How to facelift kitchen cabinets?

October 15, 2024

Facelifting kitchen cabinets is one of the most cost-effective ways to give your kitchen a new look without spending tons of money and time on a full renovation. Cabinets are one of the dominating visuals in a kitchen, so giving them a facelift, even a minor one, can dramatically transform the look and feel of your kitchen.


When we talk about "giving your cabinets a facelift," what we're talking about is changing their appearance without completely removing the old cabinets and replacing them with new ones. This most typically involves cabinet refacing, which means keeping existing cabinet boxes and replacing the cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware to give you a new style, color, or both.

Most consumers don't know how to facelift kitchen cabinets themselves and rely on expert cabinet refacing services. This is a good idea if you are uncertain about your ability to go the DIY route. Before you decide on new cabinet doors and new drawer fronts, it's important to assess the condition of your cabinets. If they are still in good shape and provide the functionality you need, and all you want is a new look, then giving them a facelift with cabinet refacing is ideal.

One option for giving your kitchen cabinets a facelift is having them painted. This is a relatively fast and inexpensive way to get a new color without changing the style of your cabinets.


Painting your cabinets requires removing the old paint, prepping the surfaces, and applying the new paint. While it's one of the fastest ways to give your cabinets a facelift, it does require a bit of skill and patience. A sloppy paint job can ruin the aesthetic of your cabinets and kitchen.

If you're looking for another way to give your cabinets a facelift but are on a tight budget, simply changing handles, knobs, and hinges can significantly alter the appearance. Getting rid of dated brass for stainless steel or matte black can give a modern vibe. On the other hand, ceramic or a brushed antique can provide a more rustic feel. It's important to note, however, if your cabinets are older, hinge and hardware options may not perfectly align, which is why so many people opt for professional installation.

The best overall option when you want a cabinet facelift is cabinet refacing. Cabinet Refacing takes less time than fully renovating cabinets and costs up to 70% less. If your cabinets are solid and have good frames, but the doors are outdated and damaged, replacing the doors, cabinet drawers, and hardware is a great way to give your cabinets a facelift that will change everything.


When you choose cabinet refacing, you can select doors that fit the style you want, whether you're looking for a modern flat panel, a traditional raised panel, or a sleek glass insert. Glass cabinet doors can make a kitchen feel more open and add a touch of elegance, especially frosted or textured glass. Cabinet refacing requires the installation of matching veneer and can be a complex project for anyone who isn't knowledgeable about the process.

Adding crown molding or trim to your cabinets is a great way to elevate the look of your cabinets. Crown molding can be added to the tops of the cabinets to give them a more polished, built-in look. Decorative trim or molding can also be added to the front of plain cabinet doors to create more depth and personality. If your cabinets are flat or simple, molding can add sophistication and can even make them appear more expensive.

Changing your cabinet doors is the main element of cabinet refacing, but there are features you can add like open shelving. Open shelving can be a beautiful design choice that lets you display dishes, glasses, and other kitchen items.

Finally, let's talk about lighting. While lighting isn't a part of your cabinets, it can make a huge difference in the aesthetic of not only the cabinets but your kitchen in general. In short, lighting can showcase your new cabinets in a myriad of ways. Under-cabinet or track lighting can brighten your kitchen and make the cabinets stand. It also creates a welcoming ambiance, especially in the evening. LED strip lights or puck lights are popular options for under-cabinet lighting and are fairly easy to install. These lights come in many color temperatures, from warm to cool, letting you customize the lighting to suit your desired overall atmosphere.

Give Your Kitchen Cabinets a Facelift with Cabinet Reface Direct
Cabinet Reface Direct offers full-service cabinet refacing solutions that include free estimates, multiple design options, and an affordable, fast, clean installation process. As the manufacturer and installer, we are involved from start to finish, ensuring that every detail is perfect, from the quality of the materials to the completion of the job. It also means that we are able to bring our customers substantial savings because there is no middleman.

We believe everyone should have access to the cabinets of their dreams, so we also offer financing with interest rates as low as 0% and $99 a month.

If you're looking for something more, we offer other home improvement services with the same quality and satisfaction as our refacing services, including countertops, custom cabinets, kitchen organization, accent walls, and even full renovation. Our goal is to always give our customers the home of their dreams at a cost that fits their budget.

Give your kitchen cabinets a facelift without the cost and hassle of renovation. Call Cabinet Reface Direct at 646-681-2715 to schedule a FREE in-person consultation.