Simple and minimal versus detailed and traditional
Cabinet doors come in a wide range of styles to suit different home aesthetics. Shaker cabinet doors, for instance, offer simplicity in a minimalist or modern space, while raised panel doors add decorative detail and dimensional depth, making them ideal for traditional designs.
At Eagle Woodworking, we’re committed to manufacturing premium-grade cabinet doors that look great in kitchens, bathrooms, and even offices. Functionality and aesthetics are at the forefront of our mission, and we design our Shaker and raised panel cabinet doors to fit seamlessly into your space, enhancing your style.
In this article:
- What is a Shaker-Style Cabinet Door?
- What is a Raised Panel Cabinet Door?
- Key Differences Between Shaker and Raised Panel Doors
- Best Uses: Choosing The Right Style For Your Project
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Shaker-Style Cabinet Door?
A Shaker-style cabinet door has a single recessed panel and straight edges where the panel meets the door’s rails and stiles. Focused on simplicity and function, Shaker styles are minimal with clean lines. They are also customizable with different rail and stile widths and edge profiles available.
Pros of Shaker Cabinet Doors
Shaker cabinet doors offer a clean and modern look. Because they are simply constructed, they’re easy to maintain and can fit well with a wide range of kitchen and bathroom styles. Basic Shaker cabinets blend well with simple designs and minimalist spaces, but they can also hold their own in more maximalist designs by providing balance to bolder looks.
- Timeless design
- Easy to maintain
- Versatile and adaptable
Cons of Shaker Cabinet Doors
Because Shaker cabinet door styles have a straightforward design, they may not fit with all design aesthetics. For designs that favor details and intricate features, Shaker doors may appear too plain. And while they are easy to maintain, the edges between the rails and stiles can gather dust.
- May appear too plain for some aesthetics
- Can potentially show dust in the edges
What is a Raised Panel Cabinet Door?
A raised panel cabinet door has a raised center panel held in place by the rails and stiles. This type of cabinet door offers a traditional look with added elegance. The center panel has a beveled edge and the design can vary with simple edges offering a clean yet elegant look or more detailed edges offering a classic and elevated look. The decorative details create a distinctive look for the cabinet and make it a design feature in their own right.
Pros of Raised Panel Cabinet Doors
These traditional cabinets offer a detailed and elegant appearance in kitchens and bathrooms. This cabinet door style blends well with traditional designs that feature intricate details, bold patterns, carved wood, and crown molding.
- More ornate look
- Traditional aesthetic appeal
- Adds depth and texture
Cons of Raised Panel Cabinet Doors
Raised panel cabinet doors offer depth, texture, and traditional elegance, but they can also appear “heavy” and don’t work as well with contemporary, modern, or minimalist designs. The detailed edges can also present cleaning challenges.
- Harder to clean and maintain
- Less versatile in contemporary designs
Key Differences Between Shaker and Raised Panel Doors
|
Feature |
Shaker Cabinets |
Raised Panel Cabinets |
|
Design Style |
Modern, minimal |
Traditional, classic, ornate |
|
Maintenance |
Easier to clean, fewer intricate details |
Difficult to clean |
| Appearance | Flat center panel, simple, clean lines | Raised center panel, dimensional depth |
| Cost | Budget-friendly | Typically more expensive |
| Best suited for | Minimal, contemporary, or transitional spaces | Traditional or classically styled spaces |
| Durability | High durability due to simple design | Durable, but details are prone to wear |
Aesthetic and Style
Modern designs feature clean lines, neutral colors, and minimal styling. Traditional designs, on the other hand, favor curved edges, intricate details, and rich colors. The home’s style can help guide your choice between Shaker and raised panel cabinets.
The simplicity of Shaker cabinet doors makes them a popular choice for modern and contemporary spaces that keep things simple. Adjusting the rail and stile widths can introduce depth without compromising the clean look. Paired with modern hardware, flat panel cabinet doors can enhance a home’s overall aesthetic.
For designs that favor traditional and feature more detailed and ornate pieces, raised panel doors fit well. Their beveled edges add depth as they meet the framing bead to create a timeless and elegant look.
Maintenance and Durability
Both of these types of cabinet doors are durable and long-lasting. However, maintenance requirements differ. The simple, clean lines of Shaker cabinet doors mean that dust can be more visible. But it can still be tough to clean the seam where the panel meets the rails and stiles. Raised panel cabinet doors have a more detailed design with ridges and valleys where dust and dirt can gather.
Cost Considerations
Due to the simpler construction process, Shaker cabinets are typically the more budget-friendly choice. Raised panel cabinet doors take more work to make and require thicker center panels, so they’re often more expensive.
Best Uses: Choosing The Right Style For Your Project
Understanding the pros and cons of Shaker and raised panel cabinet doors can help homeowners choose new cabinet doors for their bathroom or kitchen design, ultimately based on their style preferences.
Even though Shaker cabinet doors are known for their simplicity, they offer plenty of customization options. Shaker cabinet doors allow you to customize the width of the rails and stiles, the center panel depth, and the door thickness. For a versatile, stylish option, Shaker cabinet doors are often the best way to go.
If you’re not sure which door style will fit best, we can help. At Eagle Woodworking, we offer a variety of cabinet door designs and high-quality hardwoods. We can work with you to make the right choice for your home or your client's project. Our quality craftsmanship makes us the preferred choice for our network of contractors.
Learn more about our cabinet doors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Shaker cabinets made of?
Eagle Woodworking’s Shaker cabinets are available in a variety of wood types, including maple and white oak, as well as MDF. Eagle Woodworking stocks ¾” thickness maple and white oak, but you can also request walnut, red oak, or cherry. Some styles are also available in 1-piece or 2-piece MDF.
Are Shaker cabinets going out of style in 2025?
Shaker cabinets are still popular in 2025, with many homeowners favoring simple and minimal designs and low-maintenance materials. One Shaker cabinet trend in 2025 is slimmer rails and stiles for an even more minimal look.
Do raised panel cabinets go out of style?
As raised panels are a more traditional style, they might not be as on-trend or versatile as other cabinet door styles.
Can you combine Shaker and raised panel doors?
Shaker cabinets, by definition, have a flat panel surrounded by rails and stiles, so you can’t exactly combine these two styles. However, you can opt for a more detailed frame bead with a flat panel to create a more traditional appearance without the raised panel. On the other hand, you can choose a simple beveled raised panel design to get closer to a blend of the two styles.
Which cabinet door style is best for resale value?
While it ultimately depends on the buyer’s personal preference and style, Shaker cabinet doors offer better resale value because their neutral appearance can complement a wide range of design styles.
