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Where should you find kitchen cabinets? In the kitchen, right? However, that is no longer the case. Once upon a time, kitchen cabinets were plain, functional doors that were definitely better off hidden in the kitchen. Time have changed. Together with the closed off kitchen between the rooms, ugly kitchen cabinets have departed to the great beyond. Today, open floor layouts make the most of small living spaces. It also exposes the kitchen to the rest of the house. As a result, cabinets have evolved to become just as presentable and stylish as any living room furniture. It is no wonder that kitchen cabinets have shed the shackles of its name and migrated to other parts of the home.
After all, if you think about it, kitchen cabinets are still boxes with doors or pull-out drawers for storage, so they can really be used in any room as long as you think outside the box.
All rooms need storage, so why not kitchen cabinets?
It makes basic operational and economic sense, really. Using the same cabinet styles for all of the rooms of the home not only makes the look cohesive. It is also more affordable. You can get all your cabinetry from one company and strike a heck of a deal. You can also be sure that the quality will be uniform, so you won’t have problem areas.
In addition, if you are building a new home or embarking on a major renovation. It is possible to include these built-in cabinets in your mortgage as they are permanent fixtures of the home. This means you can pay for your beautiful cabinets in manageable increments rather than one purse-crunching bang.
Other places to install cabinets besides the kitchen.
So where can you install kitchen cabinets outside the kitchen? The answer is, practically anywhere! Even standard kitchen cabinets can work in the bathroom, home bar, basement, and laundry rooms. With some customization, they make great storage and display solutions in the dining and living rooms.
Bathroom cabinets
The bathroom has historically been a close collaborator with kitchen when it comes to countertops and cabinets. What works for one usually works well with the other. For instance, the standard kitchen cabinet is 24 inches deep and 36 inches tall, while bathroom cabinets range from 18 to 21 inches deep and 39 to 31 inches tall. You can actually put standard kitchen cabinets in the bathroom, and may even be better functionally. The sink is closer so you don’t have to bend so far, and you have more storage space. If you really want it lower and smaller, you can always go for other models, such as an over-the-fridge cabinet. Simply add legs or a toe-kick to raise it 6 inches or so.
The best thing about kitchen cabinets is that it is available in many models, and many are space-saving, which makes it ideal for small bathrooms. Some are made of durable heat-bonded laminates that are perfect for humid conditions. Consult the designer about the best kitchen cabinets for your bathroom, and you will get both style and function.
Cabinets in the basement
The basement is one of the most versatile rooms in the house. Since it usually runs the length of the house, there’s a lot of space so it can serve many purposes. Most commonly, it is used as the laundry room, and this is where kitchen cabinets can really shine. Instead of tucking your laundry room out of sight, let it shine with your old kitchen cabinets repurposed for laundry appliances, organize your cleaning materials, and folding area. An island would be perfect for this function, and when it is not being used, it is a beautiful piece of furniture that happens to have a lot of storage space.
Right next to (or instead of) your laundry room could be a home office, workshop or den. In any of these functions, kitchen cabinets provide stylish and functional work and storage areas. You can keep all your things neatly organized and out of sight when not in use.
For a home office, for example, you can use kitchen cabinets as a modified file cabinet. Simply adjust the heights of drawers to accommodate file folders. For the workshop, you can have shallow shelves for all kinds of tools on a rolling island, and hang tools from the sides. For a den, cabinets provide a great way to hide your television, game consoles, and other paraphernalia.
And how about bookcases? Base cabinets can be modified to organize books, games, toys, or art supplies as appropriate. You can even use the top panel as a work surface!
If you have two or more rooms in the basement, we recommend that you use the same door style and finish throughout to give them a more cohesive look. It looks neater that way. On the other hand, you can go for a more eclectic design by mixing and matching different styles and finishes for a more relaxed look.
Cabinets for a home bar
The home bar is not exactly a room, but it does hold its own when it comes to entertainment guests. Keep everything you need close at hand and organized by using smart storage systems that include not only wine and glass racks, drawers for your small implements, and cabinets for larger items such as ice buckets. Kitchen cabinets can also be used to house a mini-fridge and/or icemaker. You might even want to incorporate a media center for adding music to the mix.
Cabinets in dining room
In most cases, an open floor layout means the dining room is right next to the kitchen, and everything is out for everyone to see. This is when using kitchen cabinets for the dining room can be the best design idea ever. When you use the same style and finish for your kitchen and dining cabinets, you promote a seamless look for both rooms. The cabinets give the two rooms a pleasing sense of continuity without downgrading the elegance in the dining room by one iota.
Kitchen cabinet makers routinely offer cabinetry that are suitable for dining room use, including glass fronted cabinets, and buffet systems. Instead of pots and pans, you can put your most precious dining collections on display without missing a beat. The best designs include a judicious mix of matching and complementary styles and colors that fits the character and personal tastes of the homeowner.
Cabinets in living area.
Much like the dining area, the living room can benefit greatly from the wide options available for kitchen cabinets. An over-the-sink cabinet with a reinforced top and cushions, for instance, would be perfect as a window seat with lots of storage. The fireplace is also an area where carved corbels, legs, and feet can help tie it in with the kitchen without bringing the matching thing over the top.
There is a lot you can do with mixing and matching kitchen cabinet styles and models for use in other parts of the home. All it takes is a little imagination, and close coordination with your cabinet designer to make sure you get the look you want.
