How to Do Cheap Green Euro-Style Kitchen Cabinets

Breathe new life into your kitchen by replacing outdated cabinet doors with new, green Euro-style ones.

One of the easiest, cheapest ways to refresh your kitchen is by simply replacing your cabinet doors with green, popular Euro-style kitchen cabinet doors. There are a number of kitchen cabinet door manufacturers that offer green or sustainably sourced Euro-style cabinet doors with hidden hinges. Once you know the size and number of doors you need, order new the new Euro-style doors of your choice and install them yourself. It's usually as simple as unscrewing the old doors and hinges and screwing the new ones in place. When you're finished, you have cabinets that look brand new for a fraction of the cost.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pen and paper
• Cabinet doors
• Screwdrivers or screwdriver bits (Phillips and flathead)
• Drill
• Chalk or pencil
• Hinges
• Cabinet screws

Instructions

1. 

   The tape measure is one of the handiest tools when doing any sort of remodeling.

   Take accurate measurements of the width and height of each cabinet door and any drawer faces you wish to replace--emphasis on each. Particularly in older houses, cabinet doors may look the same size but might not be. As you take the measurements, write them down on paper.

2. 

   You may want to replace visible hinges to get more of that slick, Euro look.

   Find the new, green European-inspired doors you want. Search online or go to local hardware or kitchen stores to find the new doors you want. Many companies and manufacturers now offer sustainably sourced cabinet doors that were manufactured in a way that minimized waste and chemicals.

   Once you know what you want, use the measurements of the existing doors to order the new doors. Some sites you may want to try are: Doors2me, Ikea, Kitchen Doors Online or Kitchen Cabinet Depot. Make sure you order any necessary hardware to match the new doors, like door handles or knobs and hinges, particularly if you want hidden hinges. Purchasing doors pre-drilled for the hinges will make your life much easier.

3. 

   Always check when unpacking boxes to make sure everything is there.

   When you receive your new, Euro-style green doors (unless they are standard sizes, you may have to wait for them to be fabricated), unpack them to make sure you have everything you need, including all the hardware the doors. If missing anything you ordered, contact the company and make sure it sends out the proper materials; if you can't wait, go get the materials you need your local hardware store.

4. 

   Removing dishes from the cabinets before replacing the doors makes it easier to install the new doors.

   Using the screwdriver or drill, carefully remove all the old screws and take down all the old doors. It's a good idea (but not necessary) at this point to remove any breakables from the cabinets in case you slip while doing any of the installation. Save the screws, as you may need to reuse at least a few of them for the new green Euro cabinet doors.

5. Prepare the new doors for installation. Find where the doors will overlay the cabinet box and mark both the top and bottom with a chalk or pencil line. Attach hinges in the appropriate locations. Hold the door up to the cabinet box and make sure the lines at the top and bottom align with the cabinet box.

6. Mark where the screws will hold the hinge in place on the box, then put the door down. Drill pilot holes. Position the door and screw it into place. Repeat this until all the new doors are up. Erase the pencil or chalk lines and put on any knobs. Your new, green Euro-inspired cabinets are completed, at the fraction of the cost of buying new cabinets and doors. And by replacing only the doors, you've minimized waste and made the whole process more green.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time finding the doors that will make you happy for the next 10 or 12 years. You don't want to do this every year.

• Be careful when attaching the doors. If not properly placed, they will be at angles to the box or a neighboring cabinet door, making it difficult or impossible to close them properly.

References

• Kitchen Refacing: Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Resources

• Doors2me
• New Doors
• Kitchen Doors Online
• Ikea: Built-in Kitchens