There is no doubt about it. Minimalist kitchen cabinets are having a real moment. It’s been like this for quite a few years now. Not only do they look sleek and elegant, but they’re also easy to look after during a daily cleaning routine. No intricate details, just clean and smooth lines.
But now, when it comes to minimalist kitchen ideas and photos, they always look nice and neat. Do they really work though? From minimalist kitchen cabinets to clean countertops, how practical is this idea for a busy household? It’s one thing to see some photos and a different thing to use them in real life when preparing everyday meals.
Now, let’s find out how practical these things are and whether they’ll actually work in real life.
What Makes Minimalist Kitchen Cabinets Actually Minimalist
Minimalism is defined by simplicity, smoothness, and clean lines. When it comes to minimalist kitchen cabinets, the doors are the first things you’ll notice. Smoothness in this case means they often have integrated pulls, so you won’t notice any old-school metal or wooden handles.
In terms of colors, the palette is usually neutral. Stone, beige and charcoal gray are just a few examples. Some cabinets may come with an accent color, but that’s not always the case. It could be a trim, for example.
Materials must match everything else for the whole kitchen to embrace this style. Also, natural materials add to the feeling of minimalism. Therefore, make sure that the cabinets match the backsplash or the countertop.
Do You Actually Need Upper Cabinets?
Yes and no. No option is perfect. And what works for some people won’t work for everyone else.
If you barely cook or you never use any oils, chances are you can do without upper cabinets. If you live alone or with your partner, you won’t need that much space to store bulky dishes. But there are also the opposite situations. Besides, if your kitchen is small, you may want to take advantage of all the space up there to avoid cluttered counters.
If you could do either way, you’ll have to consider the pluses and minuses of each situation.
Skipping upper cabinets means extra light and an open feel. You’ll probably have shelves instead. There’s more depth, but at the same time, cleaning could be more difficult. If you cook a lot, grease will deposit everywhere. So, in this case, upper cabinets also act like a protective layer.
Your unique circumstances should help you decide.
Can You Skip Lower Cabinets Too?
In theory, you can skip anything in your kitchen. You can even ditch all the kitchen furniture and place all your pots and plates on the floor. Not practical, of course. In fact, that’s why most people never really bother to get rid of all the cabinets.
If you don’t like lower cabinets, you can always go for different alternatives. For example, a tall pantry cabinet with pull-out drawers can replace both upper and lower cabinets. Opt for some tall minimalist kitchen cabinets and you’ll have a nice frame around the cooking area.
Your kitchen island can also act as storage, yet you can also have other types of furniture for storage. Of course, you can retain the same minimalist style throughout the entire kitchen.
Unless you’re planning to move soon after renovating, the resale value isn’t a major concern. In the future, extra storage will be considered a plus though by prospective home buyers.
Where Everything Actually Goes
No matter how simple and plain you want the kitchen to be, you’ll still need some form of storage. You’ll still need some minimalist kitchen cabinets to keep basics hidden behind the doors. Even if you live alone and you never cook, you’ll need storage for certain things.
Dry goods, cleaning supplies, small appliances, a couple of plates, some pots, all these things need to be stored somewhere out of sight.
Minimalist kitchen storage is a concept that follows the same trend. You can keep things smooth, elegant and clear, but you’ll actually need storage for it to happen. You can’t have one without the other.
Apart from cabinets, it’s worth considering hidden or handle-less larders, drawer organizers, corner carousels and so on. You can even install a rack for narrow shelves on the back of the kitchen door, only to store some spices. Not a very minimalist idea though!
How Much Kitchenware Do You Actually Need?
Your actual needs should define your kitchen renovation. If you live alone, you practically need one place, one bowl, one mug and so on. A couple of pots for things you normally cook and that’s it. If you live with your partner, double up the plates and mugs.
The idea behind this is to use what you have. You don’t need to reach for a clean dish or utensil instead of washing the current one. It prevents dishes from piling up in the sink.
Sure, you should still buy full sets, but store the extras away in deep drawers and only use them for company.
Based on current sets, a family of four will have it really easy. That’s what most sets are like.
Not sure how much space you need? You can always run a test before starting the renovation. In fact, that’s one of the main recommendations from designers. Reduce plates, mugs and utensils to a minimum and see how it works. Live with less, but store extras away just in case.
In this way, you’ll know precisely whether you need four minimalist kitchen cabinets or just two.
Small Kitchen? Here’s What Actually Makes It Work
A small kitchen doesn’t mean that you can’t follow your minimalist dream. Integrate appliances, match the backsplash and countertop, add some undercabinet lighting and so on. Just because it’s small, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have it looking good.
Leave some empty space for walking and other people while cooking. Be practical too, so keep the sink, bin and dishwasher together to create an efficient work triangle. Feel free to mix cabinet depths, depending on the available space. This maximizes the space without feeling cramped.
Look for nooks and use them for certain elements or simply grab all the space, from floor to ceiling. Indeed, the layout of the kitchen is just as important when you’re not sure how to plan it. But overall, you can still come up with good results based on your needs, assuming your test, try and plan everything first.
Is a Minimalist Kitchen Practical for a Family?
A minimalist kitchen is mainly about design. Minimalism means smooth lines, sleek designs, no handles, integrated stuff, you name it. You could have the same practicality regardless of the design, whether your kitchen embraces minimalism or traditionalism.
This being said, a minimalist kitchen can be extremely practical for a family. There are other factors that define its practical profile, rather than the design. Think about the available space, appliances, size and how it’s run.
What makes a kitchen practical or impractical is the system. If you keep much more than what you need or you don’t organize appliances and zones together, your kitchen will never be practical, regardless of its style and appearance.
In other words, plan everything upfront before the renovation. Plan all systems, consider the required storage, see what’s available and make adjustments.
FAQs
Upper cabinets don’t necessarily affect the minimalist profile of a kitchen. You could have a minimalist kitchen with or without upper cabinets depending on your personal storage demands. On the same note, you could have a traditional kitchen with no storage cabinets at all.
No. As long as they’re useful, warm, personal and practical, minimalist kitchens won’t hurt resale value. It also depends on the buyer. Modern buyers prefer clean lines and move-in ready aesthetics. Other buyers may consider redoing everything from scratch, so a minimalist kitchen means less work to do.
Leave empty, negative space to prevent clutter. Group your stuff in odd numbers too. Also, find matching containers. You’ll need to find a purpose for every piece, meaning you’ll have to readjust quite often to maintain the look.
While every household has unique needs, you’ll normally need one or two sets of plates, bowls and cutlery, as well as a chef’s knife for all applications, a skillet and a pot. This will cover pretty much anything you need for essential meal prep.
Final Thoughts
Bottom line, minimalist kitchen cabinets can and will add to the sleekness of your kitchen, but you’ll have to look further. Reaching a minimalist kitchen isn’t all about cabinets, but also about following some unwritten rules of organization.
Keep things basic and avoid getting more than what you need. And then, of course, stick to a sleek and clean appearance that remains easy to maintain.