5 Cabinet Refinishing Options To Choose From

Here are five ways to refinish your cabinets and give your kitchen a fresh look without breaking the bank.

The two most frequently used rooms in our homes are the kitchen and living room. Americans typically spend around 28% of their time in these spaces, making it crucial for them to be visually appealing. Even if you can’t afford a full-scale renovation, there are still ways to update your cabinets and revitalize your kitchen.

Consider these five ideas for refinishing your kitchen cabinets that won’t cost you an arm and a leg:

Applying Solid Color Paint

One simple way to spruce up an outdated kitchen is by painting the cabinets. If dark cabinetry makes the room feel cramped or gloomy, a fresh coat of light paint can instantly brighten up the space. By focusing on painting rather than replacing entire units, you can achieve modern-looking results without spending too much money.

While this project may require some time investment, it has the potential to transform inexpensive cabinetry into stylish focal points within your home. Before diving in, familiarize yourself with common mistakes made during this process so that you can avoid them.

Cabinet Toning

Cabinet toning refers to the application of a tinted film on cabinets, similar to how one applies a clear finish.

Typically, toner is applied after one coat of clear finish, followed by a final coat of finish.

Toner can be obtained in aerosol cans or purchased as tinted water-based or oil-based polyurethane for brushing onto old kitchen cabinets. Professional spray equipment is commonly used for this process.

The challenge with using toner lies in achieving an even application. Otherwise, dark spots of color may become noticeable on the cabinets.

Cabinet Glazing for Distressed Aesthetics

An alternative method to cabinet refinishing to revitalize worn-out kitchen cabinets involves using cabinet glaze to create a distressed appearance. This technique adds uniqueness to your kitchen cabinetry.

If you prefer a traditional look in your kitchen, opting for cabinet glazing as part of the refinishing process would be an ideal choice.

By selecting different glaze colors and adjusting the amount applied, you can achieve either subtle or dramatic effects on your cabinet doors.

The procedure involves applying glaze across the entire surface and then wiping it away with a cloth to create shading.

When choosing the glaze color, try to find a hue that will complement other aspects of your kitchen. Think about the color of your appliances, countertops, floors, and backsplash.

If you have light surfaces in your kitchen such as white tile or white granite you can choose an alabaster or light grey glaze. These glaze colors work well if you have black granite in your kitchen, too.

If you have cream or brown surfaces in your kitchen, you might want to choose Sherwin Williams 7012 Creamy or Sherwin Williams 6126 Navajo White.

Pinstripe Glazing

Utilizing pinstripe glazing is a technique similar to using glaze to achieve a distressed appearance. The application of tinted glaze remains the same in both cases.

However, with pinstripe glazing, the entire surface of the cabinet is not coated with glaze. Instead, it is selectively applied to the grooves of the cabinets to create a visually striking contrast.

This particular method effectively enhances and emphasizes the architectural details of the cabinets. For optimal impact, select a glaze color that contrasts with your cabinet color.

You have various options when it comes to applying lines of glaze – from one single line up to as many lines as there are grooves on your cabinets.

Cabinet Refinishing

Cabinet Refinishing Options involve replacing worn-out and damaged old cabinet doors and drawer fronts with new ones.

This option is ideal if your existing cabinet doors are in dire condition and require immediate replacement due to wear and tear.

While this process is less expensive than completely replacing all your cabinets, it can still be two or three times pricier compared to other alternatives we’ve previously mentioned.

Furthermore, you will need to maintain your current kitchen layout if you choose this option. However, you can add crown molding, modern handles and drawer pulls, as well as glass doors for a more contemporary look for your cabinets.

If your current kitchen layout is satisfactory and you believe that painting, tinting, or glazing the cabinet doors is not possible, then replacing them may be necessary.

When opting for this approach, it is common to also replace the hinges and handles on the cabinets.

Cabinet Refinishing Options involve the removal of existing drawers and doors in the kitchen. The frames must then be cleaned and sanded. Subsequently, an adhesive is applied to ensure proper adherence to the new veneer.

Finally, the installation of new cabinet doors and drawers takes place along with fitting them with new hardware.

In conclusion, there are five ways in which you can revitalize your kitchen by refinishing its cabinets. It’s important to note that each option varies in terms of labor required as well as the cost involved.

For more information on how Surface Designers can assist you in updating your kitchen cabinets at a lower cost, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Cabinet resurfacing options involve replacing worn-out and damaged old cabinet doors and drawer fronts with new ones.