Are you thinking about renovating your kitchen cabinets? If so, you probably want to accomplish the task right the first time while spending the minimum amount possible, right? Cutting too many corners can cost you in the long run, but by planning accordingly, you can save a bundle while still walking away with quality kitchen cabinetry.

The “Wetaskiwin Times” recently put this premise to the test in an article titled “Properly planning kitchen renos a must for doing it right.” The story focused on “dozens of considerations involved in planning a kitchen.” As the focal point of the room, kitchen cabinets take top billing in the list of those considerations. What type of planning goes into new kitchen cabinetry?

Cabinet style and quality are key. The article points out, “Most kitchen cabinets are made of particle board because they cost much less than solid wood and don't get the abuse that the doors get. The basic cabinets available at [home improvement centers like] at Ikea, Rona, Home Depot or Totem work very well but have one main downfall: they are not customizable. While they are available in dozens of different sizes, they require cover panels and filler pieces to fit exactly into your kitchen. True custom cabinets are built to fit perfectly by true craftsmen; however, perfection comes at a price.”

It's the age-old conundrum for kitchen remodelers: customization or cost? But what the article fails to consider is a compromise between the two. Many of today's assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinet designs come with customization options that put them on par with custom kitchen cabinetry, without the associated price tag. In other words, they are a blend of the best of both worlds.

What types of customization features can you expect to find with assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. Here are the most common.

1. Decorative Molding – Available in a full spectrum of colors, decorative molding can be used to soften the corners of kitchen cabinet at the intersection of floors, walls and ceilings. In addition, decorative molding can finish the exposed ends of your cabinetry design. “Valances and crown mouldings can hide lights and compliment cabinet construction” as well, the newspaper article points out.

2. Lazy Susan – Make the most use of corner storage space with a lazy susan. This customization feature comes with an adjustable carousel height to keep your most-used kitchen items organized and accessible.

3. Roll-out Trays – If you'd like easier access to all your stored items, you'll definitely want to consider kitchen cabinetry that is amenable to this feature. Look for a tray location that is adjustable for greater flexibility.

4. Fillers – Fillers allow you to install preassembled cabinetry in hard to accommodate spaces. Because they're made of solid wood to match your ready-to-assemble cabinets and are trimmable, they're virtually undetectable from the real thing.

5. Specialty End Panels – If you want to accent the exposed sides of your stock cabinetry, specialty end panels allow you to do so.

Get started and finished more quickly and save money in the process … all without compromising the look and feel of custom kitchen cabinets … with quality assembled and ready-to-assembly cabinetry with customizable features.