Can I reface my kitchen cupboards myself? Yes, you absolutely can reface your kitchen cupboards yourself. This DIY guide will show you how to do it step by step. Refacing cabinets is a great way to save money and update your kitchen look.
Why Choose Cabinet Refacing Over Replacement?
Many homeowners want a new kitchen look but worry about the high cost of tearing everything out. Cabinet refacing offers a smart middle ground. Instead of replacing the entire box structure of your cabinets, you only replace the parts you see most often: the doors, drawer fronts, and the visible exterior surfaces.
Refacing saves money. It also saves time. You don’t have the major demolition mess that full replacement brings. This process involves covering the existing cabinet boxes and swapping out the old doors for new ones. It’s perfect for a DIY cupboard makeover.
Planning Your Cabinet Refacing Project
Good planning makes any DIY project smoother. Before you pick up a single tool, you need to decide on your style and take accurate measurements.
Deciphering Your Style: Cabinet Refacing Ideas
What look are you hoping to achieve? Browsing cabinet refacing ideas online or in magazines can spark inspiration. Do you want a modern, sleek look or a cozy, traditional feel?
Consider these popular styles:
- Shaker Style: Clean lines, timeless look. Very popular today.
- Flat Panel (Slab): Ultra-modern and minimalist.
- Raised Panel: Adds depth and a more formal feel.
- Beadboard: Offers a charming, cottage or farmhouse vibe.
Your choice of material heavily impacts the final look. Think about how durable the material needs to be, especially if your kitchen sees heavy use.
Measuring for Success
Accuracy in measuring is vital, especially if you order new doors. Measure everything twice!
- Measure the height and width of every single cabinet opening.
- Note whether the door opens to the left or the right.
- Measure the thickness of your cabinet boxes. This matters for applying new surface materials.
- Count the total number of doors and drawer fronts needed.
Preparing the Existing Cabinets
This is the crucial groundwork phase. Poor prep leads to poor adherence later on. Think of this as kitchen cupboard resurfacing preparation.
Removing Doors and Hardware
First, take everything off the cabinets.
- Remove Doors and Drawers: Use a screwdriver to take off all cabinet doors. Place them in a safe area, perhaps leaning against a wall covered with a soft blanket. Keep all hinges and screws organized. You might reuse them, but it’s often better to replace them if you change door styles significantly.
- Take Off Hardware: Remove all knobs and pulls from the doors and drawer fronts. Keep the hardware safe if you plan to clean and reuse it. If you are updating kitchen cabinet hardware, set the old pieces aside for disposal or donation.
Cleaning and Degreasing
Kitchen grease sticks everywhere. You must remove all oil and grime so the new surface material sticks properly.
Use a strong degreaser. Vinegar and water work well for light cleaning. For heavy grease, use a dedicated cabinet cleaner or TSP (Trichloro-Sodium Phosphate) substitute. Wipe everything down thoroughly. Rinse with clean water and let the cabinets dry completely.
Minor Repairs
Look closely at the cabinet boxes. If you see any deep gouges, loose joints, or chipped veneer, fix them now. Use wood filler for holes or cracks. Let the filler dry fully, then sand it smooth.
Choosing Your Refacing Materials
The materials you select determine the longevity and the final aesthetic of your makeover. Choosing kitchen cabinet materials is one of the biggest decisions you will make.
Veneers and Laminates
You have several options for covering the existing cabinet boxes and drawer fronts:
| Material Type | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Veneer | Real wood look, high quality. | Can be expensive, requires careful finishing. | Achieving a premium, classic look. |
| Laminate | Very durable, easy to clean, budget-friendly. | Edges must be sealed perfectly. | High-traffic kitchens; modern styles. |
| Thermofoil | Seamless finish, comes in many colors. | Can peel or bubble with excessive heat (e.g., near a dishwasher). | Budget-conscious projects needing a smooth finish. |
If you choose laminate, ensure you know the best methods for laminate kitchen cabinet renewal. This often involves precise cutting and edge banding.
New Doors and Drawer Fronts
You can often reuse your existing cabinet boxes, but you almost always replace the doors.
- Order New Doors: You can order custom-sized doors made from wood, MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard), or composite materials. MDF is stable and paints beautifully. Solid wood offers the best durability.
- Reface Existing Doors: If the door frame is sound, you can apply new veneer or laminate directly onto the existing door faces. This is part of an intensive cabinet door replacement guide philosophy where you are updating rather than replacing entirely.
Step-by-Step Refacing Process
Now we move into the actual application phase. Follow these steps carefully for the best results.
Step 1: Applying Surface Material to Cabinet Boxes
This applies to the visible side panels of the cabinets.
- Cut the Material: Based on your measurements, cut your chosen veneer or laminate slightly larger than the cabinet surface. Always use sharp blades for clean cuts.
- Apply Adhesive: Use a strong contact cement or a heavy-duty spray adhesive recommended for your material. Apply the adhesive evenly to both the cabinet surface and the back of the veneer/laminate. Let the glue set according to the manufacturer’s instructions (it usually needs to get tacky).
- Adhere the Material: Carefully align the material and press it firmly onto the cabinet face. Work from the center outward, smoothing out any air bubbles immediately. Use a rubber roller or a smooth block of wood to apply firm, even pressure across the entire surface.
