Upgrade your cabinets and save extra cash on kitchen renovation

Renovating your kitchen cabinets

In a perfect world, we’d all have enormous bank accounts with endless funds for home renovations. Unfortunately, most of us are struggling enough to make ends meet without worrying about putting the money we’d like to into our homes. However, improving the appearance of your kitchen cabinets doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out the following tricks that’ll have your cabinets looking like new for under $ 20, leaving you with extra cash in your pocket.

A simple scrubbing

One of the easiest ways to improve the look of your kitchen is simply by cleaning the doors of your cupboards. If it sounds too good to be true, don’t knock it until you try it! Kitchen cabinets take a beating in everyday life, whether from spills and splatters or frequent opening and closing. Dirt and grime can build up slowly, so you don’t even notice them getting dingy over time. A simple cleaning (according to the manufacturer’s instructions) will have them looking like new in no time at all.

Replacing hardware

Another “Don’t judge it until you try it” kitchen upgrade solution is to simply replace all of the hardware on your cabinets, including the handles, drawer pulls, and hinges (if they show). If they’re more than five years old, chances are they’re dating your kitchen, so pull them all off and start fresh. Today’s modern looks include sleek styling and brushed metal finishes; most hardware stores will have a good selection on hand for you to choose from.

When you head into the hardware store, remember to take your old hardware with you to help gauge the sizes you’ll need, as well as the location of the screw holes on your cabinets. The easiest way to switch hardware is by getting new fixtures similar in size and shape to the old fixtures, though it isn’t the only option. If you’re dead set on new fixtures that don’t line up with the old holes, you may be able to fill the holes with putty, refinish the cabinet door, and then re-drill the screw holes. It’s a little bit more work, but it may be worth it depending on the look you’re going for.

Refinish your cabinet doors

Another low-cost kitchen upgrade option is to refinish your cabinet doors instead of completely replacing them. This is a bit more hands on, so you’re going to have to roll up your sleeves and do the good work. If you have painted or stained cabinets, you need to sand the finish off and wipe them down before refinishing the new stain or paint. Be sure to get all of the traces of old finish off the doors, otherwise the new finish will end up streaked.

Of course, refinishing cabinet doors isn’t an option for all cabinets – some synthetic cabinet doors simply can’t be redone this way. If you aren’t sure, take a trip to your local home improvement store. Professional advice can help determine whether your cabinets can be refinished, and what you’ll need to do the job.