The multifamily housing industry in the United States is experiencing remarkable growth. With construction projects on the rise, staying competitive requires creating apartment spaces that attract tenants through both functionality and modern aesthetics. Kitchens, as a central feature in any unit, play a significant role in tenant appeal, making choosing the right kitchen cabinets essential for achieving the perfect balance of style and budget.
This guide will help you navigate how to choose kitchen cabinets for multifamily projects, whether you’re tackling a renovation or embarking on new construction. From budget-conscious options to high-end finishes, we’ll cover the essentials that matter most to property managers, multifamily executives, and contractors aiming to make a lasting impact in today’s market.
Setting Your Budget
Determining a budget is a foundational step in choosing the right kitchen cabinets. While it’s tempting to go all out on high-end options, finding a balance that maintains both cost-efficiency and quality is essential, especially for multifamily housing.
Factors influencing cabinet costs include materials, styles, finishes, and the complexity of installation. When setting a budget, consider the type of material you prefer, as solid wood cabinets are typically more expensive than laminate or MDF. Another key aspect is the cabinet size and complexity; larger units or intricate customizations can increase costs. For example, opting for styles with detailed craftsmanship may have a higher price tag but can enhance the appeal of your property.
Multi-Housing Depot offers options that align with various budgets, from our Acacia Essentials line for cost-conscious projects to our Everest line and our highly customizable Acacia Cornerstone cabinets. These lines provide flexibility, ensuring your choice of kitchen cabinets fits both design goals and financial limits.
Understanding Different Cabinet Materials
Selecting the right material when choosing kitchen cabinets is crucial, as it impacts durability, maintenance, and cost. For multifamily housing, durability and warranty support is a top priority due to the high turnover and frequent use of apartment kitchens.
Common Cabinet Materials Include:
- Wood: A classic choice known for its durability, wood has often been used in high-end apartments. Although more costly, choosing wood like oak or maple adds a natural, timeless aesthetic to the kitchen. Wood cabinets require more maintenance than other materials, such as oiling or waxing, and can be at times more susceptible to warping and water damage.
- Laminate: Budget-friendly and available in a wide range of colors and textures, laminate offers versatility. It’s ideal for multifamily units that prioritize a clean, modern look without a high price. Laminate cabinets even allow you to create the look of wood without the expense.
- MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard): MDF is a cost-effective choice that offers a wide range of finishes making it an easy selection to fit any apartment design. It’s less expensive than solid wood but still provides a durable build that’s scratch, moisture, heat, & stain resistant.
For property managers aiming to balance cost with quality, laminate and MDF cabinets often prove to provide the best balance of price, style, durability, and maintenance.
Multi-Housing Depot’s Acacia Cornerstone cabinets offer exceptional craftsmanship and durability, ideal for multifamily spaces looking for lasting value.
Exploring Cabinet Styles
Style plays a significant role in shaping the kitchen’s look and feel. Multifamily kitchens benefit from versatile, attractive designs that appeal to a wide range of tenant preferences.
Popular styles include:
- Shaker: Known for its clean lines, this style works in both traditional and modern settings, making it a versatile option for multifamily properties.
- Flat Panel/Slab: With a minimalist look, flat-panel cabinets are a popular choice in contemporary apartments.
- Framed vs. Frameless: Framed cabinets (traditional American style) and frameless cabinets (European style) differ in structure, with frameless providing a sleeker, more spacious look.
When choosing the right kitchen cabinets, remember that Multi-Housing Depot’s Acacia Cornerstone line offers diverse styles that can blend with various apartment layouts. For an upscale, classic Shaker-style look, the Everest line provides modern aesthetics while ensuring durability and functionality.
Choosing Kitchen Cabinet Color
Color selection is often the first thing tenants notice, as it sets the mood of the kitchen space. For multifamily apartments, timeless colors like neutrals, whites, and wood tones have broad appeal.
Popular color trends for 2024-2025 include:
- Neutral Tones: Shades of gray, beige, and soft white create a welcoming feel and match well with most kitchen appliances.
- Earthy Hues: Greens and browns add a modern twist while keeping a connection to natural elements.
- Two-Tone Combinations: A growing trend that pairs contrasting colors (e.g., navy and white) for a sophisticated look.
Choosing kitchen cabinet color wisely ensures it remains fresh and appealing for years. Multi-Housing Depot’s design consultations can help you select colors that align with current trends and tenant preferences, keeping your kitchen stylish yet timeless.
Measuring & Planning
Accurate measurements and thoughtful layout planning are fundamental when selecting cabinets for any kitchen, especially in multifamily units where space optimization is crucial.
Steps for measuring and planning:
Measure accurately: Small measurement errors can lead to installation challenges. Ensure that all dimensions are exact to avoid costly adjustments.
Plan a functional layout: Prioritize designs that provide ample storage and efficient workflow. Place cabinets to maximize usable space while ensuring ease of movement.
When choosing the right kitchen cabinets, consider how they will interact with the kitchen layout. Multi-Housing Depot’s expert design team can assist in planning layouts that make the most of available space, combining functionality with aesthetic appeal.
Tips for Choosing Kitchen Cabinets
Selecting the right kitchen cabinets for multifamily properties involves balancing quality, durability, and budget. Here are some key considerations:
Prioritize quality over quantity: Durable materials ensure cabinets can withstand the demands of multifamily settings.
Consider custom vs. stock options: Custom cabinets allow more flexibility in design, but stock cabinets offer cost savings. Multi-Housing Depot’s Acacia Essentials line provides affordable yet stylish options, while our Acacia Cornerstone and Everest lines are customizable and cater to premium tastes.
Balance aesthetic appeal with functionality: Cabinets should look good but also serve practical purposes, like maximizing storage.
Choosing kitchen cabinets with an eye for quality and durability will help multifamily property owners avoid frequent replacements and maintenance, saving money in the long term.
Custom vs. Stock Cabinets
Understanding the differences between custom, semi-custom, and stock cabinets can guide you in making a choice that fits both budget and design needs.
- Custom Cabinets: These are made to order and offer complete design freedom. Ideal for unique spaces, but they come at a higher price.
- Semi-Custom Cabinets: A compromise between stock and custom, offering more flexibility at a mid-range price.
- Stock Cabinets: Pre-manufactured cabinets are the most budget-friendly, with a limited range of styles and finishes.
Multi-Housing Depot offers made-to-order cabinets manufactured at our Burlington, NJ cabinet shop, providing flexibility in design while supporting local manufacturing. Whether you’re choosing wood for kitchen cabinets or an MDF option, our range can meet various budget levels.
Getting Professional Help
Professional guidance can make a significant difference, particularly in large multifamily projects. Hiring a designer or cabinet specialist can prevent common mistakes, ensure efficient use of space, and provide design advice aligned with current trends.
Benefits of working with a professional include:
Expert advice on material and color selection
Help with creating layouts that maximize functionality
Insights on current kitchen design trends
Multi-Housing Depot offers design consultations tailored to the multifamily housing industry. Our specialists understand the unique needs of apartment layouts and can help you choose kitchen cabinets that are cost-effective, durable, and visually appealing.
Choosing kitchen cabinets within your budget for multifamily housing projects requires careful consideration of materials, styles, and functionality. Multi-Housing Depot offers a wide range of cabinets, all manufactured in the USA. Our design team can guide you through the process, ensuring that your apartments have kitchens that tenants love and that stand up to daily use.
Ready to start planning? Contact Multi-Housing Depot to explore how our cabinets can enhance your multifamily properties while staying within budget.
