you're trying to achieve. If you want to keep the space modern, slab or shaker style is a better fit. While raised and recessed are ideal for traditional or vintage kitchen designs.

Additional Resources

Guide to Types of Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

Modern Cabinet Design Styles

The Process of Selecting Unfinished Cabinet Doors

Once you decide to invest in kitchen cabinet doors unfinished, there are a few aspects of the project to consider. This includes:

  • Wood type: When exploring the different wood species available, it's important to consider durability, appearance, and the overall cost of the investment.
  • Design: All unfinished cabinet doors have different styles and detailing. Doors with more ornate details complement traditional aesthetics, while doors that are more simple are better for modern aesthetics. 
  • Size: Lastly, when placing your order for unfinished doors, you must take proper measurements. This will ensure your custom doors expertly fit your current cabinets. 

Additional Resources:

Which Wood Type Should You Choose For Your Kitchen Renovation

Painting and Staining Unfinished Doors

The beauty of ordering unfinished cabinet doors is the creative flexibility. You can paint or stain them however you please in the comfort of your home. If you've never painted or stained cabinet doors on your own before, you’ll want to make sure your kitchen cabinet doors are prepped and pre-sanded before you start the painting process. You’ll also want to invest in a high-quality painting brush and a primer. Depending on the size of your kitchen, the painting or staining process can take anywhere from three to four days to complete.

Additional Resources

How to Paint Unfinished Cabinet Doors

How to Stain Maple Wood: Tips & Common FAQs

Unfinished Cabinet Doors Installation

Once you've painted or stained your cabinet doors, you must work through the installation process. Taking the DIY approach to installation will help you save money in the long run. It's also relatively easy to do on your own. 

At Cabinet Door Factory, we offer step-by-step guides and videos you can use to help walk you through the process. Our team is also here to answer any questions you have throughout the installation process. 

Additional Resources

A Step-by-Step Process of Installing Replacement Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Youtube: Step-by-Step Process of Replacing Cabinet Doors

Tools You Need

Once your cabinet doors unfinished arrive, you’ll need to make sure you have the right set up to start painting, staining, and installing. Tools you'll want to have readily available include:

  • Power drill with an assortment of drill bits
  • Straightedge 
  • Pencil
  • A #2 Phillips-head screwdriver
  • Paint brushes
  • Sandpaper

Additional Resources

How to Install Cabinet Hardware

Paint-Grade Cabinet Doors: Which Woods Paint Best?

Care and Maintenance of Unfinished Cabinet Doors

To increase the longevity of your investment, you must care for and clean your cabinet doors regularly. Proper care and maintenance will help prevent unwanted damage and preserve the functionality of the cabinet doors. While cleaning your cabinet doors, you'll want to use a mild cleanser. Apply it lightly and use a microfiber cloth to pat it dry.

Additional Resources

Cleaning Your Cabinet Doors

FAQs about Unfinished Cabinet Doors

Are unfinished or finished cabinet doors better?

It's a matter of personal preference. If you want more creative freedom to paint or stain the doors to your liking, unfinished are more suitable. Finished cabinet doors are better if you know what you want and want the doors to arrive ready to be installed.

What is the most popular style of unfinished cabinet doors?

The two most popular styles are raised-panel cabinet doors and shaker cabinets. Raised-panel cabinet doors complement a more vintage aesthetic, and shaker cabinets are more suitable for contemporary or modern spaces.

Is it cheaper to invest in replacement cabinet doors?

Absolutely. If you want to refresh the appearance of your kitchen, you're better off investing in unfinished doors to replace your current ones. This is an affordable way to upgrade your space without committing to a complete renovation.

Explore Cabinet Door Factory's Large Range of Unfinished Doors

At Cabinet Door Factory, we offer a wide range of unfinished doors in different styles, sizes, and materials. All of our options are custom-made and made to order. We strive to provide superior craftsmanship that's sure to meet your standards. Once they arrive, you can customize the unfinished doors to align with the vision you have for your project. 

Explore our selection of unfinished doors today to get started. 

Recessed Panel Cabinet Doors

Recessed Panel Cabinet Doors

Raised Panel Cabinet Doors

Raised Panel Cabinet Doors

Glass Ready Cabinet Doors

Glass Ready Cabinet Doors

Drawer Fronts

Drawer Fronts