Kitchen remodels can be time-consuming and costly endeavors. However, with some clever updates, you can transform the heart of your home without breaking the bank. Kitchen cabinet makeovers allow you to refresh the look of your cooking spacejust by making minor upgrades to your existing cabinetry.
The kitchen is often called the heart of the home for good reason. It’s where we gather with friends and family to cook, eat, and make lasting memories. However, when your kitchen feels outdated or dull, it can bring down the energy of the entire house.
Kitchen cabinet makeovers are a fantastic way to breathe new life into your cooking space without taking on an extensive renovation project. With creative updates like adding fresh hardware, paint, or molding, you can give your existing cabinetry a whole new look for a fraction of the cost of installing brand new cabinets.
Refreshing your kitchen cabinets is one of the most budget-friendly ways to update the style and feel of your kitchen. The results are dramatic yet wallet-friendly. A successful kitchen cabinet makeover has the power to make your kitchen look straight out of a magazine.
In this article, we will explore several DIY kitchen cabinet makeover ideas perfect for revitalizing your cooking space without breaking the bank. From easy paint updates to fast hardware swaps, we have inspiring design ideas to help you fall in love with your kitchen once again. Let’s get started!
Easy DIY Kitchen Cabinet Updates
Full kitchen remodels involving tearing out and replacing cabinetry can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. However, by making simple cosmetic updates to your existing cabinetry, you can entirely transform the look of your kitchen for less.
DIY kitchen cabinet makeovers are also often relatively straightforward projects that you may be able to tackle in a weekend. So put away your fears of lengthy complicated renovations and instead consider one of these easy kitchen cabinet makeover ideas:
Update Cabinet Hardware
One of the fastest and most affordable ways to give your kitchen an instant facelift is by switching out the old dated hardware on your cabinets for new modern handles and knobs. Hardware acts like jewelry for your cabinets, so swapping in pieces with an updated finish can make even vintage cabinetry look brand new.
Brass and bronze have made a major comeback in recent years. Or go for an eye-catching black iron finish for a more modern aesthetic. Updating your hardware makes a dramatic impact but takes little time and doesn’t require any real DIY skills.
Refresh with New Paint
A fresh coat of paint works wonders when it comes to kitchen cabinet makeovers. Painting your existing cabinets allows you to revive a dull or damaged finish or even completely change the color scheme of your kitchen. Whites and grays remain popular and timeless paint color choices and are especially ideal for small dark kitchens as they help reflect more light.
However, colorful cabinetry has been growing in popularity for those looking to make a bold statement. Try on-trend navy blue, deep green, or even a punchy red. Ensure long-lasting results by properly preparing your cabinets for painting and using high-quality primer and cabinet paint.
Upgrade with New Doors
For kitchens with cabinet boxes still in good shape but fronts that are damaged or feeling outdated, replacing just the doors is an affordable middle ground between refinishing and completely replacing your existing cabinetry. Local cabinet makers can create custom replacement doors designed specifically for your kitchen’s dimensions. Or many home improvement stores sell replacement cabinet doors in various styles.
Add Contact Paper
Another budget-friendly shortcut is to apply contact paper with fun patterns or realistic faux finishes directly onto your existing cabinet fronts. Contact paper allows you to reimagine your kitchen cabinets without paint or new doors. There are countless contact paper options to match any desired aesthetic from marble, to bright patterns, to wood grains. Just ensure proper application so the contact paper adheres directly and smoothly to the cabinet surface.
Install New Countertops
Though not technically part of your cabinetry, upgrading your countertops harmonizes beautifully with a kitchen cabinet makeover. The cabinet fronts and countertops combine to create the overall look of your kitchen. So if your current countertops appear heavily worn or dated, replacing them is key for your refreshed kitchen.
Quartz and quartzite countertops now offer the look of natural stone for less. While budget-friendly options like butcher block, laminate, or DIY concrete countertops can still provide a serious style upgrade without breaking the bank.
Low-Cost Cabinet Makeover Ideas
If done properly, makeovers of existing kitchen cabinetry can achieve results comparable to brand new custom cabinet installations for a fraction of the price. Even minor upgrades bring significant transformations.
Check out the following five low-cost kitchen cabinet makeover ideas:
1. Update Cabinet Hardware
As discussed already, something as simple as switching out a few knobs and handles goes a long way. Updated hardware gives existing cabinetry a fresh modern look, despite the cabinets staying structurally the same. Plus new hardware is inexpensive and very easy to install.
2. Add Molding
Affix decorative trim and molding to increase your kitchen’s visual appeal and pull together your makeover aesthetic. Crown molding attached across the tops of your upper cabinets adds height and elegance to a space and serves as a focal point. While accent moldings on cabinet fronts and doors provide beautiful details.
3. Install New Backsplash
Another way to update your kitchen without replacing actual cabinets is by installing a new backsplash. From gorgeous tile to decorative metal or linear glass sheets, backsplashes now come in countless design styles. A properly installed new backsplash harmonizes beautifully with refreshed cabinets but does not need to cost a fortune.
4. Use Cabinet Liners
Inside of cabinets usually get overlooked. But fancy decorative cabinet liners provide an in-expensive way to enjoy small makeover touches with each opened door. Paper liners showcase patterns and textures. While wood grain cabinet liners lend a natural look.
