Five Cabinet Refacing Ideas

By Karen Lawson
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

Cabinet refacing can add a major lift to tired kitchen decor. Unlike installing kitchen cabinets, refacing can be completed within a shorter time, and it won't short circuit your bank account. Here are some cabinet refacing ideas, and how they can enhance your kitchen's appearance:

• Changing Color: You can have your cabinets refaced with a variety of materials including wood and wood veneer. Certain colors and finishes are associated with specific types of decor; if you want a casual look, go with light or white cabinets. Darker cabinets complement traditional decor and are suitable for larger kitchens.
• White Goes Beyond Basic: White cabinets are a popular choice for kitchens; it accommodates a variety of decorative styles and doesn't overwhelm a small kitchen. If you're planning to display china or other collectibles behind glass cabinet doors, white doesn't clash with the items you want to feature.
• Reconfigure Doors and Shelving: Refacing kitchen cabinets doesn't mean you have to leave all of your cabinet doors in place. Consider removing a few of them, and reconfiguring shelving to accommodate display. You can also use some glass doors for visual interest. Breaking up a line of solid kitchen cabinets with glass and open space adds interest and gives your kitchen a custom appearance.
• Creative Finishing: If you're refacing cabinets in a workroom, art studio, or other creative space, you may want to experiment with "faux" finishes, stencils, or free hand embellishments. If you plan to add a finish to your new cabinet refacing, make sure the material you use for refacing is compatible with the finishes you want to use.
• Kitchen Hardware--Use it or Lose it: Forget about the simple, crescent shaped kitchen cabinet handles of your childhood. Ditto plain drawer pulls. You can find kitchen cabinet hardware in styles from the sleekest contemporary (no visible hardware at all) to ornate brass and crystal pulls. Somewhere in the middle is a huge expanse of hardware including motifs from leaves and twigs to animal themes and bold geometrics. Resin, glass, wood, brass, and stainless steel are a few materials used for kitchen cabinet hardware. And if you prefer traditional styles, they're still available,

Take time to consider a variety of options for refacing kitchen cabinets, you may be surprised how your kitchen turns out.

About The Author

Karen Lawson is a freelance writer whose interests include home renovation and decor. She holds an MA degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.