Updating kitchen cabinets can be expensive, but it doesn't have to break the bank! Instead of a full overhaul, try one of these budget-friendly DIY kitchen cabinet ideas!
Are you ready to talk about kitchen cabinet ideas? If you've spent any time on my blog, you know I love a good kitchen makeover!
I truly believe the kitchen is the heart of the home, so it's only fair that I make it the place we all actually want to hang out. However, kitchen remodels are not cheap… at all. If you're anything like me, there's always a fine line to walk between style and budget.
The good news is you really CAN have it all here! Creating the kitchen of your dreams while staying on budget can absolutely be done. Kitchen cabinets tend to be one of the most expensive things to replace (outside of appliances), so I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite DIY kitchen cabinet ideas.
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets
My personal favorite way to update cabinets is to paint them. If you think learning how to paint kitchen cabinets sounds impossible, I promise it isn't! I know, because I painted my kitchen cabinets myself.
I might be biased, but don't they look gorgeous? I painted them with Benjamin Moore's Simply White, which was a huge improvement over the dated wood look they used to have.
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding
One of the reasons people hesitate to figure out how to paint kitchen cabinets is that the prep work can seem overwhelming.
Who has the time and energy to sand every crevice of every cabinet? Just think of all the time, and dust! With my method of painting cabinets, you don't have to worry about that. I didn't do any sanding. Instead, I used a deglosser… and a few years later my white cabinets still look amazing!
Learn How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets right here.
DIY Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
If painting still sounds overwhelming, or it just isn't your thing, that's okay. Thanks to some creative bloggers and designers, there are plenty of fun ways homeowners can redo their cabinets without a can of paint. Here are some of my favorite kitchen cabinet ideas that don't require paint.
Add DIY Open Shelving for Cabinets
As you may have noticed, open shelving in the kitchen is one of the most popular kitchen cabinet ideas lately. It can be extremely budget-friendly and makes a great DIY project. I love that you can create virtually any look with these shelves, depending on the stain or paint, brackets and what you display on them. There are two ways to add open shelving to your kitchen.
First, you can do what some of these incredibly talented bloggers have done and remove the upper cabinets. As you can see, this can make a stunning replacement for kitchen cabinets.
This kitchen shared by Cassandra LaValle is the perfect example. It's part decor, part function, and it makes the whole kitchen look so open and airy.
The second way to add open shelving is to do what I did in my old kitchn: simply add shelving to a wall as an accent, rather than replacing cabinets. In my opinion, this is the best of both worlds, with all the style and fun of shelving plus all the perks of cabinetry. Beautiful, right?
Replace the Cabinet Face
If your cabinets are in good condition, you can simply update the door style and make them look brand new. This is super easy if you have kitchen cabinets from IKEA or another brand designed for this, but if you're working with anything else, you'll need to do a little woodworking or order custom doors.
I love what Refresh Living did with her cabinets, shown in the image below. She ordered custom shaker-style cabinet doors and used them to update her old cabinetry for a fraction of the cost.
Add New Hardware
This is the easiest idea on this list. In my opinion, adding new hardware to older cabinets really does make a big impact! If you're looking for a kitchen cabinet makeover that can be done in an afternoon, this is the one.
I changed the hardware in my current kitchen when I updated it after we moved in. Such a simple change made the space feel more like me, and it coordinated with my style and decor.
I've also shared a whole post about cabinet hardware placement, with tips on when to use knobs versus pulls, or even when to use cabinet latches. There's plenty of helpful information there if you're looking to change the hardware on your cabinets!
I also give tips on installing and measuring for new cabinet hardware for kitchen doors and drawers.
Remove the Cabinet Doors
If you don't want to take down your cabinets, patch and paint the walls, then install open shelving but still want the look, here's your solution. Simply remove the cabinet doors! This is another easy kitchen cabinet idea that can transform the look of your space. This kitchen was featured on Design Sponge and shows just how big an impact this idea can have. Isn't it gorgeous?
Add a Glass Front to your Cabinet Doors
If you're looking for a happy medium between the closed storage of cabinets and a way to display your favorite dishes and kitchen pieces, this is one of my favorite kitchen cabinet ideas. You can have it done professionally, but surprisingly, it can also be a DIY project!
This blog post from Confessions of a Serial DIYer makes this cabinet DIY project look totally doable.
Which of these ideas is your favorite? I'm still a bit partial to the cabinet painting method, but I really do like all of them!
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