How to Redo Kitchen Cabinets So Your Kitchen Looks Brand New

Don't leave these ideas on the shelf!

Need to remodel your kitchen? At an average cost of $6,700, replacing your cabinetry is one of the most expensive aspects of this type of project. However, you don’t need to spend that much to get cabinets that look brand new. You just need to get creative. Here are six ways to redo kitchen cabinets if you don't like your old cabinets anymore.

Repaint

One of the easiest ways to redo kitchen cabinets is repainting them. It can seriously breathe new life into your kitchen. While you can do this yourself, it’s a bit more labor-intensive (and time-consuming) than some may anticipate.

First, remove the cabinet doors from the hinges. Then sand, prime, and paint each side. Applying several thin coats of paint will look better and be more durable than one thick coat. You will be surprised at how transformed your kitchen looks and feels.

While you can’t go wrong with white paint, it might be worth it to consider a bolder color to make your old kitchen feel really up-to-date, such as deep hunter green, olive, or perhaps navy blue. For a coastal or grand millennial look, use light blue. Prefer a touch of whimsy? Why not go for a light pink color? It will look fun and sophisticated.

Related: 6 Kitchen Cabinet Trends You’ll See in 2024, According to Top Manufacturer

Refinish

If you have beautiful wood cabinets, you might not want to paint them, but you should definitely consider re-staining them. This especially applies to those dark espresso cabinets that were so on-trend five or six years ago but look a bit dated now. Yes, you can stain your wood a lighter color, if the cabinets are sanded properly. Keep in mind that if you aren’t a good DIYer, you should leave this job to the pros.

Add New Doors

Sometimes your cabinets are so old and dated that even the above ideas don’t sound that appealing. If that’s the case, installing new cabinet doors can be far less expensive than replacing your cabinets altogether, especially if everything is still in good condition. Semihandmade has pre-made doors for Ikea cabinetry systems as well as doors that should be compatible with most other brands. You may need to change out hinges as well as other hardware, so keep that in mind as you budget for this project.

Cover in Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Renters with old cabinetry might feel as if they’re stuck with their old cabinets, but that’s not necessarily true. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is always an option. Go with a solid color to mimic the look of paint. Just be sure to cut carefully and remove any hardware before starting. Then peel off the paper before you move out. Note that this works best when you redo kitchen cabinets that have a smooth surface, and do a test patch first to check for any residue when you remove the temporary wallpaper.

Replace Your Upper Cabinets With Open Shelving

While replacing all of your cabinets can cost an arm and a leg, replacing just the upper cabinetry with open shelving is a stylish option for homeowners on a limited budget. While you will probably need to patch up and spackle the wall before installing the shelves, open shelving still costs less than new cabinets.

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