- Trimming Edges: Once fully adhered, use a sharp utility knife or a router with a flush-trim bit to carefully trim the excess material flush with the cabinet edges. Sand the edges very lightly if necessary for a smooth transition.
Step 2: Dealing with Drawer Fronts
Drawer fronts are often handled similarly to doors, but they must be flat surfaces.
If you are using peel and stick cabinet covering for a very quick refresh on flat drawer fronts, ensure the surface is perfectly smooth first. Peel and stick works best on flat surfaces that don’t see heavy corner handling.
For a more durable finish, apply veneer or laminate just as you did on the boxes. If your drawer fronts have routing or grooves, this step is much harder, and ordering new fronts might be simpler.
Step 3: Painting Kitchen Cabinets Tutorial (Alternative Method)
If you chose to paint the existing boxes instead of applying veneer, this section provides the necessary steps. This is a major part of kitchen cabinet refinishing techniques.
- Sanding: Sand the existing cabinet surfaces thoroughly. Start with medium-grit sandpaper (100-120 grit) to remove the old finish gloss. Finish with fine-grit (180-220 grit) for smoothness. Wipe away all dust.
- Priming: Use a high-quality bonding primer, especially if painting over laminate or slick surfaces. Primer ensures the topcoat sticks well. Two coats are often best.
- Painting: Use a durable paint formulated for cabinets (usually a high-quality enamel or cabinet-specific paint). Use a fine-bristle brush for corners and a high-density foam roller for flat areas. Apply thin, even coats. Most painting kitchen cabinets tutorial guides recommend two or three light coats rather than one heavy coat to prevent drips and ensure hardness.
- Curing: Allow ample time for the paint to cure. Cabinet paint needs several days to fully harden before heavy use.
Step 4: Installing New Doors and Drawer Fronts
This is where the kitchen starts looking brand new!
If you ordered custom doors, they should fit perfectly into your existing box openings.
- Hinge Placement: If using new doors, you might need to drill new hinge cups into the back of the door if they are not pre-drilled. Overlay hinges are the easiest for DIYers as they mount directly to the cabinet frame.
- Attaching Doors: Hold the door in place against the frame. Attach the hinges to the cabinet box first. Then, attach the door to the hinges. Do not overtighten.
- Adjusting Alignment: This is the most important part of door installation. Most modern hinges have three adjustment screws:
- In/Out: Moves the door closer to or further from the cabinet frame.
- Up/Down: Adjusts the door height relative to the adjacent doors.
- Left/Right: Moves the door laterally to ensure even gaps between all doors.
Take your time adjusting until the gaps around every door are uniform and straight.
Final Touches: Hardware and Finishing Touches
The hardware selection can drastically change the style, even if the cabinet color stays the same. Updating kitchen cabinet hardware is an easy, high-impact change.
Installing Knobs and Pulls
- Mark Holes: If you are using new hardware, you need to mark where the holes will go on your new doors and drawer fronts. Use a template if one came with your hardware, or carefully measure the distance from the top/bottom and the side edge.
- Drill Pilot Holes: Drill small pilot holes from the front side, just large enough for the screw threads.
- Attach Hardware: Insert the screws from the back of the door/drawer front and secure the knob or pull on the front.
When selecting hardware, consider the scale. Very large pulls look awkward on small drawers. Matte black, brushed brass, or polished chrome are common finishes that work well with many cabinet refacing ideas.
Durability and Maintenance After Refacing
How long your newly refaced cabinets last depends on the materials used and how well you care for them.
If you used high-quality veneer or durable laminate, the surfaces should last many years. If you painted, use gentle cleaning methods.
Maintenance Tips:
- Wipe spills immediately.
- Clean with mild soap and water only. Avoid harsh, abrasive cleaners which can dull finishes or break down adhesives.
- Check hinge tightness every year or so, as vibrations can loosen screws over time.
Refacing is a fantastic way to get a custom, updated look without the massive investment of a full remodel. With careful measurement and patient application, your DIY cupboard makeover will look professional and last for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cabinet Refacing
How long does cabinet refacing typically take a DIYer?
For a standard kitchen with 15-20 cabinet doors, a dedicated DIYer usually takes between 3 to 5 full weekends. The biggest time sinks are the prep work (cleaning, sanding) and the detailed alignment of the new doors and hardware.
Is refacing cheaper than painting?
Generally, refacing using laminate or veneer on existing boxes is comparable to a very high-quality, professional painting kitchen cabinets tutorial job. However, if you opt for new custom doors made of solid wood and apply the surface material yourself, refacing is often less expensive than ordering entirely new cabinets.
Can I reface cabinets with rounded corners?
Refacing rounded or curved cabinets can be tricky. Applying flat laminate or veneer to a curve requires significant skill to avoid wrinkles or bubbles. For curved fronts, it is often easier to order custom-made replacement doors designed specifically for that curve, or to use a flexible wood veneer that can conform better to the shape.
What is the best material for high-moisture areas like under the sink?
In areas prone to moisture, avoid materials that rely solely on adhesive contact, like thin peel-and-stick coverings. Choose solid wood doors or high-density MDF doors that are properly sealed and painted. If you are covering the boxes, ensure the edges of the applied material are completely sealed against moisture ingress to prevent swelling.
Do I need to remove the cabinet boxes from the wall?
No. The great benefit of refacing is that the main cabinet boxes stay in place. You only need to remove the doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and any shelf supports necessary for application. This avoids complex plumbing or electrical work.