It may not be always be practical or affordable to replace the cabinets in your kitchen. This is why in many cases, refacing your cabinets might be your best option. Here’s how you can upgrade your kitchen cabinets without replacing them
1. Add a splash of color
This is the simplest and cheapest way to renovate your kitchen cabinets. Sometimes all you need to spruce up a tired room is a fresh coat of paint. For example, your dark cabinets might be the reason why your kitchen feels like a dungeon. In this case, a brighter makeover doesn’t mean replacing the cabinets themselves. All you need is some strong cleaner, sandpaper, a paintbrush, and a bright color of paint and your cabinets will look brand new—for half the price!
2. Give your cabinets a facelift
For less than $1,000, it’s amazing to see what some veneer and some new doors can do to change the overall look of your kitchen. You can get both jobs professionally done or you can purchase peel-and- stick veneer at most home improvement stores.
3. Install a pull-out cabinet shelf or lazy Susan
Make maximum use of your cabinet space by installing a pull-out shelf or lazy Susan for easy access to those hard-to-reach items at the back. While these may not change the exterior look of the cabinets, these practical alterations will make it feel like your cabinets are brand new.
4. Replace the hardware
Get your kitchen out of the ‘60s by replacing the knobs of the original cabinets. Find some unique vintage hardware from antiques stores or flea markets to add some boldness to your kitchen or find some brand new metal handles at your favourite specialty housewares store for a more modern look.
5. Go open concept
Remove the doors of your cabinets entirely and instead go for a more open-concept view to open up the space of a room. Fill hinge holes with putty before painting the exterior panes your desired color. Paint the cabinet interiors a contrasting color. If you don’t want to leave your dishes exposed, you can always replace your cabinet with a glass-fronted cabinet door for a similar effect.
6. Apply crown molding
Adding crown molding is another simple way to transform your kitchen. This upgrade will visually add more height to your room and will also help create a more refined finished to the room. The best way to attach crown molding yourself is by using an air-powered finish nailer available at most rental centres.
7. Add a plate rack
If you have plates you’d like to show off, you can always create a mantle of sorts to display them proudly in your kitchen. By installing plate racks underneath your cabinets, this frees up precious storage space and creates an interesting focal point for your kitchen. They are also an easy and effective way to incorporate an accent color into any kitchen.
