Give Your Kitchen Cabinets a Custom Furniture Makeover: DIY Ideas to Transform the Look

If you're looking to give your kitchen a fresh, modern look, one easy way is to make your existing cabinets resemble custom furniture. With some simple upgrades and design tricks, you can craft a custom furniture style that makes your kitchen shine.

Read on for ideas to DIY an elegant, furniture-like kitchen on any budget.

Use Furniture Materials for an Elevated Look

An easy way to make cabinets appear more furniture-like is through your choice of materials. Rich wood species evoke fine furnishings, while metal and glass lend a sleek, contemporary vibe. Consider using:

• Wood species like oak, maple, cherry, or hickory for a classic look
• Unique reclaimed woods like barnwood or driftwood
• Metals including brass, copper, or stainless steel
• Glass cabinet inserts or doors for an open, airy aesthetic
• Faux wood laminates like patterned thermowraps

Mixing woodgrain cabinet boxes with a few key metal or glass elements can yield a custom furniture aesthetic on a budget. Keep your existing cabinet boxes for big savings.

Refacing Existing Cabinets for Cost-Effective Customization

An affordable shortcut for a furniture makeover is refacing your existing cabinets. This maintains the cabinet boxes while replacing doors, drawer fronts and hardware. Opt for shaker-style doors, slab fronts or framed fronts in your furniture materials of choice. Add knobs or handles similar to furniture pieces. The result is custom style at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.

Semihandmade Frames Allow You to Design Your Own Look

Another budget-friendly option is using a system like Semihandmade. They offer unfinished maple cabinet frames that you customize with your choice of doors, hardware and finishes. This allows creativity in crafting a unique furniture look. Their solid wood boxes bring quality too.

Furniture Feet and Other Special Touches

A few special details go a long way in making your kitchen cabinets resemble furniture. Consider adding:

• Short furniture legs along the bottom base
• Tall decorative feet on the floor in front
• Custom cabinetry hardware like knobs and handles
• Adjustable shelves and drawers
• Undermount drawer glides for a seamless look
• Toe kick covered in hardwood or trim

Legs and feet should match your cabinet finish and style. Opt for a toe kick cover color that blends well. Pull-out shelves also lend a furniture feel.

Clever Solutions for Adding Legs and Feet

Installing legs along the bottom of your cabinets or individual feet in front can be tricky. Some easy ways to achieve the look include:

• Using plinth blocks for a built-in furniture foot look
• Opting for tall legs on your kitchen island for drama
• Attaching ready-made furniture feet underneath cabinets
• Using base molding trim to create faux feet

Go for taller feet on stationary cabinets. Shorter legs work better for cabinets needing to open. Seek professional help for best results.

Achieve a Furniture-Inspired Style

In addition to special materials and accents, the overall style of your kitchen plays a role in achieving a custom furniture look. Consider:

• An open layout to highlight cabinets as focal points
• Stained wood cabinets or painted finishes like furniture
• Floating upper cabinets for a delicate, furniture-like feel
• Glass cabinet doors and inserts to continue the open look
• Ornate moldings, trims and framework details

A kitchen island is the perfect place to add furniture details like legs, feet and ornate moldings. Use lighting above and below to showcase your dreamy design.

Hire a Designer for a Cohesive Furniture Kitchen

To bring all your furniture elements together into a cohesive whole, consider hiring a kitchen designer. They can ensure all details complement each other. A designer can also create the room layout to highlight your custom-furniture style cabinets.

With the right combination of materials, special details, and furniture-inspired style, you can craft custom-looking cabinets that resemble high-end furniture. Refacing existing cabinets and using a system like Semihandmade helps you achieve the look affordably.

For a stunning furniture kitchen that looks like it came straight from a magazine, be sure to incorporate legs, feet, toe kicks and other specialty accents. The final result will be a space you can't wait to spend time in.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to give your kitchen a furniture-style makeover. Let us know if you have any other tips for achieving this on-trend look affordably.