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 These features of the cabinet can make them look outdated and old quickly.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 Be sure to replace out of date knobs with new knobs, rather than trying to install a handle; and vice-versa.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.

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.

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.

You should first consider giving the doors a completely new face. Don’t replace the whole cabinets, which would be very costly and involve buying completely new units. Just take the doors off and replace them with new ones (we’ll talk about re-doing the current ones below). And remember that this should also include the drawer faces, so that the style of all the parts of the kitchen matches. You’ll eliminate the cost of pulling out and replacing the entire cabinets, but it will still have the appearance of an entirely new, fresh kitchen.

If replacing the doors doesn’t appeal to you, or if you’re really on a tight budget, you also have the option of simply repainting your current doors. This is surely the most budget-conscious option, because it involves purchasing very little. However, you’ll still need to start with doors that are still in good shape and structurally sound with no cracks, dents, or chips (perhaps this may not be an option for your doors). If they look pretty good apart from the color or stain, then your best option would be to simply strip them back and apply a new coat. A high gloss enamel paint can result in a superb new look that will give you the upscale result you’re likely after, especially if selling your home.

Your kitchen doors and drawer fronts are an important aspect of your home that advertises your taste and style. Hopefully it will also appeal to a prospective buyer, if that’s your case. When you pair the facing with a wise choice in door handles or knobs that tie in with the overall tone of your kitchen, your chances of impressing others will be far greater.

There are some questions you should ask yourself before you make your selection for new door handles:

1. Are you replacing your current handles, or is this a new installation?
2. Do you want a door handle or a knob?
3. What style of handle/knob will go well with your kitchen?
4. What size handle would not only look good on your doors, but be functional for you and the other people in your home.
5. Do you have the tools you’d need to install handles?

Handles

Keep in mind that in order to install most handles on new doors, you’ll probably have to make two holes in each door. Make sure you align them vertically by using a level or square before you drill.

To replace an old handle, simply unscrew the old bolts or screws, set the new handle into place, and screw or bolt on the new one. It’s a quick and easy process to replace your old handles, but the rewards can be great; new handles can give a completely new and beautiful look to your kitchen. You’ll be surprised at the change!

Knobs

If you’re installing knobs on new doors, you will again need to drill holes, but the holes for knobs are usually simpler than for handles because they only need to accommodate one small screw. Just keep in mind that you need to be consistent in the placement of your knobs, drilling all the holes the same distance from the edges of the doors.

Changing existing knobs is also an easy process. All you need to do is unscrew the screw or bolt from the back of the door that’s holding the knob on. Then put the new knob into place and screw it on.

Be assured that new handles or knobs can have a huge effect and can greatly improve the appearance of your kitchen. As you can see, selecting and replacing your current handles or knobs can be quite an easy process. If you’re installing new ones, you’ll be in for a challenge, but not a difficult one.

If you look around a bit, you’ll find you can utilize professional expertise to get custom-made laminate doors for your cabinets. Laminated doors look like wood and don’t require paint. Any professional cabinetmaker will make cabinet doors of any size, shape and color.

Laminated doors are a good option, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get doors made from real wood. A few popular woods for doors are cherry, oak, and maple. But if wood is not your style, you might even think about stainless steel or glass, which is also very popular.

When you’re ready to get them made, make sure that you measure your existing doors carefully and give the measurements to the manufacture so that you’ll get a perfect fit. Remember to also choose a style for your cabinet doors that will go with and accent the rest of your kitchen and home. Styles vary from raised to curved or even flat with intricate moldings.

You might also want to try expressing your own style by painting the cabinet doors yourself. You’ll not only have the satisfaction that you did it yourself, but you’ll also really be able to cut down on the costs of having them painted by a professional. But also keep in mind the time that it’s going to take you.

If you want to paint your own doors, first you’ll need to clean them thoroughly and remove all stains to get an even and uniform finish. You should also fill in any cracks and scratch marks with wood putty. When you’ve got them clean and read, apply a coat of paint with firm strokes. Or you may want to consider spray painting them to get a more uniform and trendy look. Then give them the final touch by selecting elegant knobs or handles for your fresh, new cabinet doors.