Custom vs. Semi-Custom Cabinets: Which is Right for You?

Whether they are installed on their own or as a component of a larger renovation, new cabinets truly transform the look of your kitchen. From modern-chic to farmhouse and everything in between, your cabinets can look like – and do – anything you want. Luxury kitchen cabinets come in two varieties: custom cabinets and semi-custom cabinets.

Deciding between custom vs. semi-custom cabinets is one of the first and biggest practical choices you need to make for your renovation. However, there’s no real right answer – only what’s right for your renovation and your budget. At Choice Home Remodeling, we have experience helping countless homeowners build their perfect kitchens with the perfect cabinets.

What Makes These Kitchen Cabinets Different?

Both custom and semi-custom cabinets are distinctly upscale products. While stock cabinets are becoming more attractive, they can’t come close to the wide variety of styles and workmanship of either custom or semi-custom kitchen cabinets.

As the name suggests, custom cabinets are built completely to order. The hand-built cabinets are perfect to accommodate truly unique requests, even if they are generally more expensive than the semi-custom variety.

On the other hand, semi-custom cabinets are built with a standard structure – and then customized to meet the specific needs of the homeowner.

Generally, most people can’t tell the difference when comparing custom vs. semi-custom cabinets, meaning you can pay a semi-custom price for custom-seeming cabinets – with an equally long lifespan. In fact, both semi-custom and custom cabinets can include ALL of these popular kitchen cabinet design features:

Shaker doors
Glass inlays in cabinet doors
Concealed hinges and hardware
Variety of knobs and pulls
Dovetail joints in cabinets
Soft-close doors
And much more!

Since both cabinet options can complement almost ANY kitchen décor, at Choice Home Remodeling, we install both. But which should you choose for your kitchen remodel? Keep reading to discover the cabinet type that best matches your needs and your vision.

Why to Choose Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets

Semi-custom cabinets are quickly gaining popularity as the practical choice that has the look you’d expect to get from a product with an extravagant price tag – but these kitchen cabinets are actually much more affordable than that. Here are the reasons that semi-custom kitchen cabinets are the right choice for you:

Generally Less Expensive – In the vast majority of kitchen remodels, semi-custom cabinets are less expensive. This is thanks to the cabinet base being built in bulk, with custom features added later. However, with a large number of custom touches, the semi-custom cabinet price can actually equal or exceed custom-made cabinets.
Save Time When Picking Semi-Custom– For kitchen remodel projects on a tight schedule, semi-custom cabinets offer the advantages of being built faster and being ready to install sooner. Generally, semi-custom cabinets are available in about half the time of the custom variety, which can save you a few weeks on your project.
No Sacrifice on Quality – While semi-custom cabinets boast those practical advantages, they don’t sacrifice look, quality, or lifespan. You’ll still have an incredibly gorgeous set of cabinets, and no one will be able to tell that you saved time and money because you picked them out.

Benefits of Custom Kitchen Cabinets

There’s no question that semi-custom cabinets are an upscale product, however, there are some cases where custom is the only way to go. Here are the reasons that custom kitchen cabinets are the right choice for you:

Custom Artistic Details – If you have a unique demand for your cabinets such as a specific carving or drawing on the exteriors, you’ll need to opt for custom cabinets. A design flourish like this is simply too custom to be included as a semi-custom option.
Can Be Less Expensive– In some cases, custom cabinets can actually be the less expensive option. If you end up picking numerous add-ons to your semi-custom cabinets, the price may exceed the cost of building the same cabinet custom. This is something your Choice interior designer can help you with.
Higher Quality Finish – This is one of the biggest differences separating custom vs. semi-custom cabinets. Since the building processes between the two differ, custom cabinets tend to have a slightly higher-quality wood finish, although most people never notice.
Larger Variety of Wood Species – Finally, custom construction allows you to choose a wider variety of wood species. This advantage can be important if you plan to match your cabinets to another wooden fixture in your kitchen.

Schedule Your Kitchen Consultation with Choice

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen and cabinets, this is only the beginning of the conversation. If you’re ready to learn more, we recommend that you schedule a free in-home consultation with one of our interior designers.

As a part of your consultation, you can start to refine your vision for the showpiece kitchen you’ve dreamt about for years. Plus, you’ll receive a free quote for when you’re ready to make the next move. Contact us today to start the conversation.

Share This:

Client Reviews

Write a review » See all reviews »

Excellent

Choice Windows, Doors & More, Inc.

4.7

Quality work! These boys are hard workers and you can tell that they don’t cut corners! We are so delighted with our new windows! Thank you Choice home remodeling! One very happy customer here!

Response from the owner:Thank you for the review Britini! Our team strives for their best and ensuring satisfaction. We are thrilled you had such a positive experience with us.

A huge thank you to the Choice team for making the stress of choosing and installation of new windows and slider door seamless. Each person that we encountered was Professional, knowledgeable, kind, skilled and took Pride in what they do. They did a fantastic job, from protecting the floors, showing kindness to the dog and working in the brutal cold for 3 days and taking the time to show me all I needed to know about these windows and door. I will have them back to do the last door and 2 windows.

Family owned, local business. Thank you. Love the windows/door.

Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind review Tamera. We pride ourselves in having a team that cares. Let us know when you are ready for your remaining projects!

I had 7 windows and 1 glass replacement installed using Home Choice Remodeling. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a quality company. I needed windows that were good quality but not extremely expensive. I learned about Okna windows from the salesperson - I had never heard of them before. I am glad I listened because they were very affordable and are much higher quality than my current windows. During install day, the crew was very respectful and were in and out in much less time than I expected. They laid drop cloths down and made sure to leave the space exactly as they found it. I am cvery happy with the results. Great company!

Response from the owner:Thank you for the review Amanda. We are very happy to hear your expectations were exceeded. We want to make sure our customers are getting the best service and products that work for them.

Beautiful custom Pella windows in my historical family cottage. Thank you to Evan Kratz and crew for the loving care they gave the place!

Response from the owner:Thank you Jenny for the review. Windows look great!