53 Flat Panel Kitchen Cabinets With Pros And Cons

flat panel kitchen cabinets with pros and cons

Renovating a kitchen can be a real game changer in your home styling, and you can be surprised how much impact it can bring. If you are planning to renovate your kitchen, there are several ways to go: changing countertops and the backsplash, changing the panels and changing the color of the walls. If you choose renovating the cabinet doors or panels, consider getting flat panels. Flat panel kitchen cabinets always make their way back into the trends and look very contemporary. Let’s consider some pros and cons to decide but first…

What Are Flat Panel Kitchen Cabinets?

Flat panel cabinets, also known as slab cabinets, have a completely flat front. Shaker cabinets have a simple trim on the edges, and other styles have more decorative trim. Flat panel kitchen cabinets have no trim at all. They may or may not have hardware, depending on the overall design of the kitchen. A line of flat panel cabinets will look like a seamless plane, unlike a set of trimmed doors that you can see individually. You can still distinguish between the doors, but they have an overall smooth appearance.

a beautiful contemporary kitchen with sleek light-stained cabinets, white stone countertops, built-in lights and a glazed wall with garden views

a beautiful contemporary kitchen with sleek light-stained cabinets, white stone countertops, built-in lights and a glazed wall with garden views

a beautiful light stained kitchen with sleek cabinets, a white stone backsplash and countertops, black fixtures is chic

a beautiful light stained kitchen with sleek cabinets, a white stone backsplash and countertops, black fixtures is chic

a beautiful light-stained flat panel kitchen with a glossy white tile backsplash, a fluted kitchen island and white pendant lamps

a beautiful light-stained flat panel kitchen with a glossy white tile backsplash, a fluted kitchen island and white pendant lamps

a black and white kitchen with matte flat panel cabinets, a neutral backsplash and white countertops plus gold handles

a black and white kitchen with matte flat panel cabinets, a neutral backsplash and white countertops plus gold handles

a black kitchen with contrasting light-colored shelves, handles and countertops plus a burlap pendant lamp

a black kitchen with contrasting light-colored shelves, handles and countertops plus a burlap pendant lamp

a blue minimalist kitchen with a grey marble backsplash and a black dining set for a gorgeous look

a blue minimalist kitchen with a grey marble backsplash and a black dining set for a gorgeous look

a bold and contrasting black and white kitchen with flat panel cabinets, a black tile backsplash, a small kitchen island that doubles as a dining table

a bold and contrasting black and white kitchen with flat panel cabinets, a black tile backsplash, a small kitchen island that doubles as a dining table

a chic and cozy kitchen with stained cabinets, a fluted curved kitchen island and grey stone countertops and a backsplash

a chic and cozy kitchen with stained cabinets, a fluted curved kitchen island and grey stone countertops and a backsplash

a chic and refined kitchen with tan cabinets, a white marble backsplash, a stained kitchen island and grey stools

a chic and refined kitchen with tan cabinets, a white marble backsplash, a stained kitchen island and grey stools

a chic contemporary kitchen with elegant white cabinets, a white tile backsplash, a black kitchen island with a white stone countertop and pendant lamps

a chic contemporary kitchen with elegant white cabinets, a white tile backsplash, a black kitchen island with a white stone countertop and pendant lamps

a chic contemporary kitchen with white and light stained cabinets, a large kitchen island with a white stone countertop and a backsplash, a black pendant lamp

a chic contemporary kitchen with white and light stained cabinets, a large kitchen island with a white stone countertop and a backsplash, a black pendant lamp

a chic girlish kitchen with simple blush plywood cabinets and a grey tiled floor flooded with much natural light

a chic girlish kitchen with simple blush plywood cabinets and a grey tiled floor flooded with much natural light

a chic light-stained kitchen with sleek flat panel cabinets, white stone countertops and a white glossy tile backsplash

a chic light-stained kitchen with sleek flat panel cabinets, white stone countertops and a white glossy tile backsplash

a chic neutral kitchen with shaker style cabinets, a curved kitchen island with open storage compartments and a skylight over it

a chic neutral kitchen with shaker style cabinets, a curved kitchen island with open storage compartments and a skylight over it

a contemporary black and white kitchen with matte cabinets, white countertops and a backsplash and bubble lamps

a contemporary black and white kitchen with matte cabinets, white countertops and a backsplash and bubble lamps

Pros Of Flat Panel Kitchen Cabinets

Flat panel doors are easier to clean than any other style. Because slab cabinets require less material than other door styles, they tend to be slightly less expensive. Flat cabinet doors come in a wide range of colors, including various shades of wood. Slab cabinets provide a simplistic backdrop in a kitchen with other busy elements (countertops, backsplash tile, etc.).

