Why Kitchen Cabinets Should Come First

For any kitchen remodel process involving them, kitchen cabinets are one of the most important considerations. They’ll make up one of the largest percentages of your overall budget, and will be some of the central visual and practical elements of the kitchen.

At Swirl Woodcraft, we have a wide selection of traditional, rustic and modern kitchen cabinets. And we’re here to tell you that not only are cabinets an important part of the kitchen remodel, they should probably be the very first element of the remodel you even consider. Here’s why this is the case.

Room Foundation

For starters the cabinetry of your kitchen will serve as the foundation for the entire room. Cabinets are some of the bulkiest and most space-consuming parts of the kitchen, meaning they set the baseline for the full room’s layout.

Not only do cabinets help dictate space utilization, they often determine what kinds of appliances should be purchased and where these should be placed for the best practicality and aesthetic combination. If you go about purchasing expensive appliances before determining your cabinet choices, you could easily run into a situation where some of those appliances simply won’t work for your cabinet format – and you’ll be out that money.

They Last Longer

Another reason for considering cabinets first? Simple: They last longer than virtually any other part of your kitchen. Our high-quality cabinets will last literally decades – you might swap out styles or hardware choices somewhere along the line, sure, but the base materials will often remain in your home for a lifetime.

This is in stark contrast to other kitchen materials, none of which will generally last this long. Appliances and kitchen finishes need to be replaced or re-done every few years at least. It make sense, then, to consider cabinets first when remodeling your kitchen; they’ll be the longest-lasting foundational elements, meaning the rest of the kitchen should adjust to them, not vice versa.

Tougher to Replace

Down similar lines, various other parts of the kitchen are easier and cheaper to replace than cabinets. If anything goes wrong with an appliance, for instance, replacing this is far easier than a full remodel to replace your cabinets. The same is true for faucets, countertops, tile and other areas. The cabinets are not going anywhere once they’re installed – at least unless you want a major hassle and expense so soon after a remodeling project.

If you’re on a limited budget, countertop choice becomes even more of an early priority. Setting a baseline for your costs with some of your most expensive items will make it easier to budget later on as well.

For more on why cabinets are so important to consider early in a remodel, or to learn about any of our custom cabinetry or bathroom vanities, speak to the staff at Swirl Woodcraft today.