BHG – Refresh Cabinet Doors
1. Create Fresh Looks with Molding
If you want more value from your existing cabinets, consider adding molding. With a little glue and paint you can transform plain doors into something custom and stylish. Molding lets you create depth and detail without replacing cabinetry, and it works on many door styles—simple shaker doors, slab doors, or inset panels all benefit from a thoughtfully chosen profile.
2. Paint Can Save Faux Wood Cabinets
Faux wood cabinets often feel dated, but paint is an easy, budget-friendly way to refresh them. Clean, prime, and paint in a color that complements your space. A fresh finish can modernize the look, disguise flaws, and extend the life of cabinetry without the cost of replacement. Lighter colors brighten small rooms while darker hues add contrast and drama.
3. Glue On Embellishments for a Custom Look
Adding applied elements creates a bespoke appearance on a budget. For example, pieces of bamboo, reclaimed trim, or slatted wood applied to cabinet faces can change the character of a plain door. These details can be stained, painted, or finished to match your décor. Small, inexpensive materials and careful placement achieve an artisan look for far less than custom cabinetry.
BHG – Chicken Wire Cabinets
4. Add Unique Inserts to Cabinet Doors
Swap solid panels for interesting inserts to instantly add personality. Options include chicken wire, leaded or ribbed glass, metal mesh, mirrored panels, or fabric backed behind glass. These inserts can introduce texture, allow you to display dishware, or even hide clutter while giving a custom, curated look to otherwise ordinary doors.
5. Install a Counter Without a Full Cabinet Base
Consider open counters with shelving beneath instead of a full cabinet base. This approach creates a lighter, airier feel, especially in bathrooms where a spa-like look is desirable. A simple butcher block or stone top with open shelving below gives you storage while keeping the space visually uncluttered. Store less attractive items out of sight to maintain the clean aesthetic.
6. Repurpose Free-Standing Furniture as Built-Ins
Thrifted furniture can be adapted into functional built-ins. A china cabinet or dresser can become a vanity or bathroom storage with minimal modification. Adding a sink, cutting the top to fit, or reconfiguring drawers produces a distinctive, budget-friendly fixture. Repurposing older pieces reduces waste and often results in charming, one-of-a-kind cabinetry.
7. Think Outside the Box
Don’t be afraid to separate or reconfigure multi-piece furniture. A hutch top can become wall storage above a washer and dryer while the base becomes a vanity. This kind of creative reuse gives you two functional pieces from one item and often fits spaces in ways prebuilt cabinets cannot.
BHG – Paint Cabinet with Chalkboard Paint
8. Add Personality and Function with Chalkboard Paint
Chalkboard paint is an affordable way to add both style and utility. Painting a cabinet door or the inside of a pantry with chalkboard paint creates a message center, grocery list, or weekly menu surface. It’s a practical, playful finish that adds character without permanent commitment.
9. Refurbish What You Already Have
Before tossing old cabinets, evaluate whether a facelift will do the job. Replacing doors, adding glass panels, installing new counters, adding v-groove or beadboard paneling, and updating hardware can make an old unit feel brand new. Small, well-chosen changes often have a dramatic effect and are much less costly than full replacement.
BHG – Open Shelves
10. Remove Upper Cabinets and Opt for Open Shelving
Open shelving can make a kitchen or bathroom feel more open and curated. Use closed storage for everyday necessities and reserve open shelves for attractive dishes, plants, or styled containers. Even removing cabinet doors rather than the entire unit refreshes the space and encourages better organization. Thoughtful styling will ensure open shelves look intentional and tidy.
So, go forth and embellish, repurpose or reinvent!