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Instantly Elevate Your Kitchen with These Furniture Cabinet Makeovers

Is your kitchen looking lackluster? Are you bored with basic cabinetry but can't afford a full remodel? Don't despair - with a few simple upgrades, you can give your existing kitchen cabinets a high-end, furniture-like look for a fraction of the cost.

By incorporating details like decorative feet, glass doors, molding and hardware, you can transform the look of your kitchen without taking on a huge project. Read on for inspiring ideas to elevate your current kitchen cabinets with furniture-inspired makeovers.

kitchen cabinets that look like furniture

Add Decorative Furniture Feet for an Instant Lift

One of the fastest ways to make your kitchen cabinets look like true furniture pieces is by adding feet underneath. Decorative feet add both style and visual interest by giving the impression that cabinets are free-standing rather than built-in.

Popular options for furniture feet include:

Furniture feet come in a range of materials such as wood, iron and other metals to suit your aesthetic. Use softer woods like pine or maple for a cottage feel, or opt for sleek steel or matte black metal for contemporary style.

Where should you add these decorative feet? Ideal spots include:

Attaching furniture feet is an easy DIY project in most cases. Simply measure the depth of your cabinet bases, purchase feet long enough to match, and use construction adhesive and/or screws to adhere them at the corners.

The visual impact of adding feet underneath your cabinets can be amazing. Even small spaces suddenly feel light and airy. The elegance of tapered wood or sleek metal legs gives cabinets a classy, custom furniture look for little cost.

Consider an Island Feet Makeover

One of the best places to add decorative feet is under a kitchen island. This can completely transform an island from a basic built-in to a stunning freestanding focal point. Try tapered feet for a light and leggy look or chunky block feet for drama.

Accentuate Specific Cabinets

You don't necessarily need to add feet to every cabinet - choosing a select few to highlight creates great accent details. Add flair to a butcher block or dining hutch by giving them furniture details like tapered feet or modern metal hairpin legs.

Incorporate Glass Doors for an Open, Airy Look

Another way to lend cabinets furniture flair is by adding glass rather than solid doors to select areas. The transparency of glass instantly lightens up heavy cabinetry for an airy, open look.

Types of glass to consider include:

Where should you incorporate glass doors? Prime spots include:

For a custom built-in look, have glass doors professionally installed. But here's a budget-friendly DIY method: simply remove existing cabinet doors, then attach appropriate glass panels using hinges. This transforms the look while retaining functionality.

Displaying dishes, collections or decor behind glass mimics fine furniture like china cabinets and display hutches. The transparency adds openness and dimension to kitchens, while keeping contents dust-free. It's a win-win!

Seed Glass for Texture

Seeded or fluted glass offers plenty of texture and obscurity for cabinet doors, while still allowing some light to filter through. This is ideal for maintaining privacy in corners or near workspaces.

Clear Glass for Dish Displays

Ditch standard upper cabinet doors and replace with open shelving or clear glass doors to show off your best dishware. The transparency makes spaces feel airier.

Molding and Trim Take Cabinets to the Next Level

What customizes basic boxes into built-in, furniture-like millwork? Molding and trim details. Adding elements like crown molding, baseboards and accent trim makes cabinets feel integrated and expensive.

Easy ways to incorporate molding include:

While hiring a carpenter to install molding costs a pretty penny, with a little DIY grit, you can add it affordably:

Expect to spend around $200-$500 on molding and tools to trim out an average kitchen. Though not cheap, it's far less than replacing the cabinets but with huge impact.

For bonus style points, consider painting your molding in a contrasting color to really make it pop. White molding helps lighten up darker cabinets, while black trim adds drama.

Crown Molding Creates Elegance

There's something so elegant about crown molding topping kitchen cabinets - it gives a built-in, custom look. Focus on crown molding first for the biggest style impact.

Spend Less with DIY Install

While installing molding takes skill, with patience it can be a DIY job. Watch online tutorials, rent tools and take your time for big savings.

Two-Tone Paint Pops With Contrast

Paint may seem too simple to makeover kitchen cabinets, but don't underestimate its transformative power. Specifically, painting your upper and lower cabinets different colors creates bold contrast with furniture flair.

Approaches include:

Beyond just doors, consider painting the cabinet boxes and interiors a different hue than fronts for even more contrast. The two-tone look creates depth and dimension for serious style.

Painting techniques like achieving full coverage and avoiding drips take patience but are easy enough for DIYers. In a weekend you can paint your cabinets for under $100 total.

White Upper Cabinets Brighten

A fresh coat of white paint on upper cabinets makes small, dark kitchens feel open and spacious. The lighter color reflects light beautifully.

Colorful Lowers Add Punch

Vibrant turquoise, citron or even black lower cabinets make a lively style statement. Just be sure to pair brights with neutral uppers to avoid overwhelming.

Hardware Makes a Statement

Sometimes small accents make the biggest difference. This is true when it comes to swapping out standard cabinet hardware for unique, eye-catching options.

Hardware to enhance includes:

Swapping hardware allows you to highlight a finish or metal that feels luxe and sophisticated. For example:

Look for ornate, decorative hardware styles that mimic furniture accents. Think crystalline knobs, curved pulls and cast iron hinges. Stay consistent throughout your kitchen for a custom look.

The key is choosing statement hardware that complements your cabinets rather than overwhelms. Mix metals and shapes thoughtfully for a collected furniture feel.

Update Hinges for Seamlessness

Don't forget hinges! Concealed hinges hide unattractive gaps between doors and boxes for seamlessness.

Polish with Metallics

Warm brass and textured bronze hardware against painted cabinets oozes sophisticated style. Metallics look luxe.

Additional Furniture-Inspired Touches

Take your kitchen cabinets' furniture facelift even further with these additional makeover ideas:

With limitless options, you can customize your kitchen to suit your unique style vision while maintaining a cohesive, upscale furniture aesthetic.

Giving your existing kitchen cabinets a furniture-inspired makeover is one of the most budget-friendly ways to transform the look, feel and function of your space.

With easy yet high-impact updates like adding feet, swapping doors, installing molding and selecting statement hardware, you can make cabinetry look custom for a fraction of the cost.

Hopefully you feel newly inspired to give your kitchen a furniture-influenced facelift. Start with easy swap-outs this weekend to elevate your cabinets affordably!

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