A stile is a part of a cabinet frame. It is a vertical piece of wood and two stiles are joined together with a pair of rails to construct the frame. A stile is a vertically aligned piece of wood found in the frame of a cabinet. Two stiles and two rails are combined to make one complete frame. A piece of wood vertically positioned in the opening of cabinets may also be referred to as a stile. This center stile supports the frame's weight, making it more durable and stronger, especially in cabinets that are manufactured using engineered wood products like MDF and particleboard.

 

Center stiles were a popular feature of traditional homes, but they are also commonly used in kitchens with a rustic, cottage or other forms of traditional designs. A center stile may improve the visual appeal of the cabinets a bit, but it makes it challenging to place large items as it decreases the size of the opening to a storage space.