Call them china hutch, buffet with hutch, china display case, sideboard with hutch, china cabinet, or server with hutch, all these cabinets do more or less the same thing. If you’ve been scratching your head looking for the right addition to your dining or living room, then this could be the perfect answer. Nothing could be more magnificent in your room than some well-displayed chinaware or crystals. Wait, so what does it take for a china cabinet to offer an elegant display?
To begin with, the design of any china cabinet should allow for the accommodation of several items. From a few sets of
fruit bowls to china collectibles, or other souvenirs that grandpa gave, you can only see their real elegance if they’re displayed in the right cabinet. There’s no better way to achieve this challenge than through a well-designed cabinet in a wide variety of styles.
Depending on your preferred style, you can go for a traditional, country, contemporary or transitional design, but what matters most is having the right style that matches your collection of items and other furniture that make your interior décor. From that
console table in the corner to the picture frames on the wall, your room's outlook remains uncompromised.
The other aspect to factor in is the safety of your items. Having them on display is one thing, but being sure that safety is accounted for is a different story. Just imagine your crystal,
Christmas dinnerware set or chinaware crumbling to the ground and shattering into pieces; even the mere thought of it doesn’t settle well with anyone. But if this is your worst nightmare, then the features of the cabinet itself come into play. These range from the doors to the shelves, the construction, lighting, drawers and lock systems among others.
Fortunately, most cabinets are built from the solid wooden material for lasting durability, so not only will your items be safe, but they’ll last for years too. Always remember to select a cabinet that can fit in the place available, and with these cabinets coming in a variety of sizes, you can be sure to get one that’ll fit right where you want it.
Before you proceed to check out our top five selected china cabinets, you can to get a glimpse at the features you may want to look out for by reading on below.
Price
China cabinets are a unique type of furniture to have in your house. Considering the efficiency and elegance they offer, it’s fair to say that these cabinets come at a good price, with most of them in the price range of $1,000 and $3,000. Naturally, if you want higher quality, you may need to dig deeper into your pocket.
Also, remember that the price tag in any of these cabinets can be determined by several different factors. For instance, if you want to go for a cabinet with the most doors and shelves, you’ll have to spend a little more than you would with the other options.
Similarly, the material it’s made of matters too. So if you’re looking for a cabinet made from durable wood, you’ll have to push further with the price for the higher quality. And when it comes to the brand, the same rule applies, where the most renowned brand in the market may offer high-end cabinets, but at a higher cost than others.
The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for china cabinets is the numerous lower end options in the market. These cheap china cabinet options aren’t the best for you, as they lack essential features such as lighting, locks, or convenient shelves, which could mean your purchase was just a waste of money.
Features
For any cabinet, features mean the difference between an adorable cabinet and a piece of crap. Well, if you want to get yourself a cabinet you’ll be proud of, this is where you should base your focus.
These are the feature we are talking about:
- Style – When it comes to different styles, you can’t beat these cabinets. From contemporary to traditional as well as other styles, they always have something to match your preferred indoor décor. If you want to go the classic way or the modern style, there’s always something for you.
- Design – Depending on your space needs, you can select the right cabinet to cater for your needs. With these cabinets featuring several doors and drawers, you can go for what best fits your favored design. Most of them have about two to four doors at the top and several drawers at the bottom. It all comes down to the one that best fits your taste.
- Size – Generally, china cabinets are quite hefty from their intricate design and the sheer size. Even then, the sizes differ from one cabinet to the other, with the weight shifting as well. The best thing you can do is go for a cabinet that can get the job done without taking space or being too heavy to move it around.
- Material – China cabinets feature different types of materials, from different types of wood and glass doors to mention just a couple. However, the best part is that despite the differences across different types, these cabinets usually feature sturdy materials that offer a stunning look as well as a lasting service. All you need to do is select your favored material, and leave the rest to the designers’ artisanship.
- Color – Just like any other aspect in these cabinets, the color is equally diverse, to cater to different people’s needs. Whether white, brown, gray, you name it, you can always get your favorite color out there. Besides, you can choose the right cabinet color that’ll be a great fit for your existing indoor décor.
