Updating your kitchen cabinets can make your entire kitchen feel brand-new. You’ll be surprised how changing a replacement part, such as a cabinet door or handle, can do wonders. Additionally, these upgrades can be simple to do and won’t necessarily need the help of experts. Some upgrades can even be done in a day or over a weekend.
That said, whether you’re a homeowner looking to revamp your kitchen or a contractor redesigning your client's house, you’ll want to ensure you’re following a few best practices to ensure a smooth kitchen update. Review these actionable ideas to get you started.
HOW TO UPDATE KITCHEN CABINETS WITHOUT REPLACING THEM
Kitchen remodeling is growing in popularity regarding residential upgrades, but this activity doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re replacing kitchen cabinet doors and drawers, there's no need to fully demo the entire cabinet. This option saves you money and time, so you can get back to enjoying your kitchen faster.
Here are 6 ideas to make your cabinets feel brand-new:
1. REFACE YOUR CABINETS
Refacing your cabinets can be an alternative solution if you’re planning on replacing kitchen cabinets on a budget. Refacing involves applying a new veneer over the cabinet body and boxes. Additionally, you can replace the cabinet doors and drawer fronts to match the veneer you choose.
Sometimes, you may upgrade door hinges and handles, but only if they’re worn down or if you prefer a design upgrade. What’s more, you won’t need to remove the countertop in the process. Cabinet refacing is especially suitable if you don’t really want to change your kitchen layout but want a fresh new design. It’s also ideal if your cabinets are still in great condition, with the internal hardware, such as drawer slides, in good shape.
2. CHANGE CABINET HANDLES
Opting for new hardware can freshen the look of your kitchen cabinets, whether or not you’ve refaced them. The design is in the details, so the impact of a modern or old-school handle can make a difference. What’s more, this can be the easiest upgrade you can make.
Knobs: These are the most basic handles and can be installed with just one screw. They come in various shapes, sizes and materials to match your preferred design.
Pulls: Pulls typically need two screws and they come in various lengths. They also come in multiple design styles.
You can use a combination of both for your kitchen cabinets and drawers. While there are no hard and fast rules, knobs are more common for cabinets and pulls tend to work better on drawers. Also, consider the finish — you can match your existing light fixtures and faucets or bring something new into the design.
If you’re changing the original location of the knob or pull, use a template to ensure the placement is consistent for all cabinets.
3. REPLACE CABINET DOORS
Replacing the cabinet doors is one of the most impactful changes you can make. There are different styles to choose from, including:
Shaker-style: The Shaker-style is a cabinet with recessed panels that can be used with glass or a flat front.
Raised square: Raised square cabinet doors are similar to Shaker-style doors. However, the inside panel is raised rather than recessed.
Flat-panel: As the name suggests, these are flat doors without framing, which are also called slab doors.
Beadboard: These kitchen cabinets have vertical wood slats, giving them a more classic design.
Not interested in any of these designs? You can also choose to have kitchen cabinets without doors. Open shelves are ideal if you want to display your kitchenware.
4. ADD MOLDINGS
If you are changing your kitchen cabinet design, like transitioning from flat-panel to decorative raised square doors, moldings can help carry your upgrades through the rest of the cabinetry.
The type of molding depends on where it is placed. Here are some examples:
Traditional crown molding: This molding is placed at the top of your kitchen cabinets and is the industry standard.
Stepped crown molding: If you’ve ever seen kitchen cabinets with varying heights, the molding on top of that is called stepped crown molding because of the stepped look it provides.
Stacked crown molding: Typically suited for high ceilings, the stacked crown molding has multiple moldings stacked on top of each other.
Edge molding: These are moldings placed at the outside edges of kitchen shelves, which can be handy when matching the look of your cabinet moldings.
Light molding: As the name suggests, these are moldings at the bottom of your kitchen cabinets to hide your undercabinet lighting.
5. RESTAIN YOUR CABINETS
If your old kitchen cabinets are made of oak, ash and mahogany, you may benefit from restaining them. Restaining cabinets is the process of removing the old finish and applying new stains that highlight the grains of your wood cabinet. Stains darken the wood’s natural features, making your cabinets richer in color.
Staining cabinets is a great way to extend their lifespan because they’re easier to maintain and won’t peel or crack, unlike with paint. You can also choose a stain depth depending on your other kitchen finishes.
That said, not every cabinet is ideal for staining. For instance, soft woods like pine may unevenly absorb the stain. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that your cabinets are still in physical condition. For instance, your cabinets ideally shouldn’t have water damage or deep scratches.
6. SWAP KITCHEN CABINETS FOR DRAWERS
Switching your kitchen cabinets for drawers can be one of the best changes you can make. Drawers can enhance your cabinet's functionality. Plus, they can be customizable based on your needs, such as:
Kitchen spice drawers
Utensil pull-outs
Pots and pans drawer
Trash can pull-outs
These drawers make your kitchenware easier to access, which is especially beneficial if you suffer from back and knee pain.
CABINET DOORS ‘N’ MORE MAKES REVAMPING YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS EASIER
Cabinet Doors ‘N’ More is a leader in the online kitchen and bath cabinet industry. We offer the highest quality materials that are also environmentally friendly, so you can upgrade your kitchen cabinets without worries. Whether you need new cabinet doors, drawer fronts or accessories, our materials are made to last for decades.
If your purchase is worth more than $750, you automatically get 10% off, applied at checkout. We offer free shipping on all our products, too. Start redesigning your kitchen cabinets today!
