5 Ways to Upgrade & Update Kitchen Cabinets for Cheap
Bored of your outdated kitchen cabinet design? Here is how you can give it a makeover ... the affordable way
Pooja Khanna Tyagi
21 July 2018
Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi.
Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392
Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner,... More
How about giving an interesting face-lift to your old kitchen cabinetry that could enhance the overall look of the kitchen? If the basic structure and strength of the cabinets is in good condition, then with some simple changes you can easily breathe new life into a dreary space.
The ideas below are great if you have a budget constraint or if you are not ready to knock down the whole kitchen and go for a full-fledged renovation. Here are some practical and affordable ways to update kitchen cabinets for cheap.
The ideas below are great if you have a budget constraint or if you are not ready to knock down the whole kitchen and go for a full-fledged renovation. Here are some practical and affordable ways to update kitchen cabinets for cheap.
1. Introduce colour
Add cheer and update your kitchen cabinet doors by infusing a small dose of colour into them. To achieve this, demarcate some sections of your kitchen in which you would like to introduce colour. Then choose a laminate that will complement the colour of the existing kitchen cabinet design. You could try a mix-and-match look by opting for a textured sheet of laminate instead of a plain one.
Commission an experienced carpenter for the job who can give you a good finish. Ask the carpenter to rip off the old laminate from the selected surfaces and refinish it with the new laminate.
Take a look at more colours for kitchen cabinets
Add cheer and update your kitchen cabinet doors by infusing a small dose of colour into them. To achieve this, demarcate some sections of your kitchen in which you would like to introduce colour. Then choose a laminate that will complement the colour of the existing kitchen cabinet design. You could try a mix-and-match look by opting for a textured sheet of laminate instead of a plain one.
Commission an experienced carpenter for the job who can give you a good finish. Ask the carpenter to rip off the old laminate from the selected surfaces and refinish it with the new laminate.
Take a look at more colours for kitchen cabinets
2. Remove some overhead shutters
Break the monotony of opaque cabinets by strategically removing some overhead kitchen cabinet shutters to create some open shelves. This will upgrade the look of the kitchen by creating more openness and it will also provide some display space for your favorite kitchen accessories and crockery.
Additionally, you can use a lick of paint to add a dose of colour to the rear of the open shelf or add both colour and texture with wallpaper or vinyl sheets (that stick).
Break the monotony of opaque cabinets by strategically removing some overhead kitchen cabinet shutters to create some open shelves. This will upgrade the look of the kitchen by creating more openness and it will also provide some display space for your favorite kitchen accessories and crockery.
Additionally, you can use a lick of paint to add a dose of colour to the rear of the open shelf or add both colour and texture with wallpaper or vinyl sheets (that stick).
3. Introduce glass insets within shutters
Another way to upgrade kitchen cabinets on a budget is by creating a cut-out for glass insets within the fully-panelled kitchen doors. This change will not only give a modern look but impart a sense of lightness within a conventional kitchen.
It can turn out to be a major kitchen upgrade that will completely transform the look of the kitchen. You can opt for glass that is clear, frosted or etched. Consider glass film on clear glass to get a frosted or etched effect, to reduce the costs.
You might also need to change the laminate of the refurbished shutters. A cheaper way is to finish the kitchen cabinet doors with two to three coats of wood paint.
Tip: During renovation of existing kitchen cabinets, it becomes very difficult to match old laminates with new ones and get the exact shade. It is safer to go for contrast colours or a shade that is different but blends with the existing laminate.
Another way to upgrade kitchen cabinets on a budget is by creating a cut-out for glass insets within the fully-panelled kitchen doors. This change will not only give a modern look but impart a sense of lightness within a conventional kitchen.
It can turn out to be a major kitchen upgrade that will completely transform the look of the kitchen. You can opt for glass that is clear, frosted or etched. Consider glass film on clear glass to get a frosted or etched effect, to reduce the costs.
You might also need to change the laminate of the refurbished shutters. A cheaper way is to finish the kitchen cabinet doors with two to three coats of wood paint.
Tip: During renovation of existing kitchen cabinets, it becomes very difficult to match old laminates with new ones and get the exact shade. It is safer to go for contrast colours or a shade that is different but blends with the existing laminate.
4. Introduce backlighting
Under-kitchen cabinet LED lighting can add warmth and style into a simple kitchen design. In this example, just see how under-cabinet lighting improves the overall look of the kitchen by adding brightness and providing adequate lighting for food preparation.
Under-kitchen cabinet LED lighting can add warmth and style into a simple kitchen design. In this example, just see how under-cabinet lighting improves the overall look of the kitchen by adding brightness and providing adequate lighting for food preparation.
5. Change the hardware
An easy way to make your kitchen cabinet doors look new is by replacing the old knobs and handles with new ones. If you want a modern and sophisticated look, opt for sleek designs in silver finishes like SS (stainless steel), chrome and nickel. Note that SS is the strongest and cheapest hardware material that is resistant to rusting. Finishes like chrome and nickel are plated on the stainless steel and are comparatively a little more expensive.
In this picture the wood-finished handles are cleverly installed onto the kitchen cabinetry to break the monotony of all-white cabinets. I love the way they effortlessly blend with the wooden flooring. So chic!
An easy way to make your kitchen cabinet doors look new is by replacing the old knobs and handles with new ones. If you want a modern and sophisticated look, opt for sleek designs in silver finishes like SS (stainless steel), chrome and nickel. Note that SS is the strongest and cheapest hardware material that is resistant to rusting. Finishes like chrome and nickel are plated on the stainless steel and are comparatively a little more expensive.
In this picture the wood-finished handles are cleverly installed onto the kitchen cabinetry to break the monotony of all-white cabinets. I love the way they effortlessly blend with the wooden flooring. So chic!
Take a look at these handles: the fork and knife give a decorative touch and work as an accent feature in the kitchen. These decorative accessories maybe a little expensive, so use them selectively. You can use them smartly by putting them only on the overhead cabinets, getting maximum visibility; for the lower cabinets you can opt for simple handles in a similar finish.
Note: Before purchasing new handles you need to consider important factors like size: make sure you match the size of the handles so that the new handles fit into the pre-drilled holes that exist on the cabinets.
Read more:
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
12 Designer Details for Kitchen Cabinets & Islands
Tell us:
Do you have any other suggestions about how to upgrade kitchen cabinets? Let us know in the Comments section below.
Note: Before purchasing new handles you need to consider important factors like size: make sure you match the size of the handles so that the new handles fit into the pre-drilled holes that exist on the cabinets.
Read more:
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
12 Designer Details for Kitchen Cabinets & Islands
Tell us:
Do you have any other suggestions about how to upgrade kitchen cabinets? Let us know in the Comments section below.
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Good idea to redo the whole kitchen at a low cost without having to remove the hardware fittings. However, ripping of old laminates is not good idea and cost of ripping and re-pasting new laminate will be more than the fresh shutter being made. We specialize in lacquer finished shutter cabinets and keep telling our customers that the painted shutters can always be re-finished in new shade and combination of colors at any point of time. Membrane shutters cannot be re-finished and so need to discarded. Overall, except lacquered shutters rest all types of shutters need to be replaced with fresh boards.
Hi Praveen, Thanks-Note that we have suggested ripping on only selective area say 10-15%. If the design of the kitchen permits only then we introduce a new material.