Whether you just moved into a new home with used cabinets or you want to give your current home a fresh new look, refacing kitchen cabinets is an excellent way to improve your kitchen quickly without costing you a lot of money. The best part is that you don't need to remove the entire cabinet structure to get that exciting new appearance. The only thing you'll need to do to reface your cabinets is remove the old doors and either replace or refinish them. The process is easy and the results will be astounding!

Since the doors and drawer fronts are the most visible and noticeable parts of the cabinets, you will need to decide what you will want to do with them. Do you want to paint them, stain them, re-varnish, or replace them? What kind of handles do you want? Your style choices should appropriately match the rest of the kitchen décor, or you may find yourself wanting to replace a lot more before the job is done.

The simplest choice in cabinet refacing is self-adhering veneer. It's inexpensive, easy to handle, and takes a lot less time than painting or staining since you won't have to wait for anything to dry before re-installation. However, self-adhering veneer can be tricky to apply since the strong adhesive can be tough to remove if you've made a mistake. You'll need to take accurate measurements and be very cautious when cutting and applying the veneer to avoid problems.

Before you tackle your cabinet refacing project, and especially if you are working to improve old or heavily worn cabinets, remember to purchase new hinges and attachment hardware. Most people overlook such essential items and end up reinstalling improved doors on faulty hinges. You'll want to replace these while you're working on the doors so you won't have to detach them later.

As long as you plan ahead and take your time while refacing kitchen cabinets, you'll find that it's often a more satisfying and rewarding choice than blowing your budget on an entire facelift for your kitchen. Just remember to gather all of the tools and hardware you will need ahead of time to prevent headaches and delays during your project. Don't forget to ask your neighborhood hardware supplier for tips and advice on the best supplies and strategies.