If you are in the market for new kitchen cabinets but do not have the money for a total tear down there are other options.  You could reface the cabinets, however this can be time consuming and disastrous for those not innately handy.  Instead, you could purchase stock kitchen cabinets, which is often the best option for a quick, easy, and cheap transition.

Unlike custom cabinets, stock cabinets are mass produced and ready to take home right from the store.  Although they may not give you the most unique kitchen in the world, stock cabinets are a great option for anyone remodeling on a budget.  Choosing stock cabinets will slightly limit your selection in terms of cabinet style, but today’s stock cabinets come in so many styles and colors that it is possible to find cabinets to fit almost any kitchen.

Before searching for stock kitchen cabinets you are going to need to measure your existing cabinet space.  Many of your cabinet decisions are going to depend on these measurements.  Obviously, any odd measurements or unique corners in your current cabinet set up may necessitate custom or semi-custom cabinets. 

After you have taken all the relevant measurements, visit your local home improvement store, online cabinet retailer or manufacturer’s website to ensure that there are existing cabinets that meet your specifications.  Assuming that your measurements fall within the normal range it is time to start shopping for stock cabinets.  Choosing a style and color can often be overwhelming.  In this case, stock cabinets are advantageous because the manufacturers have done half of the work for you.

As far as choosing your new cabinets, the possibilities are vast and varied.  You can choose between standard white, framed, frameless, flat panel, raised panel, laminate, and wood.  Furthermore, there are various types of wood to choose from.  Birch, cherry, hardwood, maple, oak, pine, and walnut are all options.

Prices vary with each option, but considering the amount of money you are saving by choosing stock kitchen cabinets it is advisable to choose a style based on what fits best with your kitchen rather than pure price.  When selecting style and color try to pick the cabinets that will flow best with your existing kitchen.  Use the samples, consult catalogs, and store experts, but ultimately remember that it is your kitchen, you will be the one using it daily, so pick the style that feels best to you.