How to handle the light panel

Light Panel｜This 'hidden project' will make you want to cry if you don’t mention it beforehand

After your custom cabinetry is fully installed, the cabinets themselves look fine — but something feels off when you look at the side panels. The cabinet box color doesn't match the door color, and it sticks out like a sore patch.

That's what happens when side panels (also known as visible end panels or gable panels) aren't handled properly.

What Are Visible End Panels?

Simply put: the exposed sides of your cabinet boxes. For example, the side of a wardrobe facing a hallway, or the side of kitchen cabinets facing the dining area — these surfaces are fully visible.

If they're left as the raw cabinet box material (which is often darker or has a different texture), they won't match your cabinet doors, creating a visually jarring contrast.

Two Approaches, Worlds Apart

3 Must-Ask Questions for Your Designer

1. Which of my cabinets have exposed sides?
Your designer should identify these during the site measurement and proactively flag them.

2. What material should the visible end panels be?
They must match the doors in both material and color code. Avoid using cabinet box material with a veneer — veneers can peel over time and often have noticeable color differences.

3. How is the cost calculated?
Visible end panels are a separate line item, charged by area. Confirm the unit price and total area before signing — no surprises later.

Money-Saving Tip

If you're on a budget, consider this:

• Sides against walls — no end panel needed; the wall hides it anyway

• Sides facing hallways or open areas — must have them, no compromise

• You can also use color-matched trim strips as a lower-cost alternative, though they're slightly less polished visually

Final Word

Get all visible end panel details confirmed before signing the contract — which sides need them, what material, at what price.

Once the cabinets are installed, it's too late: either live with the eyesore or tear everything down and redo it — and that costs far more than adding end panels upfront would have.

Ask one extra question before ordering, and save yourself a world of regret later.

Planning a custom project? Contact us. During measurement, we'll identify every exposed side and spell everything out clearly in your proposal.