Along with the island, kitchen cabinets are one of the most defining elements of a cooking space. They house dishes and appliances, both old and new, and are simply the building blocks of a kitchen.
You may have a lot of cabinets to keep things looking nice, especially if you have a large family or if baking is your hobby.
So, if you're dreaming of a new kitchen, but don't want to paint your kitchen cabinets, is there anything important you can do? Does it necessarily mean calling in a handyman? Thankfully, there are some clever ways to refresh your kitchen cabinets without painting them.
How can I update my kitchen cabinets without painting?
Kitchen cabinets are easy to paint, but maybe you like your existing color or you're just curious about whether you can improve your kitchen in new and great ways. Experts recommend:
1. Change the hardware
(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)
It's one way to refresh the look of your kitchen cabinets and make it stand out from all other options. That is “replace the hardware”. exclaims Mimi Meacham, owner and principal designer of Marian Louise Design.
Although it's a small detail, hardware can say a lot about its origin, style, and perhaps maintenance. When updating the look, choosing different openings and finishes can make a noticeable difference to the feel of your kitchen. “Cabinet hardware can age or update a space,” Meacham continues.
Installing kitchen cabinet handles is very easy and there are so many silhouettes and finishes to choose from at your hardware store, online at Wayfair's cabinet hardware collection, or in the kitchen cabinet hardware section at Home Depot. Masu. Contemporary or traditional kitchen style.
If you need any more convincing, the lead designer and founder of Victoria Holly Interiors wholeheartedly agrees. “First and foremost, we recommend changing the hardware,” says Holly.
“Improving the look and feel of your hardware can make your kitchen look more custom.”
Gillian Gillies of Gillian Gillies Interiors also endorses this method if you're looking for a refresh. “If you really want to upgrade, you can replace the hardware.”
Victoria Holly Interiors is led by Victoria Holly, an experienced designer with a strong reputation in the interior design field. With over 10 years of experience, Victoria Holly is known for her artistic skill, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional talent for curation.
Since immigrating to Canada and opening our studio in 2004, Gillian Gillies Interiors has grown into a popular, award-winning interior design firm. Gillian understands the power of building a home for her clients and knows that the right home with the right design choices can greatly improve a client's quality and outlook on life. She believes in frictionless living and takes the time to sit down with her clients, get to know them, and understand their specific needs, hopes, and desires. Life comes with baggage, and Gillian wants to lighten the burden we all carry while still having space for everything.
2. Replace the door front
(Image credit: Future / Darren Chung)
Next to hardware changes, Gillies suggests replacing solid wood doors with glass and vice versa. Depending on the finish you want to achieve, you can choose a more detailed design, a beveled frame, or a more straight frame. This makes a big difference.
This is actually a personal favorite for updating your kitchen cabinets without replacing them, along with using kitchen lighting and painting the rest of the room to enhance the look of your existing cabinets. One of the.
3. Cabinet renovation
(Image credit: Future)
Another slightly more important DIY job compared to simply replacing hardware, Amy Youngblood of Amy Youngblood Interiors shares how often the refacing route is done.
“While most of our clients typically replace their cabinets completely, one way to save money and time is to refurbish them. In other words, the cabinet shell remains in place, but the cabinet shell New door styles with colors that match or complement the interior work well.”
This is perfect if you want a completely new look. And, best of all, Youngblood recommends layering this with your top alternative to painting your kitchen cabinets. “Now you get all the new, more stylish hardware.”
4. Remove some and replace with open shelves
(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)
Open shelving is often a love-it-or-hate-it feature in homes, especially in kitchens. Half and half gives you more flexibility and unique results when combining storage and display. Worth considering if you want to change the look of your current kitchen cabinets.
“Consider replacing some of the upper cabinet doors with open shelving,” suggests Holly. “This creates a more open and airy atmosphere and provides an opportunity to display useful items.”
Storing not-so-pretty but necessary kitchen items inside closed, opaque kitchen cabinets, keeping decorative items like vases and nice-looking appliances and more items in sight will keep your space clutter-free. It feels organized. The key to the latter is to keep open kitchen shelves neat and tidy as well.
Gillies is also a proponent of this, suggesting that if there's enough storage space to remove a section, you can skip replacing it in order to introduce another design feature into that space. sculpture. Sometimes less is more, and freeing up wall space can really transform your kitchen. ”
5. Paint your surroundings
(Image credit: Future / Alicia Taylor)
If you don't want to paint your kitchen cabinets, but think they need a little lift, can you edit the color of your kitchen walls instead? For example, a white color scheme will complement oak cabinets, while darker kitchen cabinets might You may also consider painting the walls in a complimenting color.
There are plenty of color ideas for your kitchen, so if your cabinets are in good working order and need a little tweaking to make them even more functional, let inspiration take the lead.
FAQ
How often should kitchen cabinets be updated?
Carefully selected kitchen cabinets that are timeless and reflect the natural bones of your home don't need to be updated more often than every 10 years.
“I typically use the 10-year rule,” Youngblood says. “Trends are always changing, but choosing a fairly neutral, classic color palette will be appropriate for the times.”
Basically, you should only update your kitchen cabinets when necessary, and this is not an edit you do on a regular basis. “We recommend updating your kitchen cabinets only if your kitchen cabinets have broken down or stopped working and you need a total renovation. Or, if you're very detail-oriented and your kitchen is If it’s old,” Meacham suggests.
“Ornate trim details, red wood stain colors, and outdated hardware are all details that can make kitchen cabinets look dated.”
How do you choose timeless kitchen cabinets?
Lucy Searle, content director at H&G, shares the most common and costly kitchen design mistakes to avoid: Choose a fashionable kitchen design. ” Keep this in mind when choosing cabinets with timeless appeal.
Gillies also recommends choosing your kitchen cabinets carefully and choosing your favorite style to complement your home. “Kitchen equipment is an investment that you will hopefully live with for many years, so choose a door style and color that resonates strongly with you, as well as your influences. please.
“Make sure your kitchen cabinets blend in with the rest of your home. This can be the biggest reason to replace them before they really need replacement.”
If painting or refinishing your kitchen cabinets isn't your thing, don't give up, because you clearly have options. Enhance the look of your new kitchen cabinets with accent lighting or an interesting kitchen rug, and also consider changing up the artwork on display for an easily styled, updated-looking space.
