What Are the Best Materials and Weaves for Mesh Cabinet Door Inserts?

In terms of visibility, decorative mesh falls somewhere in between open shelving and solid cabinet doors. That said, the overall look depends on the material and weave.

Antique bronze, antique brass, stainless steel, and nickel-plated metal meshes are the best options for cabinetry. As for weave style, DIYers often opt for diagonal weaves with flat or crimped wires. Here's what you should know.

Antique Bronze

While bronze typically has a warm golden hue, antique bronze is more of a blackish-brown color. The deep, rich tone makes a stunning accent for white, black, or dark brown cabinets, as well as medium wood finishes.

Antique Brass

Then there's brass wire mesh, which is usually yellow-gold in color. Antique brass, however, has a brown hue, though it still mentaina a golden sheen. The supremely versatile finish works well with dark and light wood cabinetry and painted cupboards.

Stainless Steel

If you prefer cool-toned metals like silver and chrome, you might consider stainless steel mesh. The ultra-strong material resists rust, scratching, and corrosion, making it the most durable choice. Stainless steel is also relatively easy to polish, retaining its natural gleam for years—and sometimes decades.

Nickel-Plated

Nickel-Plated metals undergo electroplating, meaning they're coated with a thin layer of nickel. This gives the material a reflective silvery sheen, which is often finished to achieve an antique appearance.

Diagonal

Industrial-inspired design is a popular home decor style. There's a lot to appreciate about the aesthetic, and yet it's still important for pieces to look like they belong inside a home. A diagonal weave is often the key to making wire mesh sheets look decorative and not too industrial.

This essentially means the metal wires cross at 45-degree angles instead of 90-degree angles, creating diamond-shaped openings instead of squares. You can buy diagonal wire mesh for cabinets in a single or double weave. Having said that, any square weave can be installed at a diagonal angle to achieve this effect.

Flat Wires

Flat-wire materials also lend to a more decorative appearance. The individual wires are flat instead of round and woven into wire mesh panels with a diagonal or square weave.

Crimped

Another option is crimped (or intercrimped) wire mesh. Full of texture and dimension, the material is ideal for those looking to add character and interest to their cabinets. Crimped Mesh comes in various materials and finishes, including bronze, brass, and stainless steel.