With these creative DIY ideas, you could learn how to update old kitchen cabinets without replacing them.
You dont have to tear out old cabinetry to give your kitchen a fresh new look.
Try these easy ways to refresh your cabinets with paint, molding, inserts, and new hardware.
Credit: Brie Passano
These tricks work for bathroom cabinetry, too!
Use a strong adhesive to secure them in place.
When the glue is dry, prime and paint the cabinet your desired color and reattach hardware.
Credit: Brie Passano
Have the glass cut to size, adding an extra half-inch on each side.
Place the glass piece on the back of the frame and secure it with clips.
A glass shop can do this for you or sell you the necessary parts.
Credit: Brie Passano
First, paint the cabinet your desired background color and let dry.
Tape a stencil in place on the door.
Using a stencil paint brush, paint the open areas of the stencil with an tapping motion.
Credit: Brie Passano
Peel off the stencil to reveal your painted pattern.
Farmhouse Kitchen Cabinets
Create abarn door-inspired patternacross the front of Shaker-style cabinetry.
Kitchen Cabinet Refresh
Useadhesive wallpaperto give your kitchen cabinets a fresh look.
Credit: Brie Passano
Cut the wallpaper to fit inside the cabinets recessed panel.
Slowly pull back the backing as you continue adhering the rest of the paper.
DIY Herringbone Design
A basic slab door works best for this DIY kitchen cabinet idea.
Credit: Brie Passano
Start by dividing the door into fourths vertically and marking the lines with a pencil.
Purchase edge banding in various sizes and species of wood and melaminemost craft and hardware stores offer iron-on varieties.
Cut the banding into strips at 45-degree angles at both ends so they will fit between the drawn lines.
Credit: Brie Passano
Use a polyurethanewood finishto seal the cabinet surface after all of the pieces have been attached.
Cut the copper to the size of the doors raised panel.
Cut narrow wood trim pieces to create a frame around the copper sheet.
Use a pin nailer to attach the trim pieces and copper to the cabinets panel.
Tape a printed pattern (we found a simple honeycomb design online) to the copper panel.
Use an awl and hammer to punch equally spaced holes into the copper sheet according to the pattern.
Credit: Brie Passano
Buffalo Check Painted Cabinet
Paint kitchen cabinet doors with a buffalo check pattern for afarmhouse-inspired upgrade.
Start by painting a recessed-panel door white.
Using a pencil and ruler, mark a grid of 2-inch squares on the inset panel surface.
Beginning with the far-right vertical column, tape around every other square withpainters tape.
Next, tape the squares in between the black ones on the same row and paint them gray.
Repeat this painting process on the second vertical column from the left.
When the paint has dried, remove the tape to reveal the buffalo check pattern.
Trimmed to Perfection
Add your own trim to a simple slab cabinet door.
Use medium-sized decorative trim pieces to create another frame along the inside flat edge of the baseboard pieces.
Credit: Steven McDonald
After cutting the pieces to size, secure them in place using wood glue and a pin nailer.
Paint the door your desired base color.
For an aged look, mix brown paint with a glazing compound and paint over the first color.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Shutter Style
This kitchen cabinet update idea works well for recessed-panel cabinet doors.
Cut 1.5-inch craft boards to the length of the inside measurement of the inset panel.
Apply E6000 glue along the top underside of the board and adhere it in place.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Use narrow wood trim pieces to create a frame around the shutter design.
Allow the glue to dry; then prime and paint the door your desired base color.
Give the cabinet door an antiqued look by layering on paint in different colors and sanding between coats.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Watch this video to learn how to master the basics of painting cabinets.
Wallpapered Door
Putextra wallpaperto use as a pretty patterned insert.
For this easy kitchen cabinet update, start by painting the cabinet door with semigloss interior latex paint.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
When the paint is dry, cut a piece of scrap wallpaper to fit the recessed panel.
Apply spray adhesive to the back of the paper, then carefully smooth it onto the panel.
First, apply a coat of polyurethane spray paint to seal the wood.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Use your fingernail to seal the edges tightly.
Paint the cabinet (we used off-white semigloss interior latex paint).
When dry, carefully remove the contact paper to reveal your design.
Use a damp cloth to remove any paint that bleeds under the contact paper.
Trimwork Update
Add interest to a plain cabinet door by parading pretty trimwork around the doors perimeter.
Measure your cabinet door to determinehow much moldingyoull need.
Credit: Adam Albright
When dry, use wood glue to affix the molding and embellishments to the cabinet.
Clamp the pieces in place until the glue dries.
After removing the inner door panelwith a jigsaw, paint the cabinet door and let dry.
Credit: Adam Albright
DIY Beaded-Board Cabinets
Add country charm to plain kitchen cabinets with this DIY project idea.
Replace the inset center section of the door withbeaded-board panelsfor a farmhouse-inspired look.
Customize the design with any paint color, stain, or glaze you prefer.
Credit: Adam Albright
Cabinet Cutouts
Addcottage styleto your kitchen with simple embellishments and a little paint.
For an antiqued look, mix up a paint wash tocreate a distressed finish.
Chalkboard Painted Kitchen Cabinets
Remember yourshopping listby jotting it down right on the cupboard.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Use quick-release painters tape to cover the door frame so only the inner panel is showing.
Spray the door with chalkboard paint and let dry before removing the tape.
DIY Lattice Design
Use electrical tape and bright paint to create a design that really pops.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Start with a base coat ofwhite paint, then apply electrical tape to the door in a lattice design.
Tape on the vertical and horizontal lines first before intersecting them with diagonals.
Corkboard Cabinets
Applying cork to a door is a good way to hide even major imperfections.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Plus, youll have a handy place for notes, lists, and recipes.
Remove the inner door panel using a jigsaw, then paint the cabinet door and let dry.
Cut a tin ceiling panel to fit inside the frame and paint it your desired color.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
When dry, glue the panel to the wood base.
Drilled Pattern
Give your kitchen a whimsical feel with a bird transfer and twig handle.
Evenly spaceddrill holescreate the birds outline.
For kitchens or bathrooms, use two coats of glossy paint for a moisture-resistant, easy-to-clean finish.
Fabric Cabinet Panels
Add texture to your kitchen cabinets with fabric.
Lightly sand and paint the door.
Wrap fabric around a 1/4-inch-thick piece of wood, then nail fabric-covered wood to the back of the door.
Labyrinth
Turn a boring door into a modern masterpiece by adding strips of thin molding.
Start by cutting a 1/2-inch board into strips.
Paint the door and the strips in the same color and let dry.
Lay the strips on the door to create a labyrinth design and nail them in place.
Cover up the nailheads with dabs of paint.
Photo Finish
Turn your kitchen into aphoto albumby displaying your favorite photos.
Affix a picture frame to the door, add a photo, and finish with anew knob.
These photo-embellished doors help personalize your kitchen space with your favorite memories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yesmetal kitchen cabinets are actually quite easy to update.
When painting your kitchen cabinets, you want to choose a paint finish that is both durable and smooth.
It typically costs much less to reface kitchen cabinets than to replace them.
An updated kitchen can make your home more appealing to buyers, and end up boosting theresale value.
On average, homeowners will see a 30 percent return on investment after performing a major kitchen renovation.
