Have you been thinking about renovating your kitchen but you don’t think you can afford a complete remodel? You may not need one. Updating your kitchen with simple fixes may be all you need. Why spend thousands and thousands of dollars to rip out perfectly good cabinets especially when the layout of your kitchen is right? Here are some helpful hints on how you can completely update your kitchen by changing the doors of your cabinets.
Most kitchen cabinets are considered standard meaning that they have the same measurements as other cabinets with the only difference being the configuration and the finish. If you cabinets are standard then you will be able to remove your existing cabinet doors and replace them with a style and finish that suits how you want your new kitchen to look. If your cabinet boxes were made with solid would they can be refinished to match the stain of your new replacement kitchen cabinet doors. If your cabinet boxes were made with compressed wood then you can still change out your cabinets but you won’t be able to have a stain finish.
If you don’t have a lot of face showing on your cabinets and there aren’t any end units visible then you may be able to still get the wood doors you want even if your boxes are compressed wood. If your doors are going to cover up the majority of your box face and your cabinets meet the wall on either side then you can paint the boxes a similar color to your stain choice. You may have to wait until your replacement kitchen door fronts arrive though to make the decision on the color of the paint you’ll use.
To prepare for the replacement kitchen doors you’ll need to take all of the measurements of your existing cabinet doors so that you know exactly what to order. It is a good idea to make a diagram of your kitchen and number the doors on your paper as well as on the door itself. You can do this by writing the number on a piece of painters tape that you then stick on the inside of your cabinet box where your replacement kitchen cabinet door will go. Take your measurements to your favorite home improvement store or online to your favorite website to find your new doors.
When designing the changes for your space it is always a good idea to keep your style in keeping with the rest of the house. If you have a modern living room and contemporary family room that’s attached to your kitchen you won’t want to create a French country kitchen. Keep your styles cohesive to save you from headaches or unhappiness later. Once you have ordered your replacement kitchen doors then you can start work on the cabinet boxes. Don’t forget to remove all the old hardware. You may want to replace them if they are not functioning properly or do not go with your knew design.
The doors you have ordered will determine what you will need to do to your cabinet boxes. If your cabinet boxes are solid wood then you will be able to sand them down and stain them to match your new doors. If your boxes aren’t solid wood and you have chosen not to order doors that are stained but have ordered painted doors instead then you will be able to change the color of your cabinet boxes easily. Sand the surface enough to scratch away the varnish and rough up the surface. This will make it easier for you cabinets to accept the paint. Remove all of the dust from the surface before painting your cabinet boxes.
Whether or not you were able to stain or paint your cabinets you will need to let them dry before adding at least two coats of varnish or polyurethane. Let the varnish dry and then when your replacement kitchen doors arrive will be able to add the new hardware and put your doors in their correct spots. The cost of your mini-remodel will be significantly less than if you had completely gutted your space and put in new everything. The rewards of giving your cabinets a face lift are monetary but you will also be rewarded with a bright new space that is more suited to you and your family.