Note all the problems with each door’s positioning, since some of them may require a couple of adjustments. For example, one could be crooked and also need to be raised. Plan on tackling the adjustments one at a time.
Euro-style hinges connect to a plate mounted on the cabinet door. You will see a pair of screws securing the plate to the door, but they don’t control the hinge at all. They are only there to hold the hinge in place.
If you’re working alone, you can still take care of the adjustments. However, keep a firm grip on the door at all times in case it comes loose.
Try to keep the door flush with the bottom of the cabinet and about 4 mm (0. 16 in) from the top of the cabinet. That is the perfect height for most cabinet doors. The door will be unsteady when you loosen the screws for this adjustment, so keep a firm grip on it until you’re done tightening them again.
Ideally, there should be a gap of 1 mm (0. 039 in) between the door and frame on most cabinets. After retightening the screws, you can test this by shutting the door to see if it glides closed smoothly. Adjust the hinges in this direction one at a time to prevent the door from falling out of position. If you loosen them all at once, support the door.
For example, adjust the screw to move the door over. Leave a 1 to 2 mm (0. 039 to 0. 079 in) gap between this door and the next one. If the door isn’t hanging straight, adjust the top and bottom hinges in different directions.
Although shutting the door so often can seem tedious, it helps prevent the door from moving too much. Take it one adjustment at a time so you don’t end up needing to make big corrections later.
Although the soft-close type of Euro-style hinges have multiple screws, they are always in the same order. You will see them in a line on the cabinet side of the hinge.
This screw is easy to reach with an ordinary screwdriver. It isn’t recessed deeply at all, so finding it isn’t a problem.
Watch the gap between the open door and the cabinet. You can use it as a reference to determine when the door is in the right place.
Push the tab all the way in if you have small, light doors. This setting allows the door to close almost all of the way before the tab catches it and lets it close softly. The medium setting is fine for most cabinet doors. Pull the tab halfway out for it. If you have big, heavy doors, slide the tab out as far as you can.
If the door doesn’t close smoothly, then you may need to move the tab to a different setting. Use the screws if you need to reposition the door over the cabinet frame.
