Cabinetry Styles Explained & Best Design Matches: Full Overlay vs Partial vs Inset

The 2 Cabinet Box Construction Types

The 3 Cabinetry Styles Explained

Inset Cabinetry

DEFINITION: Inset cabinetry features doors and drawers that sit flush with the face frame. While full and partial overlay cabinet doors sit on top of the cabinet box and/or face frame, inset doors fit flush within the face frame.

THIS STYLE LENDS ITSELF TO: Traditional, country, transitional, and historic homes.

THE HISTORY: Historically, kitchens were not what we know them to be today. Prior to 1850, Built-ins and bookshelves were used in place of cabinetry. After 1850, kitchen cabinets became more popular to support the need for more storage. Historic cabinetry was crafted to resemble furniture with inset doors and exposed hinges. Because of this, inset cabinetry is the most appropriate style for historic homes.

Inset cabinetry is considered a luxury product today. Due to the increased level of craftsmanship required to build inset cabinets, they are the most expensive style. While inset cabinets come with a higher price tag, they are timeless in both style and construction and are often the “style of choice” among designers.

Keep in mind, inset cabinets offer less storage space than full and partial overlay cabinets. Drawers in particular are where you’ll notice the decrease in available storage. Drawer fronts are smaller to fit within the face frame. And the drawer box is smaller still.

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Partial Overlay Cabinetry

DEFINITION: Partial overlay cabinetry features doors and drawers that sit on top of the face frame and expose portions of the cabinet face frame behind. In simple terms, the doors don’t cover all of the cabinet face frame.

THIS STYLE LENDS ITSELF TO: Casual, country, and cottage kitchens

THE HISTORY: After World War II, overlay cabinetry emerged. It was quicker and easier to produce than inset cabinetry because it didn’t demand the same level of precision and exact alignment. European hinges allowed cabinet makers to build doors that sit on top of the face frame rather than within.

Because partial overlay cabinets utilize less material and require less precision than inset cabinets, it is a more affordable option. It offers slightly more storage than inset cabinets and is easily accessible today.

When it comes to partial overlay cabinets, generally, the simpler the door style the better. Flat/plain drawer fronts and shaker doors offer a level of charm that is much more aesthetically pleasing than raised panel doors.

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Full Overlay Cabinetry

DEFINITION: Full overlay cabinetry features doors and drawers that completely cover the cabinet box. Because of this, full overlay cabinetry generally has a frameless cabinet box.

THIS STYLE LENDS ITSELF TO: Modern, contemporary, and transitional kitchens.

Frameless cabinets with full overlay fronts are perhaps the most accessible today and as a result, they have become quite common. The price is more affordable than inset, but fluctuates based on the level of quality and craftsmanship you choose. For example, IKEA full overlay particleboard cabinets sit on the low end while custom cabinet makers who offer full overlay cabinets made of plywood and solid wood doors will price a little higher.

Of the three cabinet styles, full overlay cabinets inherently offer the most storage space since they have a frameless cabinet construction (the doors and drawers extend the full width/height of the cabinet box). Because of its sleek appearance with minimal adornment, it is most appropriate for modern, contemporary, and transitional homes.

Below is a graphic to help visualize the difference between full, partial, and inset cabinets. Which style is your favorite?

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