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Why Do Cabinet Center Panels Shrink? What to Expect and Why It Happens

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If you’ve noticed a slight line around the center panel of your cabinet doors, or maybe a small gap that wasn’t there before? You’re not alone.

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This common occurrence is due to something called panel shrinkage, and it’s a natural part of owning real wood cabinetry. While it might seem alarming at first glance, it’s actually an expected result of wood being, well, wood!

So, what causes it? And what should you expect from your cabinets over time? Let’s break it down.

Photo of a shrinking center panel on a stained door, showing an unfinished area

Painted cabinet door showing unfinished outline from shrinking center panel

What Is Panel Shrinkage?

Most cabinet doors are made with a frame-and-panel construction. That means the center panel (the large, flat part of the door) “floats” inside a sturdy frame. It’s not glued in place, and there’s a good reason for that.

Wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature. That floating design gives the panel room to move without cracking or warping. So, when your home gets drier, especially in winter, the panel may shrink slightly, revealing a line around the edge where the finish appears lighter or the joint is more noticeable.

This is not a defect. It’s wood behaving exactly as it should.

What Causes Shrinkage?

Seasonal Humidity Changes

In colder months, or dry desert-like climates, indoor air tends to be drier, especially when the heat is running, creating low relative humidity. This dry air pulls moisture from the wood, causing the center panel to contract. In summer, when humidity rises, the wood often expands again, and those lines may become less noticeable—or disappear entirely.

Wood Species Differences

Some wood types are more prone to movement than others. For example, maple or cherry may expand and contract differently than oak or hickory. Painted finishes on tight-grained woods like maple can make the shrink lines more visible compared to stained finishes on open-grained woods.

Is There Anything You Should Do?

In most cases, no action is needed. This is considered normal and expected in solid wood cabinetry. However, if you want to reduce the seasonal movement as much as possible, here are a few tips:

Maintain Stable Humidity: Showplace recommends a relative humidity level between 30–55% in your home year-round, using proper humidification systems installed on your home HVAC system.
Avoid Excessive Heat or Moisture: Don’t place cabinet doors near heat vents or in areas with excessive steam without proper ventilation.
Be Patient: Often, those lines vanish again when humidity returns to normal levels in spring or summer.

Bathroom vanity cabinets with dark Midnight stain. Bathroom uses "Woods" wall paper.

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Sable stained and Light Mocha painted kitchen showroom display

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The Beauty of Natural Wood

Wood is a living, breathing material—even after it’s been crafted into a cabinet door. That’s part of what makes it so beautiful. Each piece is unique, and slight changes over time are part of its charm and authenticity.

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At Showplace Cabinetry, we embrace the natural characteristics of wood and design our doors to accommodate these movements without compromising structure or quality. Panel shrinkage doesn’t mean something’s wrong—it means your cabinets are made with real craftsmanship.

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Have more questions?

If you ever have questions about the behavior of your cabinetry, your Showplace dealer is just a call away. They’re always here to help you understand and love your cabinets even more.

Want more cabinetry care tips? Check out our blog post to learn more.

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