Framed vs Frameless Cabinets: Pros, Cons & Comparison
If you’re considering framed vs. frameless cabinets for your bathroom or kitchen, you’ll want to know how they compare before making your choice. These two popular types of cabinets both offer advantages and disadvantages. To make the right decision for your home, you’ll want to consider your personal preferences and priorities. Each cabinet type offers a variety of design and style options, but one of them may be a better overall fit for the design of your kitchen or bathroom. Here, we’ll take a close look at frameless vs. framed cabinets.
Framed Cabinets
First, we’ll examine framed cabinets, which are the more traditional type of cabinetry. A framed cabinet will have a supporting frame intended to give the furniture a sturdier structure.
Pros:
1. Easy to Install - Framed cabinets are typically easier to install than frameless cabinets. So, if you decide to install your kitchen cabinet or bathroom cabinet yourself, you may save a bit of time and effort. And if you hire a professional cabinet installer, you may have more confidence and peace of mind.
2. Durable - Perhaps the most significant benefit of framed cabinets is increased durability. Because of the frame that each of these cabinets is equipped with, they tend to be quite a bit more stable and sturdier. This can make their structures significantly less likely to become seriously damaged.
3. Versatile - Another great benefit of framed cabinets is that they’re very versatile pieces of furniture. For one thing, framed cabinets are available in several different materials, including wood, particle board, laminate, and MDF (medium-density fiberboard). Additionally, framed cabinets typically give you more options than frameless cabinets in terms of sizes and modifications. So, if you’re looking for a cabinet that will fit your unique bathroom or kitchen design, going with a framed cabinet will make the customization a bit easier.
Cons:
1. Less Storage Space - Although framed cabinets are very durable, they usually don’t have as much interior space as frameless cabinets.
2. Thin Materials - In many cases framed cabinets are built with relatively thin materials. This can make them more susceptible to certain types of damage, although the structure will typically hold up well.
3. Additional Skin Panels - Another slight disadvantage of framed cabinets is that they’re built with exposed seams so they require installing additional skin panels to cover those seams.
Frameless Cabinets
Frameless cabinets are generally considered to be the more contemporary option in the framed vs. frameless cabinets discussion. As you may have guessed, the main difference between framed and frameless cabinets is that frameless cabinets are not equipped with an extra frame. While this decreases their sturdiness, it also offers several advantages.
Pros:
1. Extra Storage Space - Due to the lack of a frame, these cabinets typically offer a bit more interior space, allowing for extra storage.
2. Smoother Appearance - Most people agree that frameless cabinets offer a sleeker and more modern appearance than framed cabinets. This is partially due to the factory-finished sides and the lack of exposed seams. So, if you’re looking to design a contemporary kitchen, frameless cabinets will likely be the better fit for the aesthetic.
3. Easy to Clean - Although framed cabinets aren’t necessarily difficult to clean, they usually take a bit more effort than frameless cabinets. With a frameless cabinet, it’s very easy to access every part of the interior while cleaning it.
Cons:
1. Lack of Sturdiness - The biggest downside to frameless cabinets is that they aren’t as structurally stable as framed cabinets. Without the added frame for durability, the cabinets are a bit more vulnerable to structural damage.
2. Fewer Options - You typically don’t have as many choices of size, material, or style when purchasing a frameless cabinet.
The Bottom Line
When you’re comparing framed vs. frameless cabinets, you’ll find that the prices for the two types of cabinets are usually comparable. So, your choice really comes down to how you want to design your home. If you’re looking at purchasing quality cabinets or learn more about cabinetry, check out New Cabinet Company today.