What can I do with white cupboards?

Kandy
by Kandy

These cupboards were here when we bought the house ..hated them then...still hate them. Any cool ideas. I love wood but I'm not up to totally stripping a d refinishing. Kandy

  13 answers
  • Wendy Wendy on Mar 20, 2019

    So much potential! They are like a blank canvas. It really depends on your style. My first thought was to use wood shims to create a shiplap look. You can also paint them over with a stencil. Or, you can remove the doors and have an open shelf look. Here are some photos for inspiration.


  • 2dogal 2dogal on Mar 20, 2019

    Buy cabinet doors in whatever style you like rather than refinishing. Are those wood or laminate?

  • Darlene Nuppnau Darlene Nuppnau on Mar 20, 2019

    We used walnut wood grained contact paper on the white. Stain the wood trim the same. A bit of work but well worth the new look.

  • Darla Darla on Mar 20, 2019

    There are so many ways. Paint them a different color or I saw a listing on here once where the lady put wall paper or contact paper on her cabinet doors.

    My husband once took small molding and tacked to the doors to make a raised framework like on a door and then we painted the framework the color of the walls to tie them in. Looked really nice.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Mar 20, 2019

    We had new doors and drawer fronts built for our old kitchen cabinets. Completely transformed the look of the kitchen.


  • Dmholt4391 Dmholt4391 on Mar 20, 2019

    I agree w/ the contact Idea only not recommending walnut as your only option. You can use whatever you would like, and when you get tired of that change it again,etc. There is a 'contact' specifically made for cabinets and decor. The name to google is d-c-fix self-adhesive window film, or d-c-fix self-adhesive vinyl film (the best price I've gotten is w/ Home Depot) but you can get it also from Wish and amazon. Wish may have the best price if you find what you want. It comes in 17' x 78" or 26" x 78". I needed two rolls of the 26" w for my counter top and got Granite Beige and it cost me $33. The first time I ordered it I ordered Brown but the now they called it Beige. It looks the same, though. Because of the pattern, I guess, it still looks great, ..and I got those glass counter top protectors for the four busiest places -both sides of stove and sink. I had my doubts about it but I love it. I've had it since Nov. 2018. I think it's a little thicker than regular contact paper. It will help if you are alone in your house for several hours if you do a counter top, but for doors that won't probably matter. Good luck w/ whatever you decide to do. It will be beautiful.

  • Sue Sue on Mar 21, 2019

    They make formica paint which should work for those cabinets (I had them in one of my homes when they were in style--lol) Also add hardware such as knobs and drawer pulls that are more up to date and you'd be surprised how much of a difference it will make. If you are able, I think the idea of additional trim to dress up the doors is a good idea. If you are not, possibly glue on picture frames in the right sizes and then paint.

  • Seth Seth on Mar 21, 2019

    We had similar lower cabinets and we replaced the doors and drawer fronts. So much easier than some other methods and not that expensive. We ordered them on line. The only trouble you might run into is with hinge placement. Measure carefully.

  • Bonnie Terk Bonnie Terk on Mar 21, 2019

    You could simply paint the wood portion of the cabinets with a white chalk paint (and clear wax) then add nice hardware.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Mar 22, 2019

    There are self stock wallpapers with every kind of wood, stone design you can imagine. Relaxing is an option too.

  • Dee Dee on Mar 22, 2019

    Go to Habitat for Humanity if you have one in your area. Measure all your doors, and see if they have any that match the size. You can also paint them one color. Do not use chalk paint it will not last in the kitchen. Prime with Kiltz and get a good acrylic paint from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore or you can use Behr Majestic.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 04, 2021

    Hello Kandy,

    Undercoat and then Paint them a Grey, Raspberry, Green, any colour you like really, or you could Stencil them with a pattern or cover them with Contact or Washable wallpaper, or Fabric, or Add Panels.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Dec 28, 2021

    There are companies who will fit new doors only to your kitchen. One of the companies is called "Kitchen Magic". Or you could cover doors with wood Vaneer or Contact.