Save Extra Cash with Kitchen Renovation-Upgrading Your Cabinets

Renovating your kitchen cabinets

In a perfect world, we’d all have enormous bank accounts with endless funds for home renovations. Unfortunately, a lot of people have a hard enough time making ends meet without having to put their hard earned money into home repairs. That said, making your kitchen look better need not 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 from normal wear and tear over time, it’s a fact of their existence. Grime and dirt build up over time, so you may not even notice at times. Simply cleaning them (according to manufacturer instructions) will make them great in double quick time.

Replace your 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 go to a hardware store, take your old hardware with you to gauge the size you’ll need, as well as 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 simply MUST have new fixtures that don’t align with the old holes, you can fill them with putty, refinish the cabinet door, and drill new holes. It is a bit more work, but can be worth it depending on what you’re looking for.

Refinish 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.

Obviously, refinishing cabinet doors isn’t a universal option, and some synthetic doors can’t be retouched in this fashion. If you aren’t certain, go to your local home improvement store. A professional there can help you determine whether or not your cabinets can be refinished and, if so, what tools you’ll need for the job.