There are many types of cabinets up for grabs today, made out of all kinds of materials, designs, all of them having their advantages as well as their flaws.
For those who want to personalize and stylize their cabinets, there is the option of ordering custom cabinetry, which is made to the exact demands of the customer, from design to materials.
However, these cabinets usually cost a bunch, making them unaffordable for people who are in a tighter financial situation.
Luckily, a type of semi-customizable cabinetry is available on the market, and it's called unfinished cabinetry.
Unfinished cabinets are already assembled; however they're still lacking a finish, leaving that up to you.
If what troubles you is getting some extra storage space at a low cost, I recommend going for some type of plastic or laminate cabinetry, seeing as how these types of materials are not only easy to paint, but also provide the furniture with a solid shield against deterrents such as temperature changes, heat, and moisture, while coming at a price lower than that of it's competitors.
When choosing the finish for your cabinets, there doesn't seem to be an end to the possible choices of paint types and colors.
For example, if you wish to provide your cabinetry with a wooden look, simply use a wood veneer job to replicate to perfection the grains and the texture of wood.
Alternatively, you can resort to using wood stains, which are no worse.
If you want to give your cabinets a sharper, more futuristic look, you can always paint them in a metallic color such as chrome, and nobody will tell the difference without actually inspecting the paint.
In the end, if what you're looking for is the ability to choose which finish your cabinetry will have without paying any extra money, then the solution clearly resides in getting unfinished cabinets, since that is exactly the purpose they accomplish.