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how to rehab plain kitchen cabinets

by Mavis Kautzer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Clean the dirty doors, drawer faces and cabinets by lightly rubbing them with mineral spirits and No. 0000 steel wool or synthetic steel wool. Work in a well-ventilated area. Too much rubbing will create lightened areas.

Full Answer

How can I make my old kitchen cabinets look better?

Feb 24, 2020 · Confessions of a Serial DIYer. 17 of 31. Before: Adding Glass to Cabinet Doors. Or, you could always add a glass panel to cabinet doors to open up your cabinets, as this blogger did. Confessions of a Serial DIYer. 18 of 31. After: Adding Glass to Cabinet Doors. Simply remove the center panel and add a plexiglass window.

How to paint kitchen cabinets?

Mar 26, 2016 · You apply veneer (a thin self-adhering layer of wood) over the exposed cabinet fronts (the thin “faces” of the cabinet body itself) to match the doors. The companies also sell 1/8-inch thick plywood veneer panels in the same wood species as the new doors and drawer fronts that are installed on the exposed side panels of the end cabinets.

What is the best way to fix kitchen cabinets that won't stay clean?

Oct 09, 2020 · Install Crown Molding. Add height, interest and sophistication to your kitchen by installing beautiful crown molding along the top of builder-grade cabinets. Hire a skilled trim carpenter to craft custom molding to your height specifications or, if you're handy with a miter saw, DIY your own.

How to reface kitchen cabinets without a major overhaul?

Apr 30, 2021 · Start with the cabinet frames, using a high-quality brush for smaller areas and a foam roller for larger surfaces. The technique is the same as for the primer — use even strokes with the brush and finish the stroke back into the wet paint and feather out the edges. Also, remember to lay off after the surface has been painted.

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How can I redo my kitchen cabinets without replacing them?

0:331:394 Ways to Update Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them (Part 1YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother. Simple way to revive your cabinets is with hardware. Including decorative knobs cabinetMoreAnother. Simple way to revive your cabinets is with hardware. Including decorative knobs cabinet pulls or specialized spray paint.

How do you revive old kitchen cabinets?

1:052:50Home Depot: How To Revive Old Kitchen Cabinetry (English)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDo a quick wet wipe and then dry wipe of the area. Allow to dry for 1 hour before proceeding. ApplyMoreDo a quick wet wipe and then dry wipe of the area. Allow to dry for 1 hour before proceeding. Apply the bond coat evenly with up and down brush. Strokes. Let the first coat dry for two to three hours.

How can I restore my kitchen cabinets without sanding and varnishing?

Applying polyurethane over the stained surface is the easiest part when it comes to refinishing kitchen cabinets without stripping them. Apply one coat, allow it time to dry, and apply another coat. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with the results. Two or three coats will give you a beautiful finish.Jul 29, 2021

How can I make my kitchen cabinets look better?

25 Easy Ways to Upgrade Basic Kitchen CabinetsTry Removable Wallpaper. ... Swap Out Boring Hardware. ... Install Sliding Shelves. ... Get Organized With Drawer Dividers. ... Hang Storage Bars Inside Doors. ... Add Interest With Furniture Legs & Feet. ... Try Open Shelving. ... Add Toe Kick Drawers.More items...•Oct 9, 2020

How do you restore a cabinet finish?

0:031:39How to Restore and Refinish Wood Kitchen Cabinets - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet's clean that up really good use terry cloth to wipe off any excess dirt. Or oil next step wouldMoreLet's clean that up really good use terry cloth to wipe off any excess dirt. Or oil next step would be your restorer finish. This comes in nine different colors.

How do you fix water damaged kitchen cabinets?

9 Steps For Repairing Kitchen Cabinets After Water DamagePrepare the cabinets for repair. ... Use a shellac-based primer on the wood. ... Apply plastic wood filler if necessary. ... Get sanding that cabinet door! ... Repeat the previous steps if necessary. ... Start painting your kitchen cabinet! ... Sand the painted cabinet doors down.More items...•Jul 9, 2021

Can you refinish cabinets without sanding?

Can You Paint Over Cabinets Without Sanding? Skipping the sanding step is OK if you're making a change from one newly painted surface to another, or painting raw, unvarnished wood cabinets.

How can I redo my kitchen cabinets for cheap?

If your goal is to update the look of your existing cabinets, the cheapest route is to simply reface them. This process involves either stripping the stain or paint from the existing cabinets and adding new stain, varnish or paint; in some cases, you might even want to refinish the cabinets with a stick-on veneer.

How can I make my kitchen look expensive?

10 Cheap Ways To Make Your Kitchen Look ExpensiveUpdate hardware. ... Use lighter colors. ... Replace cabinet doors. ... Change lighting. ... Use artwork. ... Paint your appliances stainless steel. ... Add window treatments. ... Style your breakfast nook.More items...•Nov 26, 2014

How do I make my cabinets look new?

0:165:20Refinish Kitchen Cabinets Without Stripping - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTaking out all the shells. Removing the knobs or handles. And taking off the hinges. Most of theMoreTaking out all the shells. Removing the knobs or handles. And taking off the hinges. Most of the time when I do a cabinet facelift like this I find myself updating the hardware.

