Take Your Laminate Cabinets from Drab to Fab with Easy Upgrades
Is your kitchen stuck in a 1970s time warp? Do you cringe every time you see your outdated laminate cabinets? A full kitchen remodel can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The good news is you don’t have to gut and replace your entire kitchen to get a fresh new look.
With some clever upgrades, you can transform your laminate cabinets from drab to fab. From a simple coat of paint to replacing doors and hardware, revitalizing your existing cabinets is achievable as a DIY project. Read on to unlock easy and affordable ways to update your laminate cabinets.
Painting Opens Up Limitless Color Options
Painting is one of the simplest ways to give laminate cabinets a new look. With the right prep and painting technique, you can take dull and dated cabinets and give them a gorgeous, like-new finish.
Proper Prep Work Ensures Painting Success
Prepping laminate cabinets for painting is crucial. Start by cleaning the cabinet surfaces with a degreaser. Lightly sand to rough up the surface and help the paint adhere. Apply a bonding primer before your top coat of latex cabinet paint. Use painter's tape to protect adjacent surfaces.
Trending Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
White painted cabinets are a popular choice because they give the kitchen a light and airy feel. For a soft but stylish look, consider a light gray shade. Navy blue makes a bold color statement. Avoid bright colors like red or yellow unless you're aiming for a retro diner aesthetic.
Hire a Pro or DIY for Maximum Savings
You can either hire a professional painter or tackle painting the cabinets yourself. Professionals can paint your kitchen quickly with an airless paint sprayer and their expertise. If you want to save money but have the time, painting the cabinets yourself yields satisfying results with the right materials and patience.
Refacing Cabinets Transforms the Look Minus the Mess
For laminate cabinets in good structural condition, refacing is a fast and affordable renovation option. Refacing leaves the existing cabinet boxes intact but replaces the doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. Installing new, on-trend doors and hardware lets you transform the look without removing the cabinets.
How Refacing Compares to Refinishing Cabinets
Refinishing cabinets involves stripping them down to the bare wood before applying new stain, paint, or laminate. Refacing saves time because you don't have to strip the boxes. Simply swap out old doors and hardware for an instant upgrade.
The Easiest Way to Refresh Dated Cabinets
With some basic DIY skills, you can reface your own laminate cabinets over a weekend. Remove existing doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. Fill any holes in the cabinet frames with wood filler. Install new replacement doors, drawer fronts, and modern hardware to complete your like-new kitchen.
Refinishing Requires More Work but New Finish Options
To change the color or finish of your laminate cabinets, refinishing strips them down before applying an updated surface treatment. It's more labor-intensive than painting or refacing but allows you to significantly alter the look.
How to Refinish Cabinets in 5 Steps
Follow these steps to refinish laminate cabinets:
- Remove doors, drawers, and hardware
- Use chemical stripper or sandpaper to remove the existing finish
- Smooth sanded surfaces and apply wood filler as needed
- Stain, paint, or apply new laminate to refinished boxes
- Finish with a protective topcoat like polyurethane
Let Refinished Cabinets Cure Thoroughly
When refinishing cabinets, it's imperative to follow the manufacturer's recommended drying times between steps. Rushing the finish can ruin your hard work. Plan your schedule to allow several days for your freshly refinished cabinets to cure completely before reinstalling doors and drawers.
More Quick and Easy Laminate Cabinet Makeovers
In addition to refinishing, refacing, or painting, consider these fast upgrades to give your laminate cabinets a new look:
Hardware
Replacing outdated hardware with modern brushed nickel, matte black, or bronze knobs and pulls can instantly elevate your cabinets' style. Pay attention to the size and placement of holes to ensure a seamless switch.
Lighting
Improved lighting brightens up laminate cabinets and makes the whole kitchen feel newer. Under cabinet lighting illuminates countertops. Swapping out an old fluorescent fixture forpendant lights or recessed cans gives the space a fresh feel.
Countertops
New countertops like quartz, laminate, or butcher block pair nicely with old laminate cabinets. Mixing finishes and styles gives a budget-friendly but upscale look. Countertops take a beating, so replacing them alone rejuvenates the kitchen.
Fool the eye by adding trim details like crown molding, decorative legs, or wood accents. Sleek new trim distracts from outdated cabinet surfaces. The finishing touch pulls the whole new look together.
Don't despair over dreary laminate cabinets. With a DIY attitude and some strategic upgrades, you can affordably transform your kitchen. Use these innovative tips to take your cabinets from depressing to dazzling.