Asked on Feb 20, 2015

Metal kitchen cabinets

Rhonda
by Rhonda
Any advice on how to update metal kitchen cabines, besides painting?
  10 answers
  • Darla Darla on Feb 20, 2015
    I suppose you could sand off the paint, texture with steel wool, and clear-coat them. Or cover with a peel-and-stick stainless steel or other material. There is also a type of paint that gives a hammered-metal appearance.
  • Jessie Jessie on Feb 20, 2015
    If you're looking for something temporary, you could try contact paper.
  • Kelly Schaffer Kelly Schaffer on Feb 21, 2015
    If there is any paint flaking sand it smooth. Grab some primer and give them a good coat . Pick your favorite paint color and go to town. If you are able to remove the cabinets or want to cover up the walls near them you could use spray paint. You could even use the texturized spray paint to get the look of stone. It looks really neat! Although if you go with the texturizing paint get a can of regular paint of the same color and apply it first. Then you won't have to buy as much of the texturized paint. It keeps your cost way down. For a project like this you can buy walmarts brand (color place 10.97 a gallon for flat paint) change up your hardware and voila!!! New kitchen!!! Hope this helps.
  • Marilee H Marilee H on Feb 21, 2015
    Sand off the paint and use an orbital sander or grinder to create a pattern of swirls in the metal.
  • Pgl Pgl on Feb 21, 2015
    First change out the handles if the cabinets are white go with a flat non shine metal or go with a color handle make it 2 different colors .Take some of the attention away from the cabinets by adding a contact paper boarder for a back splash. Metal cabinets are a real retro thing from the 50's and 70's look to the colors used then and go retro it will look smart,cute and will be fun to look for stuff flea markets and second hand stores are full of stuff HAVE FUN WITH IT ! Oh if you can find an apron with 3 pockets at the bottom hang it on the wall and use it as a place to put your large utensils.
  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Feb 21, 2015
    You said besides paint...it would help to see a picture of the cabinets. Are they smooth on the fronts? If so maybe you could add thin balsa wood to the fronts and sides of them to make them look like wood doors. Are the whole things metal or just the doors? More info would help.
  • Pat Pat on Feb 21, 2015
    I see you said..."without painting". How about changing the handles? How about making a border on the doors with contact paper? How about making a center piece with contact paper? How about stripes with masking tape (they make pretty colored, figured and width sizes now...I was surprised when I saw it). Could you even take a couple of doors off and leave open shelving? Not my cup of tea but you might like it. How about fabric glued on with wall paper paste. All these suggestions are assuming you can't paint because you are renting and want to leave the cupboards as they are now. Mother rented her house for years and used contact paper on her canisters, her counter (where granite would be), her back splash and even some pretty boxes she was using on the counter. Looked so neat and tidy and is washable also...good luck!
  • Jan Munroe Jan Munroe on Feb 22, 2015
    How about giving them a good wax with car polish?
  • K K on Feb 22, 2015
    What color are they- sometimes working with them instead of changing them is best - try a retro 50's look or a cool mix of modern & super rustic
  • K K on Feb 22, 2015
    Or use this amazing stuff called Temporary Wallpaper- it peels off likes decal when you're done with it or get sick of it & comes in tons of colors- far better & more durable than contact paper