Affordable Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
Last updated September 7, 2023
Updating your kitchen doesn't have to cost a lot. If your kitchen has great storage and a great layout but not a great look, there are affordable and easy kitchen cabinet upgrades that will improve your space without the expense, time or effort of a major renovation.
This guide gives you affordable ideas like professional cabinet refacing or refinishing as well as relatively easy DIY kitchen cabinet updates like a fresh coat of paint, under-cabinet lights or different drawer hardware.
Table of Contents
Replace Doors and Drawers
Restore Your Cabinets' Finish
Refresh with a New Paint or Stain
Add Under Cabinet Lighting
Replace Cabinet Hardware
Decorate Cabinet Interiors
Replace Doors and Drawers
Create semi-custom cabinets in less time with a cabinet makeover, also called cabinet refacing.
With cabinet refacing, your cabinet frames remain in place but you can change out your cabinet doors, drawer fronts, boxes and slides.
- Choose from a variety of styles, colors, finishes, hardware and more.
- All exposed doors and drawer fronts are covered to match your replaced doors and drawers.
- Refresh your room in just a few days.
Tip: Check your cabinets for safety hazards such as sagging shelves or hanging rails. These are signs that you may need to replace your kitchen cabinets instead of refacing them. If so, The Home Depot has everything you need, including cabinet installation and free kitchen design services.
Restore Your Cabinets' Finish
Bring back the beauty of oak cabinets or other wood finishes by refinishing your kitchen cabinets yourself. Cleani all surfaces with a cleaner that removes heavy grease buildup and rinsing well. Depending on how much work your cabinets need, you may have to lightly sand them before you reapply varnish.
Refresh with a New Paint or Stain
A fresh coat of paint or stain can instantly transform your kitchen and extend the life of wood or laminate cabinetry.
Latex paints are extremely durable and work best on high-traffic surfaces like kitchen cabinets.
Choose a 100% acrylic formulation in a semi-gloss finish for best results.
Oil paint is harder to clean up, but many professionals like its super-smooth finish.
- For a bold look and new functionality, paint cabinet doors with chalk paint.
- Bring out a wood's natural grain with stain. For step-by-step instructions on staining, see our How to Apply Stain guide.
Tip: Before you paint your kitchen cabinets, unscrew the hinges and remove the doors to prevent a runny-looking finish.
Add Under Cabinet Lighting
Installing lighting over your countertops will instantly improve your kitchen's look and provide more illumination for everyday tasks.
There are several types of under-cabinet lighting to choose from like light bars, puck lights, rope lights and more. They're easy to install and most plug into your existing outlets. Use under-cabinet lighting accessories to hide the cords and give a custom look.
If you'd rather not have cords, battery-operated lighting is a good solution. Consider lighting with a dimmer switch that lets you adjust just how much light you need.
Tip: Dark or black countertops absorb light, so try bulbs with higher lumens to get the right level of lighting.
Replace Cabinet Hardware
Installing new cabinet knobs, handles or pulls is an easy and inexpensive DIY kitchen cabinet update.
Choose a style or finish that complements your current cabinetry.
Avoid drilling new holes and save time by measuring your existing pieces and choosing your new cabinet hardware in the same size and configuration.
Tip: Changing old hardware to brushed nickel or bronze options will give your cabinetry a modern look.
Decorate Cabinet Interiors
Remove your cabinet doors and dress up your kitchen cabinet interiors with peel and stick wallpaper in an eye-catching pattern. Peel and stick wallpaper goes up as easily as it comes down so it can be used to update your cabinety every season.
- Apply wallpaper to the inside of kitchen wall cabinets to make a beautiful designer statement.
- Line drawers in wallpaper or liners to add protection while elevating the style factor.
When transportation of kitchen cabinets is a challenge, The Home Depot truck rentalcan help. From pickups and vans to moving trucks, we've got you covered.
