Types of Furniture and Kitchen Cabinet Hinges

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. What are the basic types of furniture hinges?
2. Choosing furniture hinges and cabinet doors.
3. Special hinge features.

Furniture hinges are the fundamental type of furniture fittings. Thanks to them, we can attach door fronts to the cabinet carcass, ensuring smooth opening and closing. What types of hinges are available on the market and what are they used for?

What are the basic types of furniture hinges?

We can find many different types of furniture hinges on the market. In terms of their application, we distinguish:

• Plunger hinges - They are used when holes cannot be made for a standard hinge cup hole. We use screws for their installation.

• Angled hinges - they have a precisely defined opening angle, e.g. 30 °, 45 °, 90 °, 110 °, 135 ° 165 ° or even 270 °. The angled hinge is best suited for a corner kitchen cabinet.

• Cup hinges - this is the most universal solution, most commonly used in modern joinery. The model owes its popularity primarily to the easy adjustment and installation options - to fit the concealed hinge, you only need a screwdriver or a drill bit matching the diameter of the hinge cup.

• Bi-fold hinges - They are used for bi-fold doors that are in contact with each other along their edges. A bi-fold hinge is sometimes also referred to as a flap hinge.

• Cylindrical hinges - they are best suited for tables with an extendable top.

• Glass door hinges - no drilling of glass is required for installation. A nut and a clamping screw are used for this purpose.

• Integrated fridge hinges - They are designed for built-in refrigerators. They allow us to open the furniture door and the fridge simultaneously.

• Centre hinges - they are best suited for tilting and folding fronts in upper wall cabinets.

• Complementary hinges - complement hinges with a wide opening angle. They are used in corner cabinets with bi-fold doors.

Choosing furniture hinges and cabinet doors.

The furniture hinge should match the cabinet type and, above all, the material thickness and the opening method. If the cabinet door sits on the outside of the furniture carcass, overlay hinges work best. Before assembly, however, we should check whether there is clear space on the sides of the cabinet to allow the door to open freely. For inset doors, use inset hinges designed to be mounted between the side panels of the cabinet carcass.

A door consisting of 2 leaves is perfectly complemented by a folding hinge. The corner cabinet requires the use of 2 types of hinges: complementary and characterised by a fairly large opening angle of no less than 165-175 °. There are also twin hinges, which are used when 2 pairs of doors sit on the outside of the furniture unit and additionally share its central partition wall.

Special hinge features.

Modern furniture hinges are equipped with additional features that not only extend their durability, but also make everyday use more convenient for the user. What additional properties can they offer?

• Silent closing mechanism, also known as soft close - this feature ensures that the momentum of a door closed with too much force is cushioned. This protects both the door and the cabinet carcass from damage that can occur during rapid closing.

• Wide opening angle - This option is most commonly used in cabinets with internal or pull-out drawers. This type of furniture hinge has a zero protrusion (negative step). This solution provides a wide opening angle, so that the drawers can be easily pulled out without the need for additional spacers. This model is also ideal for corner units.

• Automatic closing and opening - Self-closing is a solution where the cabinet door closes automatically. This function also brakes the door if closed with too much force, preventing slamming.

Automatic opening, in turn, is used in handleless cabinets, which have become increasingly popular recently. Push-to-open technology is used for this style of furniture. By lightly pressing the front, you can open the cabinet effortlessly.

Thanks to the wide selection of furniture hinges available on the market, we can select the exact fitting that suits our cabinet. This makes everyday use far more convenient and ensures the fittings serve us for a long time. Should they lose functionality over time, they can be replaced or adjusted with ease.