Easy Ways to Update Your Existing Cabinets

If you’re not ready for new custom cabinets, no worries, there are several easy ways to update your existing cabinets and give your home a new look for a small amount of money and effort.

Paint
Painting existing cabinetry is the cheapest and quickest ways to update their look. A coat of white gloss paint will provide a clean, modern look and a coat of black gloss paint will give the room a sleek, contemporary look, but no home decor rule book says that you have to stick to only one color of paint. 

Paint upper and lower cabinets in contrasting paint colors, white uppers with black lowers provide a stark contrast with a retro feel. Cabinets don’t all have to match, mix the finishes and colors, more than two paint colors can be used and still create a cohesive looking kitchen. Use bold accent paint colors to define spaces and cabinet usage, and whatever color of paint you select, make sure it’s durable and easy to wipe clean.

Beadboard and Glue
If you hate painting, a couple sheets of beadboard and tube of glue can easily update your existing cabinets. Purchase sheets of pre-painted white beadboard, cut pieces three inches smaller than the door or drawer face. Center the beadboard on the doors/drawers and mark edges with pencil, apply contact cement as directed to the back of the beadboard and press it into place, lining up the edges with pencil lines on door and drawer fronts. Add strips of trim around the edges with contact cement or finishing nails for a polished look. Add matching crown molding to the cabinet tops and give your DIY update a high-end designer look.

If you want a natural or rustic kitchen look, purchase unfinished beadboard and apply a finishing glaze or stain to it.

Contact Paper
Washable, colorful, easy-to-apply and affordable, applying contact paper to the exterior of existing cabinets is an easy way to update their look. Contact paper comes in a wide range of colors and textures (select one that’s easy to wash for kitchen cabinets) and is as easy to apply as cutting and peeling. Measure cabinets surface, then measure, mark and cut contact paper. The glue is already on the back side of the paper, so it’s basically a peel-and-stick update after the cuts are made.

New Hardware
Adding new pulls, knobs, and hinges is a very easy way to change the entire look and feel of your kitchen or bathroom. Drawer pulls and knobs come in all type of materials, textures, and colors so you’re bound to find lots of options that you like. If you are replacing existing hardware, just keep in mind where your existing screw holes are. You can chose to either find hardware that fits the same screw hole placements, or you can fill in extra holes using saw dust, a little glue, and a stain or paint that matches the cabinets.