How to Upgrade Kitchen Cabinets by Replacing the Doors

Replace the doors on your kitchen cabinets for a brand-new look in your kitchen.

Replacing the doors on your kitchen cabinets can give your kitchen a refreshing, brand-new look without the expense of completely changing your cabinets. Your new doors should complement the style and design of the cabinets, yet update them at the same time.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Paper
• Pen
• Drill or screwdriver
• Sandpaper (optional)
• Paint and painting supplies (optional)
• New doors

Instructions

1. Browse through home-decorating magazines, kitchen magazines and home-improvement websites to get a feel for what kind of cabinets you want. Visit home-improvement stores or cabinet specialty stores. