If your kitchen is looking tired and dated, installing glass front cabinets can give it the facelift it needs. The sleek, contemporary style of glass cabinetry makes small galley kitchens appear more spacious and allows more light to fill the room. Displaying your beautiful dishware also becomes effortless. Transforming just the cabinet fronts to glass is an affordable way to rejuvenate your kitchen’s aesthetic without a full remodel.
Glass cabinet fronts present both form and function. The transparent surface enables you to neatly organize dishes, glassware and decor behind closed doors while keeping items free of dust. The visibility allows for quick access without opening every single door. It is also a smart way to add modern flair to a more traditional kitchen design.
Reasons to Replace Cabinet Doors with Glass Fronts
Brighten and Open Up Small, Dark Kitchens
Do you have a cramped kitchen with a lack of natural sunlight? The galley layout and wall of opaque cabinetry can make it feel unnecessarily closed in. Converting existing cabinet fronts to glass inserts are an excellent solution for allowing more light to permeate the small space.
The translucent glass enables illumination to pass through rather than blocking it. Your kitchen will instantly take on a lighter, more open and airy aesthetic. Visually, replacing solid cabinet fronts with glass gives the perception of more room. Even on dark, cloudy days, the glass fronts keep your tiny kitchen brighter.
Display Dishware, Glassware and Decor Easily
Tucking away fine China, stemware or your vintage pottery behind solid wood doors does protect these items from dust and grease splatter. However, the functionality also keeps your beautiful things out of sight.
Installing glass insets into your existing cabinetry gives you the best of both worlds–protecting cherished dishware from grime and damage but having it on display. The glass fronts allow you to organize cups, plates and saucers neatly so they are visible but secure behind a closed cabinet.
Create a Sleek, Modern Aesthetic
Over years of cooking splatters and moisture, traditional wooden cabinet doors can start to show their age through faded finishes and peeling paint. Perhaps you want to modernize the entire look of your kitchen. The clean, smooth surface of glass cabinet fronts provide a sleek, contemporary style perfect for open concept spaces.
Unlike their solid wood counterparts, glass inserts have an inherently lighter and more neutral visual weight. They seamlessly blend into modern and transitional kitchen designs. Frosted or smoked glass finishes also lend additional dimension. Upgrade just the fronts for a budget-friendly revamp.
Affordable Facelift for Dated Kitchens
Do you love the current layout and footprint of your kitchen but the existing cabinetry and hardware screams 1980s? Converting the doors and drawers to glass-fronted versions will affordably bring the space into this century without remodeling.
Rather than replacing perfectly functional cabinets, this targeted approach allows you to preserve what works while altering the look. New glass fronts, modern knobs and under cabinet lighting checks the upgrade boxes without breaking your wallet. It is amazing how simply switching cabinet fronts and hardware can make even oak cabinets trendy again.
Cabinet Door Options for Glass Inserts
Types of Doors Suitable for Glass Inserts
The good news about glass cabinet fronts is that virtually any door can be adapted to accommodate inserts. Flat panel doors are generally easiest since cutting a rectangle hole does not interfere with grooves and inset panels. But rail and stile, shaker, cathedral and even arched doors can work too.
Single panel slab doors offer the most unobstructed view of contents once the glass is installed. Multi-panel doors allow you to get creative with glass on just top halves or in a centralized window. The choices available ensure you can find a door style suited to your existing cabinetry and desired aesthetic.
Customizing Door Style and Glass Type
Further customize the look of your new glass front cabinetry by selecting from clear glass as well as options like frosted, smoked or tinted glass. Colored and patterned films can also be applied to glass panels to complement your decor. For a bit of contrast, mix glass types within the kitchen.
The door frames themselves bring additional ways to customize. Stain or paint the wood portion of doors to match or stand out from existing cabinetry. Opt for a style that echoes the design of cabinet face frames for cohesion. So whether your kitchen leans traditional or contemporary, you can create exactly the glass front cabinet look you envision.
Where to Order Cabinet Doors and Glass
To make the cabinet transformation process easy, order both replacement doors and glass panels from the same manufacturer. Most door companies now offer glass inserts made specifically to fit their door sizes. Provide them the current door dimensions of your kitchen cabinetry for tailored sizing.
Another option is to purchase doors from a home improvement store, then source glass locally. This gives you extra time to view glass types and samples firsthand. Just be sure to have exact glass measurements when it comes time for cutting. Accurate dimensions ensure quick installation.
How to Install Glass Panels in Cabinet Doors
Measuring and Cutting the Glass Properly
Installing glass panels into cabinet doors does require careful measuring and cutting for a secure, finished look. If the glass pieces are slightly off size, visibility will be compromised. Diagonal corners could also create safety issues down the road.
Utilizing a professional glass company for this step eliminates guesswork and the need to buy glass cutting tools. Provide them the dimensions of the door openings along with your desired glass type. Request polished, rounded corners and smooth edges. This attention to detail takes the hassle out of installing.
Installation of Glass Panels
Once accurately sized glass panels are in hand, installment is a straightforward process even for novices. Most replacement cabinet doors come prepped with holes to secure glass framed by wood, metal or plastic molding strips. Simply center the glass in the door groove or channel, then attach retention clips, molding and screws to hold everything in place.
If doors lack an existing channel, use glass clips or wood strips cut to fit inside dimensions to frame in the glass. This DIY glass cabinet door project can generally be completed in less than a day without special skills. Just take care not to over tighten screws and crack inserted glass.
Caring for Glass Front Cabinetry
One concern homeowners have about glass cabinet doors is proper cleaning and maintenance. But with routine care using appropriate products, glass fronts retain their crystal clear shine for years before needing any special restoration.
Be sure to use glass cleaner instead of multi-surface cleaners, along with microfiber cloths, to avoid any scratching or damage. Avoid harsh chemicals. Also immediately wipe up cooking oils or grease splatters rather than letting them sit on glass fronts for long periods. With regular gentle cleaning, glass cabinet doors withstand wear beautifully.
The sleek style and illumination glass front cabinets lend kitchens make them a worthwhile upgrade whether refacing a few units or doing a full replacement. Visible storage and contemporary allure rejuvenate worn kitchens. Display collectibles normally hidden away to enhance decorative flair.
Since glass cabinet doors work with nearly any existing cabinet footprint, the project becomes highly customizable to your space and budget. Just switching out fronts updates kitchen aesthetics in a fraction of the time and money a full remodel takes. Let glass cabinetry breathe new life into your cooking space.
