There once was a time when carpenters built kitchen cabinets by hand to fit the available spaces. It is no longer cost-effective to do this, however. Cabinetmakers now use modern technology to build and construct them in quantities using materials other than solid wood such as medium density fiberboard or particleboard. This makes the cabinets more affordable and available to all homeowners. These mass-produced cabinets are good quality if you get them from reputable brands.
That said, the investment in cabinets is still considerable, so you want to maximize your use of them. If your cabinets are looking the worst for wear, and with the holidays coming up, you want to know your options. Here are top tricks to rejuvenate kitchen cabinets for the holidays.
Paint them
The most obvious way to breathe new life into you old cabinets is to give them a fresh coat of paint. Changing the paint might even make your kitchen look much brighter and welcoming. However, if you love your wood cabinets, you need not change the way they look. You can simply clean them up and apply the same type of paint or stain as before.
Painting or staining your old kitchen cabinets should not take too much time or money. With a bit of effort, strong cleaners, paintbrushes, and a can or two of paint or stain, you should have brand spanking new cabinets in a weekend.
Reface them
If you have perfectly good, but old and ugly, cabinets, you need to do a little more than simply refurbishing them. The best option is to replace them, of course, but at a minimum of $5,000 for a set of new cabinets, that might not be smart. With the holidays coming up, expenses are going to pile up, so you have to think of something else.
A cost-effective alternative is refacing these old and ugly cabinets. You can choose one of two ways to do this. One is to replace the cabinet doors, which will typically cost you about $1,000. You can also apply a veneer to them, which will completely change the look at a fraction of the cost.
The advantage of replacing the doors is that you can get solid wood fronts, which will last a long time and will look fantastic. On the other hand, veneers are quite sturdy, and you have many choices when it comes to color and design. In either case, this will breathe new life into your kitchen.
Add lights
Many kitchens can take on a whole new ambiance and look with the right lighting. When it comes to kitchen cabinets, placing LED lights under them can make them look more attractive at very little cost. Under-cabinet lights can also light up the countertops, making it easier to work in the kitchen.
Under-cabinet lights come in many varieties, but LED strips or ropes are the easiest to install. You only need the right length fitted with a dimmer switch and plug, and you can install them yourself with flue or clamps to the cabinets.
LED lights come in a wide variety of brightness, colors, and temperatures, so you can have bright white or cool blue in different areas of the cabinets. Bright white is fantastic for task lighting, while cool blue would illuminate the underside of base cabinets for some drama. You could spend as little as $200 for LED light strips if you install them yourself, but it will completely transform your kitchen.
Put in molding
Nothing says fancy like crown molding. In most cases, crown molding is a feature of custom cabinets, but there is no reason why you cannot add them to your stock or RTA cabinets. Adding them to every available space along your wall and base cabinets can also tie in the design, giving your kitchen a seamless look.
You can purchase crown molding per linear foot for as little as $1, depending on the material and size. You can install them yourself with some nails and paint, or you can hire someone to do it for you. In either case, your investment will pay dividends to the overall design of your kitchen.
Add a butcher block
Entertaining in holiday style requires more than a few decorations. You can spruce up your kitchen by adding a cabinet island with a butcher block countertop for that homey feel. The typical butcher block is a thick block of solid wood, and they are very durable as well as attractive. They are excellent for preparing and presenting during holiday preparations. Adding a butcher block in hardwood to a kitchen with granite or quartz countertops and metal appliances can tone down the chill in the room.
Add a sideboard
Built-in wall and base cabinets are great for storage, but they hide the contents of your kitchen. Adding freestanding cabinets to serve as a sideboard is an excellent way to add storage to your home without taking up too much space. You can use it to display your party dishes, servers, glasses, and cutlery as well as store your table linen, ready for the holiday celebrations.
A sideboard can be a custom built one, which can be expensive. However, you can also put together two or more RTA or stock 15 or 18-inch base cabinets with working drawers, add legs or casters, and install granite, marble, or quartz countertops. This will serve admirably as a working and attractive sideboard for displaying your culinary masterpieces.
Add a window seat
A window seat adds a welcoming air to the kitchen. It provides additional seating for guests during the holidays. Add a table to it and you have a breakfast nook for daily use. However, only older houses seem to have them. You can add one to your own kitchen without much trouble if you think outside the box.
Most people think a window seat requires a nook or bay, but technically, all you really need is a window. You can install as many 15-inch cabinets as will fit under it comfortably and add cushions. You can use the storage as well, so it works on so many levels.
Conclusion
You can do quite a few things with your kitchen cabinets to make your home holiday ready. These are the top tricks you can follow to rejuvenate kitchen cabinets. However, if your kitchen cabinets are simply too far gone, you will have to replace them.
Cabinet Land Kitchen and Beyond offers free consultation services and quotes, so you can have the benefit of our expertise without spending a dime.
We are a local remodeling company with a showroom located in Schaumburg, Illinois. We work only with quality natural stones for countertops as well as the best cabinet brands at the best prices compared to our competitors such as Advance Cabinets and Handsome Cabinets.
Visit us today to see what we have to offer. We service Chicago land and have the expertise and resources to complete virtually any type of countertops and kitchen cabinets – ON TIME and ON BUDGET with top quality craftsmanship that will exceed your expectations.
Contact us today for your free quote!
