Is the loud “bang” of cabinet doors driving you crazy in your kitchen? Do your cabinets suffer from broken hinges or sagging doors that just won’t stay closed? Upgrading to soft closing hinges can make over your tired, noisy kitchen cabinets with an easy fix.
Soft closing hinges gently slow the closing motion of cabinet doors, preventing slamming, banging, and damage. Just a simple swap of old basic hinges for soft closing mechanisms can overhaul your kitchen’s look and noise level. Read on to learn all about how soft closing hinges can reinvigorate your worn-out kitchen cabinets.
Advantages of Soft Closing Hinges
Standard cabinet door hinges do little to control the speed and force at which you close doors. The abrupt momentum causes the loud “bang” as door hits frame. It also stresses hinges and joints over time. Soft closing hinges offer many benefits compared to traditional basic hinges:
Prevent Door Slamming and Damage
Soft closing hinges absorb the force of closing to provide a gentle, controlled motion. This prevents doors from violently slamming into the cabinet frame, which reduces wear and tear and damage.
The smooth action preserves the integrity of the cabinet box and frame. It also prevents hinges from loosening or breaking over time, extending the lifespan of your cabinet doors.
Silence Annoying Banging Noises
The “thud” of cabinet doors slamming shut can get extremely annoying, especially in an open kitchen design. Soft closing hinges completely eliminate the loud banging noises.
The smooth closing motion creates a quieter, more peaceful kitchen environment. You’ll no longer have to cringe from the racket of slamming cabinetry.
Enhance Safety
Standard cabinet hinges allow doors to swing freely and quickly shut. This can lead to accidents like smashed fingers. Soft closing hinges prevent doors from abruptly swinging closed.
The controlled closing speed gives you complete control. This enhances safety, avoiding injuries from fast closing doors.
Luxury Appeal
The smooth, gentle action of soft closing hinges lends a subtle luxurious feel to everyday cabinets. It seems like an upscale upgrade over dated, worn cabinetry.
Visually, the smooth closing motion looks clean, sophisticated, and pleasing. It adds visual harmony and a polished feel to your kitchen’s overall aesthetic.
Types of Soft Closing Cabinet Hinges
There are a few different types of soft closing mechanism hinges available for cabinetry. The main options include:
Self-Closing Hinges
Self-closing hinges completely close the cabinet door every time, without needing to push it fully shut. Just open the door and let go – the hinge takes over closing.
Self-closing hinges require no effort after the initial closing nudge. This makes them extremely convenient but pricier.
Self-Closure Hinges
Self-closure hinges are similar but require a slight push to engage the closing mechanism. They don’t fully close the door on their own.
Self-closure hinges are a less expensive option than self-closing. They still prevent slamming.
Spring Hinges
Spring hinges utilize coiled springs to gently regulate the closing speed. The spring controls the descent and absorbs shock.
Spring hinges are an affordable way to add soft closing functionality. However, springs can wear out over time.
Hydraulic Hinges
Hydraulic soft closing hinges rely on fluid to control the closing speed. A piston moves through hydraulic fluid to slow the rate of closing.
Hydraulics provide an extremely smooth, consistent closing motion. However, they tend to cost more than other options.
Installation of Soft Closing Hinges
Soft closing hinges are installed slightly differently depending on whether you’re fitting brand new cabinets or retrofitting existing cabinets:
New Cabinet Installation
For brand new cabinet installations, simply swap regular hinges for soft closing hinges during the installation process.
Follow the typical cabinet installation process, attaching soft closing hinges instead of standard hinges.
Cabinet Door Retrofits
To add soft closing functionality to existing cabinets, use clip-on adapters or dampeners that attach directly to your current hinges.
Adapters allow you to retrofit your hinges to soft close without fully replacing the hinges. This saves time and money.
Considerations by Cabinet Style
You’ll need to adjust installation slightly for inset vs. overlay cabinets doors, and other specialty hinge systems like European-style concealed hinges.
Look for hinge models designed specifically for your kitchen’s cabinet configuration for a flawless install.
Upgrading to soft closing hinges is an easy and affordable way to overhaul worn-out, noisy kitchen cabinets. Follow this process to complete your kitchen’s hinge makeover:
- Estimate costs using price-per-hinge for the number of doors and drawers.
- Choose self-closing, self-closure, spring, or hydraulic hinges that fit your cabinet configuration.
- Pick a finish that matches your current cabinet hardware.
- Schedule professional installation or DIY following proper cabinet retrofit or replacement steps.
Soft closing hinges can transform the look and sound of your kitchen. No more embarrassing slamming doors or jarring bangs. Just smooth, silent cabinets that gently whisper closed.