Why Are Slim Shaker Kitchen Cabinets Trending? [2024]

Published on 27 Mar 2023

Will the real Slim Shaker please stand up? Honestly, do it – you’ve won an award: Hottest Kitchen Trend of the Year. Indeed, right now, designers and fashionable homeowners alike can’t get enough.

Thanks to a fresh twist on a timeless classic invented in the Eighteenth Century, Shaker kitchen cabinets’ popularity is exploding, and those who feel out of the loop want more information.

It makes sense. Unless you’re an interior designer or have a questionable fascination with kitchen doors, “shaker kitchens” might not exist in your vocabulary. Having heard it in lots of interior design mags, though, you probably have a lot of questions:

• What is a Shaker kitchen?
• Why does everyone love them?
• How can I design one in my home?

Well, buckle up because today’s blog post has all the answers. Not only that, it will also offer you solid advice to help you choose the right slim Shaker design to achieve an on-trend cooking space that’s guaranteed to keep its wow-factor for decades.

What is a Shaker Kitchen?

Picture the scene; it was the 1700s and a religious offshoot of the Quakers – this time creatively named “the Shakers” due to their energetic sermons – left England for opportunities in the New World. Known for their self-sufficiency, the Shakers built their own furniture, visitors liked the style – and the Shaker kitchen was born!

Fast-forward a few centuries and Shaker kitchens remain ever popular. That’s fortunate, too, because they’re built to last, having become a go-to backdrop for all sorts of cooks, from simple bakers to media giants like Nigella Lawson.

A classic Shaker kitchen has five-piece doors with border edges and a smooth centre panel, a simple but effective design typical of the Shakers who also invented spring-loaded pegs and flat-headed brooms. Even timeless classics, though, can benefit from a modern twist. In this case, it’s “slim Shakers” like our Bloomsbury and Kensington ranges that aided the boost. You know those panel borders? Think thinner. Fresher. More elegant.

Can I Get a Handmade Shaker Kitchen?

If you want a truly handmade range from the Shakers themselves, you’re out of luck, given that there are only three Shakers left in the world. And totally bespoke kitchens costs close to a six-figure sum.

Luckily, it’s possible to get an affordable slim Shaker kitchen that’s indistinguishable from high-priced originals. Simply pair a Masterclass range with features that embody quality. Take our wood-effect drawers, for example, which showcase wooden cutlery partitions where other brands have plastic and exposed metal.

Plus, you could add fixed furnishings that look custom-built for any living space they inhabit. For instance, how about opting for built-in benches like the ones featured in our Hardwick Shaker range, or add a Lansbury corner pantry for a “Ye Olde” kitchen vibe?

What Are the Most Popular Colours?

This style is incredibly popular but, admittedly, not all colours enjoy an equal public reception. Right now, emerging colours include light grey, sage, and black Shaker kitchens.

These colours are spreading for a reason. Not only do they suit the traditional Shaker colour palette, so have survived centuries of taste revolutions, but they also complement almost any other colour.

Black and grey are no-brainers. If you want a splash of colour, though, dark shades of green offer a way to make a statement without having it age like wilting herbs. Consider this… ahem… sage advice.

How Can I Make My Design Unique?

If your plan is simply to jump on the slim Shaker kitchen trend then consider yourself ready to leap. Creating a totally unique look that uses bold colours or unorthodox cabinet combinations, and doing it well, however, is a greater challenge. Fortunately, our expert design consultants are here to help.

If you need more help shaking up a non-Shaker kitchen, browse our showroom locations and book a consultation, or become a Masterclass Insider for free. As an Insider, you’ll get a weekly email newsletter full of interior design tips, plus free lifestyle guides that will help you to make the most of your kitchen!

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