Adding soft close hinges to your cabinet doors is a kitchen upgrade that you will appreciate every day! This tutorial will show you how to install soft close hinges and includes all the information you need to complete this DIY project.

　　How Do Soft Close door hinge manufacturer Work?　　

　　Soft close hinges have a mechanical device built into the hinge that prevents a cabinet door from slamming. It slows down the door and shuts it ‘soft’. These devices are also sometimes called self closing hinges.

　　Why Should You Upgrade?

　　I remember the first time I shut a cabinet door with soft close hinges, and it was amazing! The cabinet door shut slowly, and quietly all on its own. Maybe I’m just a nerd, but I’ve been obsessed with soft close hinges ever since.

　　Installing soft close hinges on your cabinet doors is an upgrade that you will appreciate every single day.

　　Compared to the high cost of most kitchen renovations, this DIY project is very affordable. Adding soft close hinges to the cabinetry in a kitchen will make it feel a little more gourmet without breaking the bank.

　　Can you do this project yourself DIY?

　　Yes! This is the perfect project to tackle yourself as a DIY. Certain home renovation projects involve expensive equipment, advanced technical knowledge, or safety hazards… but this is not one of them. Some projects are better left to the professionals, but I recommend giving this one a try yourself if you have some DIY motivation, and a few basic hand tools.

　　The most difficult part of this project is choosing the correct hinges that will work with your style of cabinetry. This tutorial is designed to help you pick the proper hinge hardware that will be compatible with your cabinets, and then walk you through the steps to installing. Let’s get started!

　　How To Choose The Correct Hinge

　　Choosing the correct hinge for your cabinets is important. There are several styles of cabinets and doors which require unique hinge styles. If you do not use the proper style, it will not work with your cabinets.

　　Face frame, frameless, partial overlay, full overlay, inset, compact, long arm… WHAT?

　　All the cabinetry terms might seem intimidating at first but don’t worry, it’s simpler than it seems! In the steps below, this tutorial will give you all the information you need to select soft close hinges that will work with your cabinets.

　　Step 1: Identify Your Cabinet Style

　　Do You Have ‘Face Frame’ or ‘Frameless’ Cabinets?

　　The first step in picking the right hinge for your cabinets is to determine if you have face frame, or frameless cabinets.

　　Most standard cabinets in the United States are the face frame style. They are called ‘face frame’ because a wooden frame is built onto the front of the cabinet. In this style of cabinets, the door hinges are fastened to this frame.

　　Frameless cabinets (also called European, Modern, or Flat Panel) have hinges that are fastened directly to the walls of the cabinet box.

　　The hinge is fastened to a board on the front of the face frame cabinet.

　　The hinge is fastened directly to the wall of the frameless cabinet.

　　Both of them use ‘hidden hinges’. They are called hidden hinges because they cannot be seen when the cabinet doors are closed. If you have exposed hinges which can be see when the cabinet doors are closed, it is possible to convert to hidden hinges if you prefer the hidden style. This conversion will require a few extra steps. The conversion process is pretty simple and will be addressed in detail in the ‘How To Install Hinges’ section.

　　Step 2: Determine The Style Of Cabinet Doors

　　Are your cabinet doors: Standard, Full Overlay or Inset?

　　The second step in finding the right soft close hinge is determining which style of cabinet doors you have. Use the illustrations below to identify which style of cabinet doors you have. Each of the 3 styles require a unique soft close hinge design. ‘Partial overlay’ cabinet doors are also know as ‘standard’. Partial overlay doors are the most common style in American cabinetry.

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