- Lighting – Like most features, lights are essential in china cabinets. They come in different numbers in every cabinet; some cabinets have two, others three, and others even four. Despite the differences though, it all serves a similar purpose: adding elegance to your cabinet, as well as making its use easier since you can clearly see the items inside.
Construction and Design
If there’s another aspect you should never get wrong when making your decision for the best cabinet, it has to be its construction. Not to worry, spotting a well-made cabinet isn’t a problem if you’re familiar with these designs:
Traditional Design: No cabinet commands attention as this style does. These cabinets feature wood frames and other elegant aspects such as broken pediments, inlays, as well as perfectly-carved features. With a rich and lustrous finish as well as structural elements, the decorative nature of this cabinet reflects customs and thoughts from a completely different world. And if you’re lucky to get one made from genuine wood, then you’ll be in for a priceless appeal to last for generations.
Contemporary: This type of cabinet is usually crafted from relatively lighter types of woods. The finish usually features soft, subtle colors such as beige, espresso, cream white, and so forth. It also comes with clean and smooth lines with the maximum use of geometric forms. Another interesting thing about these cabinets’ construction is that they can feature different materials, including brass accents and inlay panels among others.
Transitional: These cabinets are slightly different from their traditional style cousins with a simple detail in the decoration. In these cabinets, the lines are more abundant but retain that same flow. Comfortable and a sophisticated allure is what makes these cabinets the go-to choice when it comes to deciding on an ideal display is.
Country: If you are looking for a cabinet with a simple design, then the country style will be a perfect choice. However, the simplicity of these cabinets does not compromise the elegant and charming aspect, as they pack some decorative details too. Some of their decorative features include a blunt arrow, stenciling, and scalped apron to mention but a few. They make a perfect option for anyone looking for a traditional cabinet feel without much stylized or formal touch in it.
Performance and Ease of Use
No matter how attractive your cabinet may look, if it doesn’t have what it takes for a cabinet, it could be a total waste of money. This efficiency comes from several essential features.
Drawers: Not all cabinets come with drawers, but those that have this important feature are always a plus for your storage needs. Quite often, drawers are located at the bottom of the cabinet and make ideal space for keeping stuff that you don’t want to put on display in the upper sections.
Shelves: This feature goes a long way in organizing your cabinet an easy task. Most of them are built from wood or glass, so the choice depends on your preferred type. However, regardless of the shelf material you go for, you can always get the best from them when it comes to keeping your items in different positions inside the cabinet. Besides, since they can come in either fixed or adjustable types, you can always make the most of them when it comes to the kind of items you have. If you have collections of different sizes, adjustable shelves go a long way, but if you want to display dishes and plates only, then a fixed shelf could be all you need.
Doors: The door is obviously one of the most important features in any cabinet, but they can vary from one type to the other. You can decide on what to go for from the wide variety of outward opening doors, sliding doors, or side entry types. On the bottom line, what matters is the duty the doors play, which is keeping your items from falling off the cabinet. What’s more, these doors usually add to the attractive nature of the cabinets, especially if you have the glass type.
Plate Grooves: These are channels cut out at the back of the shelf for vertically displaying your plates or flat dishes. Besides making placing your items super easy, these grooves can be very handy in cases where you have vintage items to display in your cabinet.
Locks: If you have kids running up and down the house, your items could be at a high risk if the locks aren’t working properly. The option of locking one or all the doors could differ in several cabinet types, but the most important thing is being able to keep your most treasured items safe, and locks are very helpful here.
Inside Lighting: This aspect is always an additional advantage to your cabinet. These lights could range from halogen to canister types or track lighting for cabinets, depending on the manufacturer’s design. The best thing about the light on your cabinet is that besides drawing the eye and attention to the displayed items, they can make placing or retrieving your items a breeze as you can clearly see them.
China Cabinets come in different styles, colors and sizes, making shopping for the best one for your home a headache. We’re sure we’ve made it easier for you to pick the best china cabinet with our informative guide, so let’s jump to our review and help identify the one that suits your needs.
If deciding the best china cabinet has been a formidable challenge, we believe you’ve presently overcome it, at least after reading our detailed review of some of the options available. But if you haven’t yet found the perfect cabinet, you can browse through more of our recommended brands as they have more deals that are interesting for you. It’s time to add an elegant feel to your home.
