When thinking of a kitchen remodel, the first thing that comes to mind is new kitchen cabinets. However, the cost of replacing kitchen cabinetry can be significant. Updating existing cabinetry, however, is a much more budget friendly option that can yield amazing results. Additionally, there are a variety of ways to go about updating your cabinetry that can fit any budget. Just take a look at these different ways to update your cabinetry that is right for you kitchen and your budget.
Paint or Replace Hardware
Many people don't realize that something as simple as updating cabinet hardware can inexpensively modernize their cabinetry. Depending on your budget, your can either paint or replace your hardware. Ideally, replacing old hardware with attractive clearance pieces will only set your back $50-$150 depending on the number of cabinets you have. However, if you do not have that kind of money to spend on new hardware, you can always take a little bit of paint and some elbow grease to get the same updated look. Simply clean the hardware, lightly sand it and spray on metallic spray paint designed for metal. Once the paint has dried, you will have new looking hardware for around $15.
Molding
Is your kitchen cabinetry sporting flat, outdated doors? Then give them a budget conscious upgrade with simple wood molding. Just take the molding of your choice, measure and cut each piece at a 45 degree angle to make a frame. Then attach the wood molding to your cabinet doors with wood glue and stain or paint to match your cabinets. You can even go one step further and attach a similar styled crown molding to the top of your kitchen cabinetry for an expensive looking update on a budget.
Paint
Another easy Do-It-Yourself kitchen cabinet update is paint. You do not have to use the standard white either. If you crave something different, why not try a bold red or cool blue to make your work really stand out. To do this project, remove all of the doors and hardware from the cabinets and give everything a good cleaning. Once the cabinetry is dry, lightly sand the wood with 180 grit sandpaper and apply a light coat of high-quality primer. Then once the primer is dry, apply 2-3 light coats of acrylic paint, letting each coat dry before applying the next. Rehang your cabinet doors and you are done.
Re-stain
Another option if you don't like the look of painted cabinets is to re-stain your cabinetry. This option is a bit more time consuming process that takes more patients, but the results can be stunning. First the original finish must be removed either with a varnish remover or with a sander. Once you have sanded the wood down to a smooth and uniform surface, you must apply several thin coats of gel stain with a paint brush in the color of your choice. Continue applying stain until you achieve your desired color. Once the stain has dried, apply a lacquer varnish and let set. If this is not a project you care to tackle, you can always hire a professional to do it for you and still save a significant amount of money over replacing your cabinetry.
Reface
If your cabinetry is beyond the help of molding, paint or stain, there is always cabinet refacing. Refacing is simply where the doors and drawer front of the cabinets are replaced with all new ones and the exposed cabinet wood is covered with a matching veneer. This process allows you to keep your current cabinets while still getting a completely new look. Though it is not the most budget friendly option, it could still save you 60% or more on your remodel over getting new cabinets.
So whether you can afford to reface your kitchen cabinets or simply paint the hardware, you can still give your cabinetry an updated look on a budget. So sit down and find out what you can afford to spend and choose one of these great options for your kitchen. No matter what you choose to do, you can be happy that you were able to give your kitchen cabinets a new look without busting your budget.
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