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Whether you install flooring before or after kitchen cabinets depends primarily on the type of flooring you are using. For materials like hardwood, tile, and sheet flooring, the best practice is to install the flooring first. This ensures the cabinets are installed at the correct height and on a stable surface. However, you should not install cabinets on top of floating floors, such as laminate or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). These types of flooring need room to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Placing heavy cabinets on top can restrict this movement, potentially causing the floor to buckle and making the cabinets unstable. For floating floors, install the cabinets first and then lay the flooring up to them. Other reasons to consider installing cabinets before the flooring include saving money on materials (since you won't need flooring under the cabinets) and avoiding potential damage to your new floor during cabinet installation. Additionally, installing cabinets directly on the subfloor might prevent voiding your flooring's warranty.

Unless otherwise specified in the manufacturer’s instructions, in most cases you should attach the hinges to the cabinet door before attaching it to the cabinet frame. Once you attach the hinge to the door, you can then align it with the cabinet frame and screw it firmly into place. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions for best practices.

If your cabinets don’t reach the ceiling, you can extend them higher, adding visual interest, privacy, and storage space to your kitchen. Depending on the height of your ceiling, you may want to extend the structure of the cabinets and install longer doors to make each individual cabinet taller, or you could add additional cabinets above the existing ones. Either option is cheaper and easier than installing entirely new cabinets.

If you’re brave enough to tackle building your own cabinet bases, you’re brave enough to install them yourself. You’ll need a stud finder to get you started, but the installation will be a breeze if you’ve already done all the hard work to build the cabinet bases yourself. If you’re hanging upper cabinets, you’ll need a helper, though, to balance the weight of the cabinets and make the process easier.