Update your kitchen cabinets

There are so many creative ways to update kitchen cabinets, even on a budget. I’ve remodelled two kitchens with a few simple techniques that saved thousands on the cost of a remodel. Are you ready for some tips? Here are 10 ideas to inspire you.

1. Replace cabinet doors.

New cabinets are so expensive but you can get the look of a brand new kitchen just by replacing the cabinet doors. If your cabinet boxes are in good condition, this is a great option for a remodel on a reasonable budget.

2. Reface instead of replace.

To update the look of your cabinets, you can reface the ends of cabinets with beadboard, panelling or moulding. Once the kitchen is painted it will look like a brand new custom kitchen!

3. Add architectural detail.

Brackets and corbels under overhead cabinets, open shelves and breakfast bars can transform your kitchen cabinets from ordinary to original. For inspiration, you can see how we added affordable architectural detail to one of my old kitchens.

4. Box in above cabinets.

If you have an awkward open area above your cabinets that only serves as a dust collector, you can give your cabinets a more custom look by boxing in the open space and simply adding crown moulding and trim.

5. Add jewelry.

Hardware is like jewellery on a cabinet, the right piece can elevate an ordinary cabinet to something special! Mix and match your favourites for a fun, eclectic look.

6. Paint is a fantastic way to update kitchen cabinets.

While white is a traditional and classic choice, there are many colour options for a fresh look. Want to see what your kitchen would look like with a new colour? Check out the Color My Room tool!

7. Go two-toned.

If you want to up the personality of your cabinets with paint, you can select two different colours to mix things up. Perhaps paint your island or lower cabinets one colour and your upper cabinets another! Or paint a free-standing cabinet in an accent colour. Here are some two-toned kitchen inspiration photos.

8. Remove cabinet doors.

When we first moved into our new house we wanted to update the look of our cabinets but weren’t ready for a full remodel. We needed an “in-between” solution to update our kitchen without a lot of time or money. By simply removing a few upper cabinet doors, we created the look of open shelving which broke up the “new kitchen” look and gave us a place to display our favourite dishes. You can also paint the back of the open cabinets with a fun colour!

9. Create a glass front cabinet.

Did you know you can turn an ordinary cabinet door into a glass front door? Have a carpenter cut the center of your cabinets and a glass store can insert glass for an affordable new cabinet.

10. Think outside the box!