The handleless kitchen is a trend that has been on the rise over the past few years, offering homeowners the opportunity to introduce smooth, clean lines within their kitchen without the need for “pesky” handles. It’s a winning contemporary look. It works equally well in a high gloss or a matt finish. There are also a wide range of colour choices too.
Are handleless kitchen units right for your home? Of course, it depends on what you want and need. Every element of your kitchen should be chosen according to how you like to use and enjoy the space.
If you are considering buying handleless kitchen doors, read our guide detailing the pros and cons of this style to help you make your final decision.
What are kitchen cabinets without handles called?
One of the great benefits of handleless drawer fronts is that the style fits in very well with most contemporary or classic kitchens, creating an effortlessly smooth aesthetic. It can be an ideal look for open-plan kitchen/living areas, too.
Additionally, a handleless kitchen means there is no “overhang” from obtrusive hardware. This allows you to navigate around your kitchen more effectively while you cook and prepare food, making it an ideal choice for those with smaller kitchens.
However, if you are a true traditionalist who loves the classic country look, or you have an affection for ornate kitchen handles, then the look of integrated handles is unlikely to impress you at first.
However, it may not be an all-or-nothing choice – perhaps consider a handleless door style at base unit level, mixed with handles on your wall cabinets if you cannot quite choose between one or the other.
Are handleless kitchen doors on trend?
One of the more modern kitchen trends that we have seen in recent years has been a shift to handleless kitchen doors.
They aren’t anything new. In fact, they have been incorporated as part of minimalist kitchen designs for many years. However, it is only recently that we have noticed a big demand for without handles and a high gloss or matt finish.
Handleless kitchens have been around for over 40 years. They used to represent such a tiny percentage of the domestic kitchen retail market that door manufacturers didn’t consider it worthwhile to develop new colours and finishes for the handleless kitchen market.
However, with more people now embracing contemporary living and indulging in innovative modern design, what was once a stagnant style of kitchen door has been reborn into handleless kitchen doors.
We have found more and more of our customers are opting for the sleek handleless kitchen design, with it delivering a simple and minimalist look that fits in nicely with their fast and busy lifestyles.
Are handleless kitchens a good idea?
It’s no surprise to see that so many people are blown away with the look of a handleless kitchen. The door style truly catches the eye. However, you need to think with your head and your heart.
Therefore, it is vital that you weigh up the pros and cons of handleless kitchens before going ahead and choosing one.
The safety of a handleless kitchen
There’s no denying that the kitchen can be a dangerous and hazardous place. Hot stoves, gas and electrical appliances, knives, and other sharp utensils – there are a lot of potential hazards all over the kitchen. It can be particularly dangerous for children.
Generally, handleless kitchens are safer than those with handles. For adults, this is because there aren’t handles which you can bump into or catch your clothing on as you navigate your kitchen, potentially while handling hot food. For children, handles on base units are often directly at the same height as their head, making bumps more likely. This is why many families opt for modern handleless cabinets for their kitchen.
A further advantage when it comes to the safety stakes for handleless kitchen doors is that handles can be a bit of a shining beacon to young children, calling out to be pulled upon, and handleless units do remove this temptation.
Does a handleless kitchen provide extra room?
Talk to any kitchen owner and they’ll tell you that space can be at a premium at the best of times! So, when looking for that extra bit of wiggle room in a busy area, does a handleless style stack up?
There is no overhang on modern handleless drawer fronts, which does give you valuable extra room.
This can be extremely useful if you are considering an open plan design for the kitchen. Not only does it help to create a light and airy feel, but there are also no handles to disrupt the fluidity of the design, either. The overall effect creates the illusion of even more space.
How do you keep a handleless kitchen clean?
When it comes to the cleanliness of a modern handleless kitchen unit, there are definitely both pros and cons. On one hand, if you have for example, a white high gloss kitchen, fingerprints by the grip ledge may start to show as sticky fingers open the door.
The benefits of a reflective finish on a kitchen unit outweighs these potential issues though.Furthermore, many darker colours – especially in matt finishes – now come with a special coating to protect against fingerprints. This means a potential problem is no longer an issue – speak to our expert team for more information on this.
Additionally, dust and debris can collect in the recessed area within the opening ledge, known as a channel, which makes regular quick clear-outs necessary.
However, this is offset to some extent, because there are no awkward handles on these kitchen units and drawer fronts to navigate cleaning around and behind.
Is a handleless kitchen practical?
In one respect, it’s a very practical choice, as there is no need to spend time choosing and matching handles to the drawer fronts.
Practicality in the kitchen will vary by household, so it’s always worth considering what matters most to you before choosing any kitchen unit.
In general terms, a modern true handleless kitchen shouldn’t be any less practical or harder to use than any other type of kitchen.
Do handleless cabinets and drawers cost more?
A true handleless kitchen does tend to cost at least 15% more than its “handled” counterparts, and can even be a lot higher. This is due to the technique and craftsmanship that goes into the design of a true handleless kitchen. This requires additional mechanisms to function without handles.
However, why not browse our range of affordable handleless units? Kitchen units in a handleless design may cost you less money than you think.
Are there handleless appliances to match?
If you want to create a totally handleless look, you can! The idea of a handleless kitchen now extends beyond the cabinetry and doors of standard kitchen design.
As the trend for handleless kitchens has evolved, more and more homeowners have also looked for appliances with handleless doors. They are striving for a completely sleek and seamless look for their kitchen units to create a feeling of streamlined space.
To this end, you will now find more appliance manufacturers who are producing built-in appliances that fit flush with kitchen cabinetry. Some have glass finishes, and the ‘touch to open’ mechanism is certainly becoming more popular in integrated appliance design.
What kind of cabinet fronts are best for handleless kitchens?
Kitchens with a lower sheen tend to show fewer marks. Similarly, lighter colours don’t tend to show marks and fingerprints as much as darker colours. For this reason, incorporating natural wood and steel into a design can create a superb finish. Not only do they look good, but they are also easier to maintain and keep clean. Additionally, any wear that occurs over time only adds to the character and charm of the finish.
Try our sample handleless doors
We can provide you with a sample of any of our handleless kitchen doors for a small fee. In fact, you can pick up a sample from us for as little as £9.98 and receive a full door so you can see exactly how it will look in your new kitchen.
This gives you the opportunity to see if the style of the door fits in with what you want for your kitchen. It can also allow you to see how our doors work in person, and to decide if they are a practical option for your home.
We are happy to assist you every step of the way with your choice of new kitchen. You can get in contact with us through a variety of channels, including visiting our showroom located in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
If you have any other questions about our handleless kitchen doors, be sure to let us know!
