How can I redo old Formica kitchen cabinets?

Vicki Curry
by Vicki Curry

I have old Formica or laminate cabinets. I don’t have any money to get new. What can I do to update them at reasonable price? Help!

  6 answers
  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Nov 04, 2018

    Take one of the cabinet doors to the paint department of the home improvement store and ask them to select paint/stains and other finishes and application tools that will work for your kitchen. They have the best selection, the most up-to-date materials and most important, the most informative sales staff to get you what you need for a professional job.

  • Chas' Crazy Creations Chas' Crazy Creations on Nov 04, 2018

    I redid mine in my laundry room with a hybrid contact wall paper. It's great because if I ever change my mind I can take it down easily. https://chascrazycreations.com/inexpensive-laundry-room-makeover/

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Nov 04, 2018

    You can try painting them. They make a product designed to paint over laminate counters and that should work on cabinets. Spot painting chipped edges (same color) may help hide the chips if the damage is minor.

  • Pamela Pamela on Nov 04, 2018

    1. Buy decent rollers meant for cabinets
    2. Clean with degreaser
    3. Fill any dings with wood patch
    4. Sand
    5. Prime (don't skimp on this, use really good stuff like Xim,- something that says it's OK on laminate)
    6. Paint
    7. Replace hardware if you can afford it.


    There are hundreds of YouTube videos on this.

  • Sue Sue on Nov 05, 2018

    Give them a good cleaning and go Retro in your kitchen


  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Dec 20, 2018

    since I don’t see photos of the level of wear and tear your cabinets have,


    I would caution anyone that a monolithic paint finish will show every imperfection in the surface and that’s called “telescoping”.


    To avoid this, one can either fill big chips with Bondo and sand them, prime & then paint,


    or I would use two very similar colors of Plastic Laminate epoxy paint and a faux sponge roller- to create a two-toned faux granite or stippled effect.


    Yes, all the prep work previously described must be done & the special epoxy paint must be used with its’ Bonding Primer.