Shaker Door Vs. Recessed Panel

General Information

• Shaker style cabinetry is generally well-made and focuses on a symmetrical appearance. Many Shaker doors feature recessed panels, but flat panels are also a common feature of the doors. Recessed panels have the appearance of a picture frame with the center of the cabinet placed further back than the raised wooden frame around it. Recessed panels are not always symmetrical and feature more ornamentation than Shaker doors.

Shape

• Shaker doors are typically rectangular in shape. The panels are also rectangular. Recessed panels come in other shapes besides the standard rectangle. Recessed panels can also come in an arched shape and a cathedral shape that resembles the shape of a church.

Wood Type and Color

• Shaker style cabinets tend toward the mid to dark wood colors. Maple and cherry woods are common for Shaker style doors. Recessed paneled doors incorporate nearly every hue of the wooden spectrum, ranging from a light birch to a dark mahogany.

Ornamentation

• Shaker style is known for its simple style and lack of ornamentation, typically a basic wooden frame. Other styles of cabinetry that use recessed panels may add decorative trim around the panel, such as a rope pattern or additional molding. Beadboard may also be inserted into the recessed area with recessed panel doors.