Cheapest way to upgrade a kitchen cabinets.

I don’t have much talent nor money, what is the cheapest and easiest way to upgrade these kitchen cabinets?
  13 answers
  • Jcraw Jcraw on May 05, 2018

    I’d go with new pulls and knobs. Buy a few chrome or white samples at HD or Lowes, try in the cabinet under the sink.

    I’d also give the cabinets a good cleaning. It’s amazing how they attract crud that we don’t realize. Polish.

    I don’t know what your cabinets are made of, so I don’t know how much of a project painting would be.

    I realize your counter space is limited, but you need color. A cheerful rug would be nice. Consider finding a colorful container, filling it with beans, and using that to hold your knives. Put some cork at the bottom so as not to blunt the tips.

  • RichandTammy Whiteside RichandTammy Whiteside on May 06, 2018

    Check out https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-cabinets/-29860035


    I've seen folks here on hometalk use contact paper for achieve some pretty remarkable looks on their cabinets also!

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 06, 2018

    I would advise against putting contact paper on kitchen cupboards. The cut edges will be impossible to keep aligned, or adhered. They will curl, peel, and tear. The paper will not be durable enough to withstand any long term daily use and required cleaning without wearing unevenly. Any splits and tears in the paper will harbor bits of food and will invite bacteria to grow.

    At removal time, you will be faced with a huge mess of partially dry adhesive that will be very hard to completely remove.

  • Eloise Eloise on May 06, 2018

    I've had extremely good luck with Rustoleums Cabinet Transformations. The kits include everything you need to refinish your cabinets including the cleaner. The best part is there is no sanding required and no "use in a well ventilated area" restriction. Cleanup with soap and water.


    Check out the colors at these 2 sites: http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/transformations/cabinet-transformations-dark-kit


    http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/transformations/cabinet-transformations-light-kit


    From the website: Rust-Oleum® Cabinet Transformations® is a revolutionary do-it-yourself coating system that will completely change the look of your cabinets in three simple steps.

    • Perfect for kitchen cabinets, bath vanities and furniture
    • Easy to use, no special skills required
    • No stripping, no sanding, no priming
    • Optional Decorative Glaze lets you create your custom look



  • Jokarva Jokarva on May 06, 2018

    Paint. Research the best way to paint whatever your cabinets are made of, watch some YouTube videos, and paint them a light color. If you paint them white I'd color match the paint to your appliances, otherwise the appliances just look dingy. You'd be surprised how a little paint can brighten up a dark kitchen.

  • Kathy Kathy on May 06, 2018

    When on a limited budget (I've been there!) PAINT!! You can clean with warm soapy water. Many paints today have primer and sealer in them - so sanding, priming is not necessarily necessary!! Many stores that sell paints have gallons of paint for way less than normal because the color was incorrect. The paint is absolutely fine, just the color was not what the costumer wanted. Ask one of the paint experts what paint they would recommend -- let them know you have a limited budget. I would recommend an enamel paint in the kitchen, it wears best. You could paint the lower cabinets one color and the upper cabinets another. You could use wall paper on the wall with the window as a back splash (go all the way up to the ceiling with the wallpaper! You could use some 3" wide coordinating ribbon and glue it onto the window shade to add a pop of color there. Good Luck! Go slowly. A kitchen is the hardest to paint because you need to "work" in there as well. But do not hurry, you will mad at yourself if you rush to get it done. (I've been there as well!!)

  • Pam LoCoco Pam LoCoco on May 06, 2018

    Paint and stencil a design on them. New knobs. That should do it!

  • D fuhrman D fuhrman on May 06, 2018

    i agree, new knobs and some color. also maybe some cheery little curtains instead of the wicker blinds and a pretty rug. if there was more color i don't believe you would be as focused on the cabinets. good luck

  • Alice Alice on May 07, 2018

    Add trim to the cabinets and maybe even paint them white to look like Shaker cabinets.

  • Dona Dona on May 07, 2018

    If you are interested in new cabinet pulls, find what you like either on line or at the store, then type in the bar code. I saved so much money ordering the pulls on line. The pull that retailed for $9 was $4. worth the effort, especially if you need a lot of pulls.

  • Cindy Hagemann Cindy Hagemann on May 09, 2018

    Give them a good cleaning and replace the knobs and pulls with an updated look - that alone will brighten the space. I like to buy mine online at www.coolknobsandpulls.com. Also, remove that dark shade from the window and put up a white blind (or nothing at all, if you don't need it), add a bright rug for in front of the sink, clean everything off your counters and decide what needs to stay and what can be put away.

  • Amy Ogden-Paparone Amy Ogden-Paparone on May 09, 2018

    Hi Krista,

    Take a look at this video, I'm sure it's the best way to go for you! And your kitchens are so very similar! :D I love the after in this video!!


  • Jex Jex on Aug 26, 2018

    Painting the cupboards and new Handel wair