Inset vs Overlay Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes to installing new kitchen cabinets, there are a lot of different options that you’ll want to consider, options that can affect both the appearance of your cabinets as well as their function. For example, one of the decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want inset cabinets or overlay cabinets.

The following is a breakdown of both types:

What are Inset Cabinets?

Inset cabinets are basically cabinets in which the doors are set into the frame of the cabinet. This means that when the doors are closed, they fit flush with the face of the cabinet. This creates a smoother look that some homeowners prefer, especially if they don’t their kitchen cabinets to draw as much attention as a focal point in the kitchen.

However, if you choose inset cabinets, you’ll need a door pull or knob installed in the doors in order to pull them open. Because they are flush with the frame, it will be impossible to open them up by just pulling on the door itself. As for the hinges, they can be concealed or exposed depending on your visual tastes.

While having to install doorknobs or handles isn’t much of a hassle, inset cabinets do have other drawbacks to keep in mind. Because the doors are set into the frame, there’s less storage space within the cabinets. Additionally, if your home has high levels of humidity, then the wood could expand as a result, which can cause rubbing to occur between the cabinet frame and the door. However, these are minor drawbacks that can be easily dealt with if you really like the look that inset cabinets provide.

What are Overlay Cabinets?

Essentially, overlay cabinets are the opposite of inset cabinets. Instead of having the door flush with the frame to create a smooth, uniform look across all of your cabinets, overlay cabinet doors completely cover the cabinet face, which means that like inset cabinets, you’ll need knobs or handles to open them up. However, because they are not set within the frame, it also means that overlay cabinets tend to have more space for storage. Overlay cabinet doors are also easier to open.
Additionally, because overlay cabinet doors are easier to install since they simply cover the frame instead of having to be fit inside of the frame, they tend to be a little bit more on the affordable site as well.

What are Partial Overlay Cabinets?

There is a third option that you can choose as well. Partial overlay doors sit on the face of the cabinet, just like overlay cabinets. However, there is a gap between the doors, which means that you can actually see the face of the frame. This also means that unlike inset or overlay cabinets, you don’t actually need cabinet hardware in order to pull the doors open — you can just grab the doors by the side to open them up.

Partial overlay cabinets also tend to be more affordable than the other two types and are one of the more popular options as a result. Last, but not least, partial overlay cabinets tend to have a more traditional appearance than overlay and inset cabinets, and they do provide more visual depth to the kitchen space as well.

These are the main differences between inset cabinets and overlay cabinets. Hopefully, this provides you with the information you need to make an informed decision when it comes to choosing your kitchen cabinets. For more information about the RTA cabinets from Conestoga that we carry, be sure to contact us at Lifestyles Cabinetry and Millwork today.

See What Our Customers Have To Say

Zayne and his professional staff are absolutely the best in home renovation.

Zayne’s crew are professional, courteous, prompt, polite and offer suggestions while on site. The quality of the workmanship and materials are first class. Zayne will work diligently with you to develop your vision of your project and point out the constraints of your home and how you can proceed to achieve the end result.

Zayne expresses serious concern about your budget and how to accomplish your ideas without spending unnecessarily. His sub-contractors and suppliers are all equally welcoming and patient when you are working with them to find the cabinetry, trim, stone, paint and other materials that are not “cookie cutter”.

We highly recommend, without reservation, Zayne and Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork to anyone with a large or small project.

Robbi K.

Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork were excellent. They were fast and efficient and always respectful when they were in my home. I loved working with Kirt and Zayne. I would recommend them to anyone! You won’t be disappointed.

Toni B.

Wow! Zayne and his team were great. Always responsive, always professional and they provided high-quality work on a tight timeline. Every contractor on the Lifestyle team impressed us without exception. We would highly recommend Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork.

Leslie A.

Lifestyle Cabinetry and Milwork re-constructed our kitchen and bathroom in 2013. They were meticulous, very professional and friendly. We are very pleased with the workmanship and wouldn’t hesitate to hire them for another project in the future.

Ron N.

I couldn’t have been happier with Zayne and his crew. Zayne presented a clear-cut plan for our project and stuck to it throughout the whole process. His guys did excellent work and were respectful while in my home. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork to anyone for any project.

P.M.

Kitchen Remodel.
New cabinets
New granite countertops
New backsplash

Very knowledgeable about the work. Timely execution. Excellent workmanship. Executed the work within budget.
The people went out of their way to work on add-on features.

R. G.

We used Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork for a complete master bath remodel. The workers were friendly, cooperative, and showed up on time every day. The work was high quality and we are so pleased with the end results. We would definitely recommend them to others.

Y. L.

This is a professional company in every sense of the word! We hired them to completely remodel our kitchen when we purchased a 20 year old house. They did an amazing job! They were there when they said they would be. They worked full days with few breaks and the quality of their work was superior. I would definitely recommend them and will use them again on future planned projects!

S. T.

Kitchen and bath remodels are complicated projects that require good up front planning and experience. Zayne and his crew have delivered excellent projects for me on repeated occasions. Each time the work has been completed on the agreed schedule and above my expectations. Most importantly it is critical to work with someone you trust and that has the knowledge and experience required – Lifestyle truly fits this description.

Michele R.

What a great experience to have such a reliable, professional company come to work in our condo! Zayne was so nice and helped us find the perfect cabinets for our kitchen. Dion, who works for Zayne did a wonderful job in completing the projects. We also had electrical, painting, and additional carpentry completed. Everything went just the way we wanted. We could not be happier. We are also going to get additional pricing for more work that we want to have done in our condo in the future.

Bringpeace

This team is absolutely amazing!! I could not be happier with the way my kitchen turned out. I had a vision and they were amazing in building exactly to what I had pictured. They were on time, a pleasure to work with, efficient and kept right on schedule. Kurt made sure that we were happy at every turn and acted immediately on every request. Thank you!!!

Stacy C.