How to clean black stains on cabinets?

Clean the dirty doors, drawer faces and cabinets by lightly rubbing them with mineral spirits and No. 0000 steel wool or synthetic steel wool. Work in a well-ventilated area. Too much rubbing will create lightened areas. If you have stubborn black stains left by hardware, apply oxalic acid (available at hardware stores) with a cotton swab (follow manufacturer’s directions). Rinse off the acid as soon as the stain disappears. If you accidentally lighten an area too much, apply a matching gel stain to the spot and let it dry before proceeding.

How to use a jig on a drawer?

To use the jig on a drawer face, remove the short lip from the block. Use two heavy-duty spring clamps to hold the jig in place.

What is the most expensive home improvement project?

Short of a major addition, remodeling a kitchen is the most expensive home improvement project you’ll ever undertake.

How do I clean old doors?

The shellac acts as a primer because it will bond to any finish on your old doors. Clean the brushes with denatured alcohol. After the shellac dries, apply two coats of water-based polyurethane. Sand lightly between coats.

How to match wood color?

To match the color exactly, mix two or more shades of oil-based wood putty. After filling the holes, spot-finish the putty with shellac (water-based polyurethane won’t stick to the putty). For blackened holes like the one shown, use a rotary tool with a pointed cutter bit to dig out the black areas before filling.

How do I install a door bumper?

Install door bumpers inside the lip on the opposite side of the hinges so the door will rest evenly on the cabinet frame. Hinge screws break easily. Use a small self-centering hinge bit to predrill the screw holes for the hinges. The bit should be set to keep you from drilling through the door face.

Choose the Right Paint

Purchase the appropriate supplies for your type of cabinets: solid wood, laminate or metal.

Prepare to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Painting cabinets will take several days to complete, so plan accordingly. Always wear the appropriate safety gear and open the windows for ventilation. Also, for best results you should remove the doors and drawers and work on them in an area that’s out of the way, like a garage or basement. Make sure you’ll have proper ventilation there too.

Prime Kitchen Cabinets

Applying primer is an important step in the painting process. Primer provides a suitable surface for the paint to stick to and it covers imperfections.

Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Paint can be applied with a brush and roller (DIY-friendly) or a sprayer (advanced). If you'd like to use a paint sprayer, watch this video for tips on getting the perfect finish.

Refinish Cabinet Hardware

If you’re using your old hardware, you can clean it or refinish it with spray paint for a new look. If your hardware simply needs cleaning, see Refinishing and Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets for instructions. If you want to replace your hardware instead, see our Cabinet Hardware Buying Guide for options.

Finish: Reassemble Kitchen Cabinets

Now that your cabinets are painted, consider adding shelf liners. Some liners are decorative and stick to the surface. Others are padded to help protect the surface.

See How Your Neighbor Did It

Don't just take our word for it. Hilary of Embellishments, took on this project in her bathroom and the results are impressive. She'll walk you through her real-life process of painting cabinets.#N#See how she did it.

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This wall of assorted cubbies is an inexpensive, impactful way to display cookware.

More Cabinet Makeovers

Give plain kitchen cabinets a new look by converting them to open shelving. See the step-by-step process for this easy kitchen project.

Stylish Ideas for Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Bland or boring cabinetry? Don't worry -- our collection of creative cabinet door designs, finishes, and styles will help you discover new ways to energize your kitchen.

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Overview

How Far Should You Go?

  • One of the nicest features of this project is that you can take it as far as you want. For instance, you can stop after simply cleaning and refinishing the doors. On these doors, I noticed a dramatic difference simply after cleaning off 35 years of kitchen grease, grime and broken-down finish—this cleaning made the wood grain reappear after years in hiding. The wood grain stood o…
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Choosing New Hardware

  • The kind of doors you have will dictate your hinge choice. The doors you see here, very common on older standard cabinets, have a 3/8-in. rabbeted inset with a 3/8-in. overlay (see Photo 2). This type of door makes using a completely concealed hinge problematic, if not impossible. So, I chose face-mounted hinges made for an inset door. To make the face-mounted hinges less obtrusive, …
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Use A Jig For Fast, Accurate Knob Placement

  • I chose 1-1/4-in. black steel knobs instead of pulls or handles for this project. Center the doorknobs so they fall on the diagonal line formed by the corner of the door and the intersection of the bottom and side grooves in the door face (see the jig in Photo 8). Put drawer knobs in the exact center of the drawer. If your drawer faces are all the ...
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Watch For Trouble Spots

  • We found three potential trouble spots in this project: 1. Valances over the sink 2. False sink fronts 3. Doors without a center stile If you have an ornate valance over the sink, you may want to remove it. The style may not work well with the project shown here. Most sink cabinets have a false front drawer above the doors. You’ll have to remove this piece to rout the grooves. Someti…
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Required Tools For This Project

  • Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration. 1. Clamps 2. Cordless drill 3. Paintbrush 4. Router 5. Router table 6. Wood chisel
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Required Materials For This Project

  • Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list. 1. 0000 steel wool 2. Acrylic urethane 3. Extra-fine sandpaper 4. Mineral spirits 5. Oxalic acid 6. Paint for grooves 7. Shellac (wax-free) 8. Tack cloth 9. Wood filler
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