Design Tricks To Modernize Dated Wood Cabinets Before Reaching For The Paint

If you Google how to give outdated cabinets a modern upgrade without replacing them, paint is sure to appear on the list. It's true that paint can give your kitchen cabinets a completely new feel, but not everyone is a fan of painted wood, plus the DIY process is time-consuming and may require regular touch-ups. We spoke to House Digest's design historian, Sarah Bilotta, about design tricks to modernize your cabinets without a drop of paint, including refacing, staining, and hardware swaps.

The truth is that every kitchen cabinet will become outdated at some point, and it's just not feasible or cost-effective to completely replace your cabinets every few years when they go out of style. Currently, some of the cabinets most dreaded by renters and buyers include honey-toned cabinets, oak cabinets, and slab cabinets, which have a flat surface without any embellishments on the front. "Similarly, all-white cabinetry — colossally popular for the last 15 years — seems to be on its way out in favor of richer wood tones and jewel-inspired paint," Bilotta exclusively tells House Digest. "Unfortunately, replacing cabinets can be both a cost- and work-intensive burden. Finding creative ways to modernize your cabinets can save you hundreds, if not thousands, especially with the increasing cost of wood."

According to Bilotta, refacing kitchen cabinets is the "easiest and most impactful way to modernize dated wood cabinets without paint." Refacing involves replacing all of the most visible surfaces of the cabinets, such as the doors and drawer fronts, but leaving the box and frames intact. You can also replace the hardware and potentially include add-ons like new lighting, cabinet inserts, or storage spaces.

"There are myriad ways to reface wooden cabinets," Bilotta tells House Digest exclusively, adding, "The impact is quite strong and will completely change the appearance of your cabinets." For example, she mentions swapping slab cabinets for shaker cabinets in the same wood tone as the rest of your cabinets. "One of my favorite trends, too, is refacing cabinets with glass doors," she says. "This works especially nicely if you have show-offable glassware and dishes. Installing lighting in the cabinet boxes is a glorious finishing touch if you go this route."

At an average of $4,500 to $13,000, refacing is a more expensive option than painting, but less expensive than replacement, since you don't have to remove the old set of cabinets entirely or ship as many materials to your home. Refacing also takes less time than replacing the cabinets. The exact cost depends on the type of materials you use for the new cabinets, from glass to solid wood to MDF. It also depends on the price of labor, since refacing is a difficult project to take on as a DIY unless you're experienced.

Refacing may not work for those on a tighter budget. It's also not necessary if you still like the overall design of your cabinets, but not the color. In that case, Bilotta recommends simply sanding and staining the existing cabinet doors and boxes. "If you're cringing at the thought of sourcing a door that perfectly matches your cabinet boxes, you may opt to sand everything down and stain (not paint) the new door as well as the old cabinets," Bilotta exclusively tells House Digest. Just refinish the entire set and it will all match perfectly. "This is a satisfying refresh that is less work-intensive and more undoable than using paint," she says, adding, "This is a popular option for homeowners who have inherited orange-toned wood cabinets from the 1980s and 1990s. Sand away, then stain with a cool stain for a complete transformation."

Lastly, Bilotta suggests changing the cabinet hardware, which makes a surprisingly large difference if you choose the new hardware carefully to accentuate the existing cabinets. "I am not a fan of the cheaper slab cabinets that were popular in the 1970s and '80s, but they can look surprisingly chic with hidden pulls, maybe in a warm brass tone to complement, rather than try to hide, the typically bold wood tones from this period," she says.