When the kitchens of real estate holdings are in need of a facelift, most people think it's got to be replacement cabinets or nothing. But these are tough economic times and people are starting to be concerned about the environment. Not everyone has the money to buy all new cabinets, or is comfortable with throwing away a whole set of perfectly functional cabinets. Luckily there is a way to give your kitchen a makeover without replacing all your existing cabinetry: recycle your current cabinets.
Rearrange
The quickest way to make your kitchen or bathroom look completely new and different is to rearrange the existing cabinets. Perhaps you're looking to replace a wall mounted oven with a stand alone unit or swap a chest freezer for an upright one, but sometimes cabinets get in your way. Rather than scrapping them, simply remove them from the wall and relocate them to a new spot. Some cabinets are track mounted and easy to move, while others are nailed directly to the studs and will require a bit of finesse. But when you're done, you'll be amazed at what a difference this makes, and you won't have any reduction in storage space.
Refinish
Sometimes old wooden cabinets end up showing their age, especially on the inside. But you don't have to replace them to make them look new again. Even the average owner has some sandpaper lying around. Re-sand your cabinets and re-finish them with a wood veneer. By choosing a different wood finish, you can transform the look of your wood and make it seem like a different type. You can get cherry cabinets where you once had pine for a fraction of the cost of replacement.
Repaint
Repainting your old kitchen cabinets is the best way to get them to look like they still belong in your kitchen after you've redecorated it. If you're looking to brighten up your home for sale to attract buyers, paint your dark wood cabinets a brighter color, like white, cream, or pale yellow. You don't want a color that's too bright or obvious on your cabinets, because they're meant to blend into the room, not to stand out. Repainting costs pennies on the dollar when compared with replacing the cabinets.
Replace Hardware
Often old cabinets look dated and don't fit in with modern new renovations even after repainting or refinishing. If this is the case, you don't have to add new cabinetry to your house plans. Instead, just replace the hardware. Cabinets are cabinets - they've always been the same. It's the door handles, hinges, and latches that make them seem modern or dated. Spend a few dollars to replace them and voila! A completely new look.
Time to get started? Begin by reading "How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets".
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