What Makes Slim Shaker Cabinets a Kitchen Trend?

The ever-evolving design panorama got more exciting when slim shaker kitchen cabinets were introduced around half a decade ago. It did not launch with hype, but soon the word spread, and people flocked to gather their piece of slim shaker cabinetry. So much was the hoopla, that every other furniture maker now has some sort of slim shaker furniture in their kitty.

So, what’s this new fad all about? If you want to know the nitty-gritty of it, you have come to the right place. Below, we will discuss everything about slim shaker kitchen cabinets, and how they differ from shaker cabinets, and more importantly, why they are making the noise these days.

Shaker Kitchen Cabinets - A Brief Overview

Before we go to the slimmer version of shaker cabinets, let us help you know a little bit about the parent design. Migrating from England during the late eighteenth century, Shakers, a small masonry community, soon gained recognition for their craftsmanship, style, and carpentry. Thus, the shaker kitchen cabinets were born.

The trademark style of the Shakers consisted of unique, simple, straight lines in their furniture works, resplendent with a practical design structure, consisting of recessed panels, straighter slabs, sharp edges, etc. Needless to say, the design structure itself became a classic and has reigned for more than two centuries now.

Slim Shaker Kitchen Cabinets - A Trendy Choice

The slim shaker kitchen cabinet style, also referred to as the narrow shaker, micro shaker, trim shaker, or simply, thin shaker, is an offshoot of the original shaker style kitchen furniture. It was introduced a little more than five years ago, and since then it has caught the wave of attention of the masses.

As the name suggests, the slab doors or walls of the slim shaker kitchen cabinets are slimmer than their original counterpart. How slimmer? Well, there isn’t a rule book, but on a general scale, the width of a shaker door is about 2.25 to 3.5 inches, whereas a slim shaker door is about 1.5 to 2.75 inches wide.

And what difference does that make?

Well, to be honest, it makes a lot of difference. The entire look of the cabinetry gets a lift due to its slimness. It lends a more modern look while retaining the charm of usability, versatility, and practicality of the good old shaker cabinets. Apt to say, it's the best of both worlds!

Reasons Slim Shaker Kitchen Cabinets Are Popular

No wonder, why homeowners are flocking to lay their hands on a slim shaker cabinet. It gives you enough liberty to play around with its array of ample offerings. Let's see some of them below.

1. Modern Practical Design

Taking the no-nonsense practicality of shaker cabinets a few notches higher, the modern appeal of slim shaker kitchen cabinets makes a case for itself. Many homeowners and designers shy away from the traditional slab doors as they find it too severe and on the face. Slim shakers come to the rescue here with their minimalist-looking, modern-style cabinets.

It helps retain the dimensions of practicality within the kitchen space, offering the same range of accessibility and usability as traditional shaker cabinets do. All of that with a dash of contemporary signature design structure with lesser width panels and narrower flat slabs makes for a dapper look.

2. A Refined Look With Narrow Stiles and Rails

With the slim shaker kitchen cabinets, not only does the width get slimmer and dapper, but the stiles and rails of the cabinet doors get narrower as well.

The narrow border lines give the panel extra ground space in the middle of the body, while the stiles and rails act as a subtle highlighter of the entire furniture.

Due to its narrow design, the mid-body of the slabs can prominently display natural wood grains for a matte finish or the shiny luminance of finely polished elegant colors of the surface.

3. Unmatched Versatility

Whether you want your furniture in oak, maple, cherry hardwoods, or in a matte finish, from materials to fine finishes, the slim shaker kitchen cabinets offer a range of choices for homeowners. It can pair well with brass hard knobs, ceramic kitchenware, glass or stainless steel countertops, et al.

It can look as transitional and chic as it can adorn the elegance of traditional style with ease. It also can adapt to the futuristic kitchens with Scandinavian, especially the Nordic style, to a considerable degree. 

The design aesthetics itself is also a great space saver, making for a great choice if you want the space to look roomy or you need more area in your kitchen to move around.

4. Colors and Lighting

Based on the choice of the kitchen style, its overall design aesthetics, and the availability of natural lighting, the colors a slim shaker kitchen cabinet can don could be mesmerizing. Though, unless heavily ordained to be dark, slim shaker furniture looks its best in lighter shades, like white, gray, peach, beige, or light tan. If done correctly, it can look magnificent with darker shades of maroon, dark tan, or even black.

Due to the adaptability to various synthetic lighting conditions, the slim cabinetry will pull the show together and make the kitchen space come alive. Doing it just the right way is the key though.

For instance, instead of darker shades of artificial lights, slim shaker cabinetry glows best under the shimmering brightness of lights bouncing from an object. Under-the-cabinet lighting is a great choice, but make it subtle. Pendant lights again could be fine, but heavy chandelier lighting could ruin the show.

Making it a Tastefully Done Haven

Whether you are looking for a modern design with a traditional touch, or you want the elegance of old charm and all its practical glory intact in a new avatar, the slim shaker kitchen cabinet is the perfect answer. It is versatile and can be adapted to virtually any design you are conceiving. It is practical. It is a space-saver and can give you a hint of a futuristic kitchen space too, if you prefer.

So, ensure you make a kitchen space that is worth cherishing the memories you create as you prepare those mouth-watering delicacies in them.