How to update kitchen cabinets

How to Update Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them

Are your kitchen cabinets starting to look tired and worn? Replacing the entire cabinets in your kitchen can be an expensive and time-consuming task. Fortunately, there are many ways to freshen up your kitchen without having to fit entirely new units. From simply painting the cupboards to actually replacing just the doors on your kitchen units, you can get that new kitchen feel without breaking the bank.

1. Paint your existing cupboard doors

Painting the doors that are already on your kitchen cabinets is a great way to change the appearance and refresh doors without replacing them. With time, wooden cabinets can start to fade and look worn, painting them can give them a whole new lease of life and change the entire look of your kitchen. When painting your kitchen doors it is best to use a water and grease resistant paint as to avoid splash marks on the doors. Read our full guide on how to paint your kitchen cupboard doors for a comprehensive breakdown of all the steps to achieving beautifully painted, professional looking cabinets.

2. Wrapping cupboard doors

Another popular method to change the look of your cabinets is to wrap them, the most common material used to do this is vinyl. Vinyl wrapped doors are a great choice for a number of reasons, one being that it is available in many different finishes such as high gloss, wood effect, matte and textured or patterned. It also comes in a variety of colours meaning you can choose something that matches your kitchen or something completely different for a contrasting look. A combination of heat and specialist tools are used to manipulate the vinyl to fit the shape of your kitchen cupboard doors and is a quick way to make a big difference in your kitchen. 

3. Adding under cabinet lighting

The addition of lights under kitchen cabinets can create a whole new feel to your kitchen. LED light strips provide a simple and cost-effective upgrade to your kitchen and can enhance your current cabinets by lighting them from underneath. The LED light strips are a popular choice due to their versatility. Often controlled by a remote, these lights have a number of settings such as the ability to change colours, flash, fade in and out or be dimmed. Whether you use them as mood lighting when the main light is off or to give your cupboards a pop of colour in addition to the main lights, the possibilities are endless.

4. Adding cabinet molding

Molding is a decorative strip of wood or fabrication that can be added to the top, sides or bottom of your kitchen cabinets. There are many different styles of molding, and it can be easily installed to add character to your cupboards. The strips of wood are usually fixed with nails but can also be secured with adhesive. This means that it can also be removed just as easily as it was installed, making it a perfect option for people looking for a non-permanent cupboard upgrade.

5. Replacing cupboard doors 

Replacing cupboard doors is the perfect solution to change the entire appearance of the kitchen without making changes to the actual cabinet structure. A cost-effective alternative to ripping out the entire cabinet system, at Lark and Larks we have a wide range of replacement kitchen doors in a variety of styles, colours and finishes. All of our cupboard doors come in standard size but are also available as bespoke, made to measure doors, making it possible to update even the most awkward of spaces. Fitting the replacement kitchen doors is simple and can be done without the need for a fitter, just attach hinges to the doors and then screw into place. 

We offer free samples in order for you to choose the most fitting colour and finish. Sample kitchen doors can be ordered at a small cost. Why not browse all of our options for replacement kitchen doors and upgrade your kitchen today!