Tips to Update Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them

Kitchen cabinets are probably the most used hardware in every kitchen. That’s why it’s understandable that they tend to wear out much quicker than the rest of the equipment. Replacing them can be costly, though. Fortunately, you have other options.

When your cabinets are starting to look, well, awful, you don’t have to splash an extraordinary amount of cash to buy new ones. All you need to do is use your DIY skills to upgrade them. What’s more, it’s much easier than you may think.

Below, you’ll find some useful tips on updating your old kitchen cabinets without replacing them. You’ll be surprised at what difference it will make and how rewarding it’s going to be.

Paint

The first thing that wears off when it comes to cabinets is paint. After a few years, the color is likely to fade, and when it happens, it’s time to bring it to its former glory. Picking new color combinations can be a big decision, luckily there are free tools like an online kitchen cabinet visualizer to make the decision easier and let you focus on painting. But if you want to do it efficiently, you need to know how to paint your cabinet doors properly.

Painting cabinets? A piece of cake, right? Well, not necessarily. First of all, the whole process takes a few days. You need to clean the cabinets, use sandpaper, remove the doors, and pick the right paint.

Only by doing that you’ll make sure your work is efficient.

Add Cabinet Lighting

If you want to add something extra to your kitchen, one of the best ways to achieve that is by adding under-cabinet lighting. When it comes to that, you have plenty of different options. You can use light bars, puck, or tape lights, depending on your needs and kitchen design.

If you’re interested in how such an upgrade would look, check out these mains LED under cabinet lighting. It will give you some perspective on which one you should pick and how much an update would cost.

Replace Hardware

The life of kitchen cabinets is tough. You probably frequently open and slam their doors or spill different things on them. Such extreme conditions can affect the lifespan of your cabinet’s hardware to a large extent.

As soon as you’re starting to notice that the doors are jamming or handlers are getting off, it means it’s high time to invest in new hardware.

Don’t worry, though. It’s incredibly easy to install, and more importantly, cheap.

Take the Doors Off

But when your cabinets’ doors are so worn off that there’s no chance of bringing them back to life? Well, then, you have two options. You can buy new ones, which can be problematic. Or, you can get rid of them and expose the insides of the cabinets.

The second option won’t only cost you anything. It will also add something extra to your kitchen. What’s more, open shelving will make the room look more spacious and minimalistic.

Who would’ve thought that adding style to your kitchen can be so cheap?

Add Crown Molding

If you don’t want to touch your cabinets while upgrading them, you should consider adding crown molding. It’s a long piece of decorating wood that you install at the top of your cabinet to make it look more sophisticated.

What’s more, it’s not expensive and pretty easy to install. And if you get bored with it, or would like to change your kitchen’s look, you can quickly remove it.

Install Interior Cabinet Accessories

With all that talk about your cabinets’ appearance, it’s easy to forget that you should also take care of their interior. Installing some accessories will improve their look and make your kitchen more organized and efficient.

You can consider adding a draw divider, roll-out pantry, pullout base storage, or mixer storage cabinet. No matter which options you choose, implementing them will improve your whole kitchen experience. Not to mention that it will give a new life to some of your cabinets.

The Bottom Line

Although your kitchen cabinets are likely to wear out with time, you don’t have to buy new ones every five years. You can easily update your cabinets without replacing them, and save yourself a lot of money.

Doing that once in a while will improve your kitchen’s look and organization and add value to your whole house. Consider painting your cabinets when the color fades away, replace hardware when needed, and install interior accessories.

You can also completely get rid of the doors and give your kitchen a minimalistic and stylish look. In short, you can quickly and cheaply upgrade your kitchen cabinets. All you need is some skill and willingness.