5. Add Under Cabinet Lighting
Finally, illuminate your gorgeous makeover with task lighting. Under cabinet lighting highlights your new design details and provides essential visibility for cooking safely. Hardwired lighting kits cost more to install. Battery-operated LED lights offer plug-and-play convenience for dark kitchen corners.
Kitchen Cabinet Design Ideas
Now comes the best part of any kitchen cabinet makeover: choosing your dream design aesthetic. Kitchen cabinet updates offer the perfect time to reimagine the entire style of your cooking space. The key is choosing a look that excites you while working within your makeover budget.
Browse these popular kitchen cabinet design ideas for inspiration:
Modern Style
Modern kitchens prioritize streamlined minimalism with a monochromatic color palette. Hidden hinges and recessed hardware maintain ultra-sleek cabinet fronts. LED under cabinet lighting highlights glamorous finishes. Quartz countertops complement the contemporary vibe.
Farmhouse Style
Nothing exudes cozy charm quite like farmhouse kitchen cabinets coated in bright white paint. Natural wood accents and visible hardware nod to pastoral roots. Decorative open shelving provides charming display space contrasting clean shaker-style cabinet doors. Butcher block islands enhance the welcoming country kitchen aesthetic.
Transitional Style
Split the difference by blending traditional and contemporary elements for a versatile transitional style kitchen. Mix metal finishes on knobs and handles. Contrast white perimeter cabinetry with a wood-finished island. Carrara marble countertops and backsplash inject glamour into the adaptable design.
Industrial Style
Exposed wood couples with iron hardware and task lighting to reflect warehouse loft living. Black stainless steel appliances stand out against concrete-inspired laminate countertops and worn cabinet finishes. The overall aesthetic feels part new construction part salvaged antique.
Traditional Style
Traditionally styled kitchens remain popular for their timeless elegance. Stained wood cabinetry conveys longevity and luxury. Intricate trim details, customized storage solutions, and coved ceilings heighten the opulence. Understated hardware maintains the upscale aesthetic. Granite countertops complement the overall refined design.
Updating a Traditional Cream Kitchen
Many homeowners consider light cream or beige kitchens outdated. However, by infusing new decor elements, it’s entirely possible to revitalize a traditional cream-colored kitchen without the need for brand new cabinetry.
Let’s walk through an example makeover for a standard U-shaped kitchen featuring cream cabinets:
Existing Layout & Features:
- Cream painted cabinetry, including some visible wear and discoloration
- Cream laminate roll-out countertops that have seen better days
- Beige ceramic tile backsplash appearing dirty and severely faded
- Outdated brass hardware and visible hinges
- Nondescript white ceiling and walls that seem to blend together with the cabinets
- Inadequate lighting both above and below the existing cabinets
Phase 1 Objectives
- Deep clean everything
- Repair any cabinet damage
- Sand down rough or uneven areas
- Fill holes/cracks and repaint cabinet interiors
- Install new cabinet hardware
- Replace task lighting with new LEDs
Phase 2 Objectives
- Install decorative trim like crown molding up top and accent trim pieces elsewhere
- Update backsplash to contrasting style like white subway tile or blue glass mosaic tile
- Add other contrasting elements like a colorful patterned rug and window treatments
- Consider darker accent walls or ceiling (like navy blue) to heighten visual appeal
- Replace old laminate countertops with crisp white quartz
Phase 3 Objectives (If Budget Allows)
- Replace all knobs/pulls with eye-catching black iron hardware
- Add open shelving unit to break up cabinetry
- Install matching kitchen island on casters for additional counter space and storage
As you can see, the transformation process occurred in planned phases focused on specific makeover targets. This ensured the redesign stayed on budget and that each element harmonized beautifully once complete.
Conclusion
A thriving kitchen sits at the heart of every home. However, decades-old cabinetry with outdated finishes can make your kitchen feel lifeless. So why undergo an extensive overhaul when some simple kitchen cabinet makeover ideas can help you fall in love with your kitchen again?
By implementing clever updates like new hardware and accent lighting or applying colorful paint to existing cabinet fronts, you can entirely transform the look, feel, and functionality of your kitchen. Kitchen cabinet makeovers provide stunning returns without unnecessary expense and demolition.
Follow the inspiration and advice above to craft your own beautiful kitchen cabinet makeover. Add efficiency and elegance to the most important room of your home. With a bit of strategic creativity, you can enjoy a cooking space that looks like it came straight out of a magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell whether my Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers?
Assess cabinet age, wear, style, and arrangement. Cabinets over 20-30 years old, worn, or obsolete may require Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers. Assess kitchen layout functionality by measuring it.
What are inexpensive Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers?
Refacing, painting, or replacing cabinet doors is inexpensive. New doors and hardware are installed during refacing. Refinishing gives it a new appearance. Simply replacing doors may make a big difference.
To replace Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers, how do I plan?
Carefully measure and layout your kitchen. Choose oak, maple, or cherry cabinets for durability. Remove cabinets, countertops, and hardware before installation. Template new countertops before installing cabinets.
Can paint change my Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers?
Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers can instantly update them. Clean the cabinets, apply primer, pick a durable paint sheen like satin or semi-gloss, then topcoat with a clear coat. Customize with ornamental hardware or trim.
How can I decorate my Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers?
In addition to painting, add ornate hardware, moldings, or glass inserts. Changing Kitchen Cabinet Makeovers doors and hardware can update them. Replacing merely the cabinet doors may make a big difference on a budget.