The flat appearance is great for many designs and styles as it’s universal and it looks especially great in mid-century modern designs, which are trendy in many areas. Slab kitchen cabinets are easy to upgrade with time, should you choose to paint or stain them. Hardware stands out strongly on flat cabinet doors, which is great if you want to accentuate that element of your kitchen.

a contemporary kitchen sleek flat panel white cabinets, open shelves, a dark-stained kitchen island and white stone countertops

a contemporary kitchen sleek flat panel white cabinets, open shelves, a dark-stained kitchen island and white stone countertops

a contemporary kitchen with bold purple sleek cabinets, bright pink and yellow touches and purple chairs plus a gold pendant lamp

a contemporary kitchen with bold purple sleek cabinets, bright pink and yellow touches and purple chairs plus a gold pendant lamp

a contemporary white kitchen with a dark countertop, a glazed wall with a view of the private garden and greenery

a contemporary white kitchen with a dark countertop, a glazed wall with a view of the private garden and greenery

a cool modern kitchen with light-stained flat panel cabinets, a white hex tile backsplash and a black kitchen island

a cool modern kitchen with light-stained flat panel cabinets, a white hex tile backsplash and a black kitchen island

a cozy contemporary kitchen with sleek white and dark stained cabinets, a white stone backsplash and white countertops

a cozy contemporary kitchen with sleek white and dark stained cabinets, a white stone backsplash and white countertops

a green and light-stained kitchen with flat panel and shaker style cabinets, open shelves, a large kitchen island and a white hood

a green and light-stained kitchen with flat panel and shaker style cabinets, open shelves, a large kitchen island and a white hood

a heavenly grey contemporary kitchen with sleek cabinets and a large kitchen island, a white stone backsplash and countertops and pendant lamps

a heavenly grey contemporary kitchen with sleek cabinets and a large kitchen island, a white stone backsplash and countertops and pendant lamps

a light-stained minimalist kitchen with sleek cabinets, a window backsplash, a curved fluted kitchen island with a curved part and a woven pendant lamp

a light-stained minimalist kitchen with sleek cabinets, a window backsplash, a curved fluted kitchen island with a curved part and a woven pendant lamp

a lovely modern kitchen with light-stained and green flat panel cabinets, a white hex tile backsplash and a large kitchen island

a lovely modern kitchen with light-stained and green flat panel cabinets, a white hex tile backsplash and a large kitchen island

a lovely pastel kitchen with pastel green cabinets and a pink kitchen island, black and white tiles and black stools

a lovely pastel kitchen with pastel green cabinets and a pink kitchen island, black and white tiles and black stools

a minimal Nordic L-shaped kitchen with glass tiles and a window with a view is a lovely idea

a minimal Nordic L-shaped kitchen with glass tiles and a window with a view is a lovely idea

a minimal tan kitchen with matte plain cabinets, a matching backsplash and a ribbed kitchen island with a black faucet as an accent

a minimal tan kitchen with matte plain cabinets, a matching backsplash and a ribbed kitchen island with a black faucet as an accent

a minimalist chalet kitchen with sleek wooden cabinets and a wooden ceiling and walls, a stone kitchen island and leather chairs

a minimalist chalet kitchen with sleek wooden cabinets and a wooden ceiling and walls, a stone kitchen island and leather chairs

a minimalist grey kitchen with a window backsplash and a curved fluted kitchen island with a terrazzo countertop looks ultimate

a minimalist grey kitchen with a window backsplash and a curved fluted kitchen island with a terrazzo countertop looks ultimate

a minimalist grey kitchen with white countertops, open shelves, a white hood, pendant bulbs is a lovely idea

a minimalist grey kitchen with white countertops, open shelves, a white hood, pendant bulbs is a lovely idea

a minimalist kitchen with blue and muted blue cabinets, a mint green backsplash, a bold red kitchen island and wooden countertops

a minimalist kitchen with blue and muted blue cabinets, a mint green backsplash, a bold red kitchen island and wooden countertops

Cons Of Flat Panel Kitchen Cabinets

Flat cabinets and doors might be too simplistic for some kitchen designs.

Some homeowners complain about fingerprints on flat panel doors, though that’s largely based on the color and finish.

