So, you want to update your kitchen. Your cabinets might look a little tired or dated, but they are well-made and in decent condition. You don’t want to send them to the trash, but what do you do?
Upcycling your old kitchen cabinets is a great way to refresh your kitchen without spending an arm and a leg or creating unnecessary waste. With a little creativity and effort–such as through repainting, fixing blemishes, and adding updated hardware–you can magically transform old kitchen cabinets into a centerpiece of your home.
If you are short on ideas, find a reputable supplier of kitchen cabinets near Las Vegas like 27estore. We are a premier supplier of European-style kitchens and carry the latest trends and styles in kitchen cabinets, as well as anything else you might need for your home remodeling project!
Some Ideas for Refreshing Your Kitchen
The first thing you should do is to try to look at your current kitchen as though it is the first time you are seeing it. Ask yourself, what is it about the kitchen design you don’t like? What is looking a little outdated?
From there, consider the ways you can spruce up your kitchen cabinet’s appearance. A few ideas include:
- A fresh coat of paint in a new color
- New hardware (pulls, knobs, etc.)
- Repairs to knicks and scratches
In addition to these upcycling basics, you may want to learn how to extend kitchen cabinets to the ceiling to gain more storage space and get rid of the unused space above your existing cabinets.
How to Refresh Your Cabinets
Now that you’ve decided to go forward with an upcycling project, here are the steps to follow to bring your vision to life:
Remove the Doors and Drawers
Empty the cabinets and drawers before you remove them. Sometimes, you can take the doors off by releasing a catch by the hinge, while other times, they need to be unscrewed. Remove the hinges, too, to make refinishing easier.
Remove Handles
Use a screwdriver to remove the pulls and knobs from the drawers and doors. Clean the area with a degreasing agent.
Patch and Repair
Use wood filler to fill any holes, gouges, cracks, and damaged areas. You might want to overfill the holes slightly as the filler might shrink a bit when it dries. If you plan on changing the size or location of the handles, fill the existing holes, too. If any laminate is pulling away, reattach with adhesive and use a clamp or heavy object to hold the laminate in place while it dries.
Take Your Time Sanding and Taping
Sand the areas you repaired so that it is smooth with the surface areas around it, and clean up the dust so it doesn’t interfere with your painting. Firmly press the painter's tape to the walls and other surfaces around the cabinets that are still in place so the paint won’t bleed underneath.
Apply a New Finish
If you plan on painting, use a roller or brush to cover the cabinet surface with primer. This will make a huge difference in how the paint adheres to the cabinets. Make sure your paint is well-mixed and use another brush to give your cabinets some fresh color. Once the first coat is completely dry, apply another. Remove the painter’s tape.
Some surfaces (such as metal, laminates, etc.) can’t easily be painted. Peel-and-stick paper for cabinets might be just the right solution. These come in many different patterns that mimic natural wood and in colors that can add a bold and bright statement to the kitchen.
Measure and Attach New Hardware
Measure from the center of the screw to the center of the other screw on the back of the handle. Use these measurements to ensure that the handles will fit in the current holes, or mark the new locations on the doors and drawers for drilling new holes.
Final Thoughts
A kitchen upcycling project is a perfect time to think about how to organize kitchen cabinets. Even if you decide that your kitchen cabinets must be replaced, don’t throw the old ones away. They can easily be repurposed into wall-hanging storage units in a garage, places for stashing away toys in a kid’s playroom, or as extra cabinet space in a home office, mud room, or craft space.
The kitchen is the heart of a home and where family and guests tend to congregate. Upcycling your existing cabinets is a perfect way to blend the old with the new and give your kitchen a sustainable makeover!
