How to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them

Replacing outdated kitchen furniture can be expensive. In fact, HomeAdvisor estimates that the average cabinet installation costs $ 5,000. However, the exact amounts depend on various factors. These factors include materials, working hours and square meters. You are probably wondering how you can update kitchen cabinets without replacing them.

Fortunately, there are many ways to add a little spice to the cabinets you no longer want to see – without tearing them out.

You will find dozens of popular furniture trends, and although they look tempting now, you need to consider whether they will still have the same appeal in a few years. Before doing a full overhaul, it can be a good idea to do small DIY updates if your taste changes.

Here are some great ways to turn your build quality cabinets into something that will lift you up and bring out your personality.

How to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them: 13 great ways to reshape your budget

Get creative with wallpapers

Image source: Plant architects

As you probably know, wallpaper is a great way to update any room in the house – but did you know that it is also a fantastic way to update old cabinets?

The ever-practical variety of peel-and-stick wallpapers is particularly useful when it comes to breathing new life into a set of cupboards. Neutral colored wallpapers are ideal as a base for splashes of colorful accessories. Colorful wallpapers, on the other hand, look stylish with darker kitchen walls.

If you want to find out how to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them, adding a new layer of wallpaper is one of the easiest ways. When you rent, this option becomes particularly tempting because it doesn’t damage the rental property and can be easily removed.

Add a hint of spice to your doors

Image source: Powell Construction

The back of the doors is often overlooked when renovating or renovating. However, these inconspicuous and spacious rooms offer a lot of potential.

They can be used for a variety of useful purposes, one of which serves as a home for the spice rack. It’s easy to put wire shelves on the back of the door. So why not use the space for something that not only creates space in the closet but also looks modern?

Remove the doors from the top cabinets

Image source: Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture

Reaching inexpensive updated cabinets can be as easy as removing some doors. Immediately removing the doors of your top cabinets gives the room an open air feel.

You can remove the cabinet doors above the fridge or dishwasher, or those clumsily hanging over your high broom cabinet. Then all you have to do is fill the shelves with everyday items that you regularly grab.

However, if you feel like it, you can also attach a piece of adhesive wallpaper to the back wall of your newly opened cabinet. This is a quick and easy way to get a head start when creating a project from upgrading your home kitchen.

Replace the worktops

Image source: Peter Q Brown Innovative Design

Kitchen cabinets for contractors are often supplied with dull, lifeless countertops – but the two don’t have to be a lifelong couple.

If your countertops look like they were straight out of a 90s film – including a matching backsplash – this job can be a bit tedious. Laminate, a popular countertop and backsplash material, can be almost as expensive as granite or real stone after considering working conditions.

Make sure you go shopping openly and don’t be afraid of a minimalist approach. Your worktop doesn’t have to be the center of your kitchen!

Remember to skip the backsplash and keep the edges of your countertops simple, unless you want to look in the early 90s. If you take the business out of the backsplash and countertop edges, you can cut labor and material costs.

Give your base cabinet “feet”

Image source: Elite remodeling

“How to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them” is a frequently asked question in many search engines. However, if you add something as simple as feet to your base cabinet, you can answer everything yourself.

Adding cabinet feet, which are just home-made chair legs, can give your furniture an instant upgrade. While the feet look good when added and varnished to match the cabinets, they are also practical as they can be made from recycled materials.

Install highly fashionable glass doors

Image source: Jones Design Build

If you’re not a fan of the open-air idea mentioned above, you can do another kitchen cabinet update instead. You can add glass doors to your cabinet unit.

Glass doors fit seamlessly into any decor and protect dishes and collectibles from dust and dander. They are available in several stylish options, including sliding and handling, with each option giving a specific look.

In combination with the right decor, your glass doors can look modern, rustic or even vintage – there are countless possibilities with this function.

Add tasty hardware

Image source: Kitchen planner

Many standard builder cabinets come without hardware. If so, this hardware is often timeless, boring, and generally unattractive.

Adding hardware to a kitchen that doesn’t have one is an easy way to make living in the room even better. Changes as small as adding new knobs to your closet drawers or changing a doorknob are often enough to change the overall aesthetics of a room.

There is no shortage of options when choosing the right hardware. You can choose from many other types of hardware between rustic, modern, funky and fashionable, classic or vintage. If you go further into your options, you can choose between cables, buttons, handles or a combination of the three options. You can also choose from certain styles such as pewter, polished brass, or black glass.

Paint your furniture

Image source: Marrokal design & remodeling

Painting build cabinets is one of the first things that will probably come to mind when you want to upgrade your cabinets. However, this is for a good reason because paint cabinets are affordable and effective.

If you’re worried about destroying the original furniture, don’t do it. Most cabinets are made of MDF and are lined with wood or with a durable laminate veneer.

To make sure you choose the right color, you should create larger swatches of your favorite colors with a white foam sheet. This way you can compare and contrast your colors on a larger scale.

Give your builder cabinets height

Image source: Studio Geiger architecture

There are surprisingly many closets that do not reach the ceiling. Although we don’t know exactly why, it has been said that the higher your closets, the larger and more spacious a room will look.

If your closets don’t reach the ceiling and you want to add a little more height, you can just close the extra space above the closets. This can be done by placing a piece of wood that fits your closets and then going in and adding cladding.

Alternatively, you can also increase the height by installing a row of thin cabinets over the original cabinets and painting them appropriately.

Use shelves under the closet

Image source: Kayron Brewer, CMKBD / Studio KB

The little extra space under your top shelves can be used for other purposes. You can store compact kitchen utensils such as dessert plates, baking trays and refrigerated shelves in this room.

To get the most out of this repetition, you shouldn’t overfill the room. If you do this, it will look messy.

Improve the texture of a shaker

Image source: Lisa Furey Interiors

Traditional shaker cabinets are beautiful, but also outdated for those who want a modern look in their kitchen. If this sounds like you, add a little more texture to your shaker cabinets.

An easy way to do this is to install willow sections. You can add these sections by soaking the basket in water and nailing it to the cabinets while it’s still damp. Tighten the material and let it dry.

Once drying is complete, it will be taught and your closet has a focus that the eye can rest on easily.

Come to finishing

Image source: MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc.

Many closets are finished, but not yet finished. By that we mean that they work perfectly, but have not received the extra attention needed to really call them “done”.

Regardless of the size or shape of your cabinet, adding a finish on the edge can result in the entire cabinet unit appearing uniform and composed. Crown shaping, a popular finish that looks good on almost any cabinet, makes it look bigger, and fills up excess space.

Use the lighting under the closet

Image source: Super bright LEDs

The lighting under the cupboard not only enhances your cupboards, but also your property. This type of lighting makes a room look more inviting.

If you install an under-cabinet luminaire, you can choose LEDs or incandescent lamps – both have their own appeal and effect.

It doesn’t have to be difficult to upgrade your cabinets. With a little time and patience, it’s easy. Once you’re done, you’ll wonder why you asked how to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them.

If you’ve read this article about how to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them, you should also read these: