Boost Your Kitchen's Curb Appeal With Easy Laminate Cabinet Makeovers
Giving your outdated laminate cabinets a stylish makeover is one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to upgrade the look of your kitchen. With a few simple tweaks like refacing, painting, or adding trim, you can bring new life to your existing cabinets without the need for a full remodel.
Refacing Laminate Cabinets
Refacing your cabinets involves replacing the exterior surfaces - doors, drawers, and visible side panels - while keeping the existing cabinet boxes. This allows you to give your cabinets a fresh facelift without removing and replacing the entire units.
What is Cabinet Refacing?
Cabinet refacing typically entails removing the old laminate surfaces, taking precise measurements, and installing new laminate doors, drawers, and side panels using adhesive. It provides a similar finished look as new cabinets, but at a fraction of the cost.
Benefits of Refacing
Compared to a full cabinet replacement, refacing offers numerous benefits:
- Much more affordable - approximately 50% less than new custom cabinets
- Faster process - usually completed in just a few days
- Less messy - no need to remove and dispose of old cabinets
- Existing layout remains undisturbed
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
While an experienced DIYer can certainly reface their own laminate cabinets, hiring professionals often yields the best results. Refacing companies have the expertise to seamlessly match new laminate surfaces to your existing cabinet boxes for a cohesive finish.
Painting Laminate Cabinets
Painting is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to overhaul the look of your cabinets. With proper prep and the right products, you can achieve a smooth, durable finish.
Prep Work for Painting
Before painting laminate cabinets, proper prep work is crucial:
- Clean cabinets thoroughly and sand lightly to rough up the surface
- Tape off any areas you don't want painted
- Apply high-quality primer to ensure the paint adheres properly
Choosing Cabinet Paint
For the best results on laminate, use a high-quality oil-based enamel or acrylic latex paint made specifically for cabinetry. Avoid general purpose latex paints.
Painting Techniques
When painting, use a combination of cutting in edges with a brush and rolling larger surfaces. Sand lightly between coats for a smooth finish. Allow proper drying time between coats.
Adding Trim and Accent Pieces
Installing new trim and accents offers an easy upgrade for laminate cabinets. Different options include:
- Crown molding
- Accent rails and panels
- Beadboard
Trim can be painted or stained to match or contrast with your cabinet color. Prefinished pieces are also available to simplify installation. Updating hardware like knobs and pulls can further complement new trim details.
Additional Makeover Ideas
A few other easy upgrades to consider for laminate cabinets include:
- Installing peel and stick tile backsplash
- Adding LED cabinet lighting
- Inserting glass doors
- Replacing countertops
With some creativity and elbow grease, you can give old laminate cabinets new life. Refacing, painting, adding trim and other simple makeover techniques let you boost your kitchen's style affordably. So put on your DIY hat and get started transforming those tired cabinets today!