10 Ways to Update Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them

How to Make Old Kitchen Cabinets Look Modern

The list of 2022’s most popular kitchen cabinet colors and styles leads to a major revelation—bright, homey kitchens are “in” this year.  

This means that it’s easy to make old cabinets look new with just a few changes. Here are three ideas you can use to update old cabinets to a more modern style:

• Choose a light paint color: Kitchen cabinets that are painted a lighter color will naturally help the room feel more open—a popular modern style. It also helps small kitchens seem larger.
  
  
• Add an island with open shelves: An island would add counter space and a bigger food preparation area. However, if you also include open shelves on the island as well, you’ll give your kitchen a more modern feel—especially if you reserve these shelves for light decoration and not for storage clutter.
  
  
• Replace a major appliance next to your cabinets: Even though this idea isn’t directly related to updating your kitchen cabinets, it’s an easy way to achieve several remodeling goals at once. If you’re already planning to replace an appliance and you want your kitchen to look more modern, prioritizing a new refrigerator or stove will help. Consider choosing a stainless steel or fingerprint-resistant finish.  

7 More Ways to Update Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them

Adding modern touches to your kitchen isn’t the only way to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them. 

Painting, hardware changes, and installations can also help you save money as you create your dream kitchen:

Cabinet Refinishing

This is the most cost-effective way to give your cabinets the quality update they need on a budget. Cabinet refinishing involves stripping away old paint or stain, sanding or making any minor repairs as needed, then repainting or re-staining your kitchen cabinets using the paint or stain color you’ve chosen.

With cabinet refinishing, you can avoid the cost and hassle of purchasing and installing brand-new cabinets.

If you have old oak cabinets that you’d like to update but hope to keep for the value they add to your home, cabinet refinishing revives your sturdy oak cabinets. They’ll last through this and several future remodels.

Cabinet Refacing

Cabinet refacing allows you to avoid the expense of completely replacing your kitchen cabinets while still getting a fresh choice at new kitchen cabinet door styles.

The only thing you’re replacing are the doors themselves.

DIY: Touch-Up Painting Cabinets

If your kitchen cabinets are in good shape and all they need are a few touch-ups, you can do the touch-ups yourself.

Make sure to dilute your old paint with some water (for latex paint) or mineral spirits (for oil-based paint) if it’s lost moisture. If you need more paint, carefully remove a chip of old paint and bring it to your home improvement store so that an associate can attempt a color match.

Switching Out Hardware

Get a cabinet refresh by simply switching out the knobs or handles to those with a finish that complements the paint color you’ve chosen. Easy!

Add Crown Molding

Adding crown molding above tall cabinets will help your kitchen cabinets blend seamlessly into your ceiling.

The result is a kitchen that looks less like a box and more like a warm, inviting room.

Remove Some Cabinet Doors

Just like the open shelves on a kitchen island we reviewed earlier, strategically removing some cabinet doors can go a long way in making old cabinets look new.

Keeping some cabinets permanently open-shelved makes a kitchen seem more spacious.

Install Cabinet Lighting

Small lights installed under your cabinets or above one of the shelves on an open-shelved cabinet will add a feeling of warmth.

This is especially true if your cabinets are stained or are laminate kitchen cabinets that appear stained.

Contact Oceanside Painting & Refinishing in Monmouth County, NJ

The future is bright for you and your home—for all of the new memories you’ll make in your updated kitchen and for your budget!

If you’re looking to update your kitchen cabinets without replacing them and you live near the Monmouth County or Ocean County area, Oceanside Painting & Refinishing can help. We’ll listen closely to the vision you have and deliver work that helps transform your dream kitchen into a reality.

Call Oceanside Painting & Refinishing to schedule a free consultation today at 732-818-0092, or send us an email at phil.oceanside@gmail.com.