Cabinets represent one of the most important elements when designing a kitchen, both in terms of functionality and aesthetics. They play such a crucial role in the economy of the space, and they’re the first thing you notice when you step inside a kitchen. So, if you’re planning a kitchen remodel, it makes sense to focus your attention on cabinetry.
It also makes sense to figure out how much it will cost you to update your old cabinets and work out a budget before you kick off your makeover project. A lot of people fear that a kitchen remodel might end up costing them a fortune, so they keep putting it off. However, if you’re smart about the approach, you can have a kitchen that looks amazing and keep a healthy bank account.
When it comes to updating kitchen cabinetry, you have two options: replace or revamp. Some pieces might be beyond redemption, so there’s no point in investing any time and effort into trying to extend their life. Therefore, the best option is to shop around for new kitchen cupboards and choose the ones that fit your style and requirements. If you take the time to do your research, you can find beautiful units at more than reasonable prices.
If your kitchen cabinets are still in relatively good shape, but they look a bit outdated or show little signs of wear and tear, you may be able to salvage them. This is a smart way to save money while also ensuring great results. Besides, you also get the opportunity to put your creativity and DIY skills to the test. So, if you want to breathe new life into your kitchen cabinetry, here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Paint them
Love the style but not the colour of your cabinets? Then you already know the answer. A fresh coat of paint is all it takes to change the look of your outdated kitchen cabinets and give them a more modern vibe. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to upgrading a space, and it works like a charm in every room of the house.
However, you should choose your new colour carefully, as you don’t want to risk picking a hue that you’ll later regret and have to redo the entire work. As a rule of thumb, if you have darker walls in your kitchen, you should paint your cabinets in a lighter colour to ensure some chromatic balance. If the walls are light, you can opt for a darker colour for your cabinets, but lighter shades can work just as well.
Change the hardware
It’s often the smallest changes that have the biggest impact, and that’s definitely the case with furniture hardware. You can’t even imagine the difference some hinges or knobs can make until you actually see it for yourself.
So, we dare you to try this hack if you’ve run out of inspiration or if you don’t want to put too much effort into making more extensive changes to your kitchen cabinetry. When it comes to kitchen hardware, there are plenty of styles, colours and finishes to choose from, so you can easily transform the appearance and feel of your units. If you want to add a bit of personality to the space, intricate models are recommended, but minimalistic pieces will do the trick if you want a clean and fresh look.
Consider refacing
A very popular and effective way to give your kitchen a quick facelift without replacing kitchen units entirely is to have them refaced. This technique implies keeping the cabinet box and installing new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, using either laminate or wood veneer materials.
This can obviously be done only if the structure of the units is still in good shape. Other pieces like frames, side panels, or mouldings can also be refaced if you wish to do so. No one will be able to tell that your cabinets aren’t brand new, so you’ll get a fresh-looking kitchen at a fraction of the cost.
Try open shelving
Not sure if it’s worth the trouble of replacing your old cabinet doors with new ones? Well, you can simply take them off and leave them like that. No, this is not what you might call a job half-done, but the open shelving trend which has become quite popular in recent years.
After all, who decided that all cabinets need to have doors? Open shelves can look absolutely beautiful in your kitchen, especially if you like to put your dishware in full view. Not only will this allow you to create wonderful displays, but it will also make your kitchen feel a lot airier and more spacious, which is a major bonus when you’re dealing with small spaces.
Add glass doors
The open shelves style can work for some, but it’s definitely not everybody’s cup of tea. If you suddenly decide that you don’t like your doors anymore, but you don’t want to replace them with similar ones or get rid of them either, there’s a solution for your dilemma: glass doors.
Installing new glass doors can provide the best of both worlds. Your cabinets will still be covered, but you’ll also have the transparency of open shelving. This will add some dimension to the space and give your kitchen a modern look with minimum effort.
Install under or over cabinet lighting
Let’s talk about light. You might wonder what light has to do with kitchen cabinets. It’s all about mixing aesthetics with functionality. Over and under cabinet lighting ensure a stylish touch and make your cabinets stand out while also removing unwanted shadows and allowing you to use every corner of your kitchen. On top of that, these lighting fixtures are also energy-efficient and can help you save electricity.
Each one of these hacks has a huge transformative potential for kitchen cabinets, so we encourage you to put them into practice and give your kitchen the makeover it deserves.