Low-end slab cabinets are subject to warping, but that is the case with most low-grade materials. We use high-quality cabinetry for our kitchen remodels. If you do not want your hardware to be noticeable, flat panel cabinetry may not be right for you.

a minimalist kitchen with stained and sleek white curved cabinets, a window backsplash and a curved kitchen island with a stone countertop

a minimalist kitchen with stained and sleek white curved cabinets, a window backsplash and a curved kitchen island with a stone countertop

a minimalist Nordic kitchen with sleek white cabinets, a sleek white kitchen island with a wooden waterfall countertop and pendant lamps

a minimalist Nordic kitchen with sleek white cabinets, a sleek white kitchen island with a wooden waterfall countertop and pendant lamps

a minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets, white countertops, a bright geo tile backsplash and light-stained upper cabinets

a minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets, white countertops, a bright geo tile backsplash and light-stained upper cabinets

a minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets, white stone countertops, a window backsplash that opens on the tropical garden

a minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets, white stone countertops, a window backsplash that opens on the tropical garden

a mint green kitchen with plywood cabinets, a white backsplash, black countertops, no handles and built-in appliances

a mint green kitchen with plywood cabinets, a white backsplash, black countertops, no handles and built-in appliances

a neutral contemporary kitchen with sleek cabinets, a colorful geo tile backsplash, a black pendant lamp and a wooden table

a neutral contemporary kitchen with sleek cabinets, a colorful geo tile backsplash, a black pendant lamp and a wooden table

a neutral Nordic kitchen with sleke white cabinets, metal countertops, a white table and wooden benches plus pendant lamps

a neutral Nordic kitchen with sleke white cabinets, metal countertops, a white table and wooden benches plus pendant lamps

a pretty contemporary kitchen with sleek light-stained cabinetry, grey skinny tiles, open shelves and a large window with greenery views

a pretty contemporary kitchen with sleek light-stained cabinetry, grey skinny tiles, open shelves and a large window with greenery views

a pretty greige kitchen with sleek cabinets and a concrete tile backsplash, a neutral and cozy dining space here

a pretty greige kitchen with sleek cabinets and a concrete tile backsplash, a neutral and cozy dining space here

a sleek white kitchen with butcherblock countertops, open shelves and cabinets and a bar counter and workspace in one

a sleek white kitchen with butcherblock countertops, open shelves and cabinets and a bar counter and workspace in one

a small minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinetry, butcherblock countertops and a bar counter for cooking and eating

a small minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinetry, butcherblock countertops and a bar counter for cooking and eating

a stylish contrasting kitchen with sleek black cabinets, a white stone kitchen island, built-in shelves and a cluster of pendant lamps

a stylish contrasting kitchen with sleek black cabinets, a white stone kitchen island, built-in shelves and a cluster of pendant lamps

a stylish light stained kitchen with a large window backsplash, a navy kitchen island, black pendant lamps and tall stained stools is perfection

a stylish light stained kitchen with a large window backsplash, a navy kitchen island, black pendant lamps and tall stained stools is perfection

a stylish light-stained flat panel kitchen with wooden knobs, white stone countertops, a white square tile backsplash

a stylish light-stained flat panel kitchen with wooden knobs, white stone countertops, a white square tile backsplash

a unique minimalist kitchen done in white, black and light stained wood, a sculptural geometric ceiling is a gorgeous idea and a stylish statement

a unique minimalist kitchen done in white, black and light stained wood, a sculptural geometric ceiling is a gorgeous idea and a stylish statement

a white minimalist kitchen with a neutral stone countertop, a curved fluted kitchen island and open shelves

a white minimalist kitchen with a neutral stone countertop, a curved fluted kitchen island and open shelves

a white minimalist kitchen with a window backsplash, a stained kitchen island and black pendant lamps plus wooden stools

a white minimalist kitchen with a window backsplash, a stained kitchen island and black pendant lamps plus wooden stools

a white minimalist one wall kitchen with blonde butcherblock countertops, a black glass backsplash and an eating zone

a white minimalist one wall kitchen with blonde butcherblock countertops, a black glass backsplash and an eating zone

a white Scandinavian kitchen with a sleek white backsplash, a kitchen island with a butcherblock countertop

a white Scandinavian kitchen with a sleek white backsplash, a kitchen island with a butcherblock countertop

an airy light wood kitchen with sleek and glass cabinets, white stone countertops and a backsplash, stainless steel applainces

an airy light wood kitchen with sleek and glass cabinets, white stone countertops and a backsplash, stainless steel applainces

an eclectic kitchen with sleek light and dark cabinets, a red brick wall and bright turquoise chairs

an eclectic kitchen with sleek light and dark cabinets, a red brick wall and bright turquoise chairs

an elegant vintage kitchen with stained cabinets, a black kitchen island, a white hood and arched window with black frames

an elegant vintage kitchen with stained cabinets, a black kitchen island, a white hood and arched window with black frames

The disadvantages aren’t many and they aren’t crucial, while advantages are great, such cabinets are amazing for many kitchens. Would you choose such panels for your kitchen, let us know in the comments!