Three Ways to Give Your Cabinetry a Facelift

Cabinetry is one of the biggest investments you can make in your home.

Cabinetry is one of the biggest investments you can make in your home.  If your cabinetry is looking a bit tired, outdated or you just no longer like the look of it you can replace your cabinetry but it will cost you.  There is a wide price range when it comes to cabinetry and the amount you spend will also depend on how much cabinetry you need but replacing cabinetry is no small expense.  For example, Better Homes and Gardens explains just how pricey it can be to replace kitchen cabinetry, “At about 40 percent of most kitchen remodel budgets, cabinetry represents a long-term investment. It’s important to consider what your money can buy and how much you want to spend… According to Kennedy, most cabinets range from $500 to $1,500 per cabinet box. “Based on an estimated 30 cabinets in an average-size kitchen, you can be looking at a cost of about $15,000-$45,000,” she says.”  While there are certain times that cabinetry is in such bad shape that it is absolutely necessary to replace it, oftentimes, you can work with your existing cabinetry and give it a facelift for a fraction of the cost of replacement.  Below we explore three different ways to give your cabinetry a facelift for any budget.

Change Hardware

Changing hardware is one of the most budget-friendly solutions to giving your cabinets a much needed facelift.  You may think this sounds small but it is amazing to see the difference changing hardware can make.  Outdated or ugly hardware completely changes the look of cabinetry and if you are working with a small budget you can give your cabinetry a completely new look for very little.  You can find hardware to coordinate with the existing holes that have been drilled into your cabinetry and the change is very easy but if you want to change the shape or size of the hardware you may need to fill holes and drill new holes.  While still an easy and inexpensive fix it is probably best to have a professional install new hardware to ensure holes are drilled correctly so that you do not damage cabinetry and also to ensure that all hardware is level throughout the space because hardware that is crooked or not level will be distracting and defeat the purpose of making the change.

Paint/Stain Your Cabinetry

If your cabinetry is in good shape and you like the general look of it but do not like the stain or finish an easy and inexpensive change is to paint or stain your cabinetry.  There are a variety of paints and stains designed for this purpose all with different levels of difficulty.  Some stains and paint require little or no sanding while others require you to completely strip your cabinets of existing stain or finish.  Hiring a professional to do the job is the way to go because they have all of the tools necessary to complete the job including sanders, drills, and even paint sprayers to expedite the process.

Reface Your Cabinetry

When you reface your cabinetry you get the look of brand new cabinets at a fraction of the cost.  You retain the cabinet box and refinish it to coordinate with the new cabinet doors and drawer fronts and what you get is a completely fresh look.  HomeAdvisor reports the national average cost to reface cabinetry, “Cabinet refacing is cheaper, with the average homeowner spending about $6,600, and more eco-friendly than full bath or kitchen cabinet replacement. It is also far less intrusive than replacing your cabinets.”  With the average at $6,600, that is more than half the cost of completely replacing cabinetry and, as HomeAdvisor pointed out, it is more eco-friendly which is not only beneficial for your home but for the environment as well.