Cabinets are not just functional. They are also a major component of every kitchen's design and appearance. If your kitchen is looking a little outdated or mundane, giving your cabinets a facelift can help transform the entire space. Our real estate agents have seen some impressive cabinet updates over the years and are excited to share the ideas below.

1. Paint the Doors
   Whether your cabinet doors are stained wood or are currently painted, applying a new coat of paint to the doors can spice up your whole kitchen. It's usually easiest to remove the doors, paint them, and then hang them back up again. Luckily, most cabinet doors are easy to remove; you just have to undo a few screws.
   
   First, apply a good coat of primer to the cabinet doors. Then, follow it up with two layers of good-quality paint. For cabinets, you usually want a satin or eggshell finish. These finishes will make it easier to wipe stains and splashes off your cabinet doors.
   
   
2. Replace the Hardware
   It's amazing how different cabinets can look when you just change out the hardware. If you have knobs, remove them and replace them with longer pulls. If you have colored pulls, replace them with metal ones.
   
   If you're not sure what kind of hardware you want, visit a local home improvement store and buy a few different pulls and knobs. Remove the current knob from one of your cabinet doors, and try the others on. When you find one you like, go buy more of that hardware and use it on all of your cabinets. 
   
   
3. Add Molding
   If you have Shaker-style cabinet doors with an inlay in the center, consider jazzing them up by adding raised molding along the inlay.
   
   You can buy long pieces of thin molding at the home improvement store. Measure your cabinets' inlays, cut the molding to length, and use wood glue to attach the molding to your cabinet doors. You can then paint the molding to match your doors. Or, paint it a contrasting color so that it really stands out.
   
   
4. Remove Some Doors
   If your kitchen looks small, this is a great idea to try. Remove just a couple of doors from a couple of key cabinets in your kitchen. Remove the hinges, too. When you're done, you will have shelves inside open cabinet boxes.
   
   Removing doors from some cabinets can make your whole kitchen look and feel more open. You can put the items you use most often in those open cabinets so you don't have to open and close doors every time you want them. Or, you can display some of your favorite kitchen items on those shelves. 
   
   
5. "Distress" the Doors
   If you currently have painted doors and want to give them a more rustic, country look, consider distressing the doors. All you need to do is pull out some sandpaper and sand the paint off some key areas.
   
   While distressing the doors, focus on the raised areas and the corners. This is where the paint would naturally wear off first. If the paint is really thick, you may need to use some coarse sandpaper first and then follow up with finer-grit sandpaper.

It's amazing how making a few changes to your cabinets can transform the look of your kitchen. Whether you're in a new home or have owned your current home for a while, sometimes a simple makeover is what you need. Contact us if you're looking for a new place to call home. We can even help you find a kitchen that's ready to transform.