Kitchen Doors Guide

Kitchen Cabinets Are Expensive – Here Are a Few Great Ways to Update Their Look Without Spending a Ton of Cash

Kitchen cabinets are an important accessory in the kitchen. Unfortunately, the styles don’t last forever; and neither does the paint or stain. So what do you do when your kitchen needs up an update, but you don’t have the cash to purchase new cabinets? Here are a few tricks on how to update your kitchen cabinets, without spending tons of cash.

The easiest way to update kitchen cabinets is to change out the existing door handles or knobs. These features of the cabinet can make them look outdated and old quickly. Replacing them every once in a while will help you update your kitchen for just a few bucks. Plus, you’ll love the new hardware on the doors. Be sure to replace out of date knobs with new knobs, rather than trying to install a handle; and vice-versa.

To find great hardware for your cabinets, consider hitting up flea markets and bargain stores before hitting the big retailers. You’ll save a few bucks by purchasing someone else’s old handles, and you can clean them up to look as good as new. Chances are, there’s nothing wrong with them except the previous owner no longer liked them. Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Another great way to update your cabinets is to repaint or re-stain the doors. Sand off the old paint or stain, and then apply a fresh coat. Don’t for about the cabinets themselves. This will take a bit more work than other options; however, the look you’ll get will be just as satisfying as purchasing new cabinets.

If you’re not into repainting or re-staining, why not replace just the doors of the cabinets? You can find cabinet doors to match the existing stain and just replace the doors with newer, updated looks. The look of the cabinet is based on the door itself, not the entire cabinet; so replacing the door is a great way to clean up your kitchen without spending a lot of cash.

Updating a kitchen can be expensive, so don’t waste extra cash buying new cabinets when you can just as easily update them with a little elbow grease. You can even hire a contractor to build new cabinet doors for half the price of purchasing all new cabinets. Chances are, there’s nothing really wrong with the cabinets themselves; so why replace what isn’t broken? Let your imagination create your new kitchen for less than the cost of new cabinets.

So you’ve set out to replace or install new kitchen cabinet doors? Now you just need to choose their material – wood, laminate, glass, or steel.

Wood

Wood, just like any other choice, has more options within. Do you want solid wood or just wood veneers? Veneers are said to be cheaper and less vulnerable to outside weather conditions. However, although the temperature and humidity outside can and probably will affect solid wood kitchen doors, the greatest damage will come from the temperatures and humidity of your daily kitchen activities. Veneer may look a bit more uniform because it can be cut thinly to cover the entire face. Wood is available in many colors, and it can be finished how you want – glossy, varnished, painted, or waxed.

Laminate

Laminate kitchen doors come in an even larger variety of textures and colors than wooden doors. You will probably be able to find anything you’re looking for. If you want a soft feel in your kitchen, use creamy colors with a matte finish. Want to show off an elegant kitchen? Get Italian-style doors with bold fronts and shiny colors.

One incredible advantage of laminate kitchen doors when compared to others types is that they are nearly maintenance free! Wood needs all the care and attention it can get, especially in busy households, and it may also be susceptible to temperature and humidity changes. But laminate doors just need an occasional wipe or two and you’re done! They’re clean. Laminate is also less prone to wear and tear and can therefore maintain a fresh look for several years.

Glass

Glass kitchen doors are usually used to display a collection of cutlery, but may also fit well as standard depending on your kitchen style. You also have the option of frosted glass for a concealed yet translucent appearance. Glass doors are versatile no matter what your kitchen theme is –traditional or modern.

Steel

Stainless steel can also be used for kitchen doors. It tends to be more popular as worktops and appliance casing rather than doors because it has its own character. Its look can also vary, from clean and sparkly to purposely warn and matured. Steel is also very durable – it’s low-maintenance and can be easily cleaned. Remember too that steel on its own looks very cold. To make it look warm, you’ll need to combine it with warm colors. One last important note about steel is that it also carries a high price.

We are all aware of the distress of the economy as of late, which is affecting all of us. We all want to tighten our budgets a bit, right? Well, replacing your kitchen cabinet doors is not only an affordable option when it comes to kitchen renovation, but it’s also a great way to save money, especially when you compare the cost of replacing all of your cabinets in their entirety. Because of their location and their heavy use every single day, kitchen doors will always show signs of wear and tear over time just because of the effects of the daily grind. Even the most expensive doors can be quickly worn out by a busy household. Ultimately, your cabinet doors will end up in the mercy of grease, heat, spills, and even stains from the food you or your spouse prepare in the kitchen. This can and probably will cause your kitchen look cheaper and dirty.

Unfortunately cabinet doors also tend to be one of the most overlooked parts of your kitchen, which definitely isn’t a good thing considering how often they get used! As was said above, over time they’ll be exposed to heat from your kitchen, dirt or food on you and your family’s hands, and if you have pets, the doors will suffer even more abuse! But if you spend a bit of time browsing around, you’ll see that it’s really not too difficult to find replacement doors that might even be able to handle the abuse better than your current doors. A good choice today is laminate doors. Laminate doors are easy to clean and can withstand a good deal of heat. If you look around a bit, you should be able to find a cabinetmaker who can make doors fit to your requirements and it shouldn’t even cost you too much.

When looking at new doors or re-facing your current ones, you’ll want some great handles or knobs to complete the look and style of your kitchen. They are a cheap but effective way of adding some appeal to any kitchen, and there are numerous imitation and replica handles of extremely luxury designs – so get looking!

That’s just an intro to a few options for replacing your doors. There are plenty of other materials available to you if you want to bring some life back into your kitchen doors. If your budget is also a hindrance, shop around a bit and you’ll be surprised at what you can find.