Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Shaker Cabinets

No matter what stage you are in with your kitchen remodel process, there is no doubt one phrase that you have repeatedly come across—shaker cabinets. Since their creation in Colonial America, shaker cabinets have been a fan favorite for kitchen design. 

The clean lines and right angles of shaker door fronts make them a versatile choice for any style of décor, especially a rustic or farmhouse-inspired kitchen.  

A Brief History of Shaker Furniture 

The shaker cabinet originated in Colonial America by their namesake—The Shakers. The religious group that immigrated to the New World in the 1780s from England in search of religious freedom made their new homes in a style that matched their values: simple, functional, and durable. 

The Shakers left behind their legacy with the creation of a popular style of 19^th century furniture and crafts. While the community only has a few members left living in rural New England, their values of simplicity and hard work live on in this common home furnishing style. The Shakers were a self-sufficient community that survived off the land, which can be seen in the natural and well-made quality of their furniture. 

Shaker furniture is distinctive thanks to their creators’ values of well-made furniture in a minimalist design. The most common woods used in Shaker furniture was, as you can guess, what they found around them in rural New England—cherry, maple, and pine—which was then stained one of their common colors, usually blue, red, yellow, or green. 

One of the largest collections of Shaker furniture is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. If you go, you can see the fine craftmanship for yourself, including the classic “ladder back” chairs, rocking chairs, and the original “Shaker” cabinets, all of which still influence furniture designers today. 

Shaker Cabinets in Modern Design 

The shaker cabinet is regaining popularity in recent years, especially with the rise of the “farmhouse” kitchen, thanks to remodel shows like Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines. Joanna even said in an interview once that her favorite room in her Victorian-era farmhouse home is her kitchen.  

Besides being just a charming addition to a classic kitchen, Joanna Gaines maximized another perk of using shaker cabinetry—the versatility it allows for playing with other design elements balancing out the simple style. By choosing a simple shaker design, you are free to experiment with more elaborate décor styles throughout the kitchen, such as quirky furniture, bright wall colors, innovative tile usage, and kitchen incorporating hardware and fixtures with personality. 

Shop Our Most Popular Shaker Cabinets 

All shaker cabinets from Cabinets To Go have premium features that make them a top choice for any kitchen design. These specialty features include soft-closing drawers and doors; high-quality European-style hinges; rugged, multi-ply, all-wood box construction; drawers crafted with sturdy dovetail joints; and solid wood frame, doors, and drawers. Stop by your local showroom to see this classic style in person and start dreaming up how to make it your own with a free kitchen design.