Cabinet door hinges are one of the biggest afterthoughts in home design but they often get the biggest workout in the home. Nary an hour goes by that someone isn’t opening a cabinet somewhere in the home, whether it’s in the kitchen, pantry, bathroom or hallway.

Most simply make do with the hinges that came with the cabinet. Only when they begin to squeak and sway in complaint about their endless exercise do we give thought to changing them. And only then do we only change the offending hinge that has failed to do its duty tightly and quietly.
But changing out hinges can yield some exciting results in the home, particularly when they are visible hinges.

Because visible cabinet door hinges are, well, always visible, they become expected and common place over time. Eventually, you don’t even notice them anymore. At least until they become unhinged as noted above.

With just a few twists of a screw, you can replace all your visible hinges with new ones that can breathe fresh life into your once boring cabinet doors. For example, many hinges come in silver or brass. Why not change it up with deep black, hammered copper or cast wax molded versions of antique hinges. If you have a rustic feel in your kitchen, you can decorate H or HL hinges that make your cooking space look like a turn of the century country kitchen.

For something a little more European, consider adding Antique English Hinges. These H shaped steel cabinet door hinges have a very ornate finish to them that will add old world charm to your kitchen, bathroom or pantry area.

Ornamental hinges are another good choice for visible, or surface mounted cabinet door hinges. These come in a wide range of styles, including butterfly and Art Deco.

When selecting new hinges, you want to keep a few things in mind. First, what’s the style of your kitchen? Is it modern, traditional, country or retro? What kind do you have now and what hinges would not only look good, but also properly support the door so it doesn’t sag or even fail over the time. Too weak of hinges and you’ll always be straightening the door. This can become maddening very quickly.

If you have concealed hinges and want to move to surface mounted cabinet hinges, chances are good that you’ll want to go with either semi-concealed hinges where only the frame wing is visible (the door part goes on the back side of the cabinet door), overlay hinges, or inset hinges. It just depends on the type cabinet doors you have.

One good hint: Before you redo all your hinges buy several different styles and finishes and put them on them in various parts of the kitchen. You can then get a sense of which works best for you from the standpoint of design and décor before going through the effort of replacing all the cabinet door hinges in the home.

In the morning when you reach for your toothbrush or the cereal, do you ever think about what is holding these cabinet doors in place? A cabinet hinge is often overlooked and taken for granted, but its significance in our daily lives should not be missed.

Some say the hinge is the second most important invention, the wheel being the first. A hinge cabinet or otherwise is generally eight to ten times stronger than its assigned job. So imagine for a moment if hinges had not been invented. Our things would be or shelves for all to see or we use large rocks or hunks of wood to act as a door.

Hinges have been in use since 1600 B.C. and now there is a wide variety available. The best way to browse the greatest selection of cabinet hinges is to shop online. Instead of trekking from store to store only to be frustrated by the minimal selection, try browsing form the comfort of home. Shop and compare prices then with a click of the mouse your cabinet hinges will arrive at your door.

The type of cabinet door you have will determine the type of cabinet hinge you will need. There are three main types of cabinet door; flush, lipped and overlay. A flush door rests within the door frame. An overlay rests on the door frame and a lipped door has a lip cut out around it.

Flush cabinet doors are often seen with butterfly hinges. These cabinet hinges consist of two flaps or leaves with screw holes held together by a pin. They are mounted on the outside of the door and frame and look like a butterfly when open; hence the name. These cabinet hinges are ornamental and can add style to any room form colonial to art deco and beyond. A cabinet hinge similar to this is a butt hinge only the flaps are recessed into the door and frame revealing only the pin when closed. Balls or finials can be added to the pin for decoration. The butt hinge can be used on any door.

Pivot cabinet hinges are made for overlay doors. They are mounted on the bottom and top of the door with portions of each hinge bent over and mounted to the frame and the door resulting in a concealed hinge. They like all cabinet hinges are available in multiple finishes to match you style. One of the most popular types of cabinet hinge is the spring loaded or self – closing hinge. A small spring within the hinges forces the door to close on its own. These work wonders in the kitchen where you are commonly in and out of several cabinets daily.

No matter what type of cabinet hinge you choose, you still have to decode on the finish. Whether you want to go for a fifties look with oil rubbed bronze cabinet hinges or a more modern, European look with brushed nickel or polished chrome you’ll be able to find what you need to match your cabinet knobs and drawer pulls. The cabinet hinge really completes your home whether you know it or not.