Glass-front cabinets a new kitchen trend

Glass-front cabinets have been a staple in kitchens since the 1950s, thanks to the rise of mass-produced goods, but recently they’ve become a particularly on-trend look.

The most common iteration has a glass pane in place of most of the cabinet door, although you can get versions that are completely glass as well as ones with metal frames instead of wood. What’s more, the glass itself can be leaden, frosted, clear, stained or textured. As a result, glass-front cabinets can work with many decor styles — from traditional to modern to farmhouse and industrial.

“Today, they’re making a comeback because of their versatility and ability to visually expand spaces, which is especially appealing in modern, open-concept kitchens,” Aurora Espinoza, designer at Kutchenhaus Doral and nobilia, told Better Homes & Gardens.

Glass-front cabinets have several benefits. They can make a space feel airier, provide a place to display special items and add interest to walls of solid cabinetry.

“Glass finishes maximize the flow of light into darker corners,” kitchen designer Tom Howley told Homes & Gardens. “Cabinets take up a large amount of space, so having glass-fronted doors can break up the block. Like mirrored surfaces, glass inserts create an illusion of depth and increase the perception of square footage, which is a bonus in smaller kitchens.”

That said, there are some drawbacks. Items in a glass-front cabinet need to stay neat and aesthetically pleasing to avoid looking like clutter. The glass will show fingerprints and food splashes, so you might need to clean them more often. And, if you have small children or rambunctious pets, glass-front cabinets near the floor could be a no-no. Using frosted or stained glass can help, as can sturdy translucent plastic.

In terms of matching glass-front cabinets to your kitchen’s decor style, experts do offer some guidance.

“By incorporating a deep, wooden frame with frosted glass, the cabinets may complement a more traditional or farmhouse style while white cabinetry with fluted glass may better lend itself to a sleek, modern kitchen,” Paul Kropp, co-founder of Bakes & Kropp, told Better Homes & Gardens. Fluted glass can also suit a midcentury modern style.

Stained glass — whether covering the full glass pane or just as an accent — tends to work well in traditional kitchens. “Stained glass cabinets were once a popular choice but fell out of favour in recent years,” designer Margarita Bravo told House Beautiful. “However, they are making a comeback as homeowners seek to add a touch of elegance to their kitchens.”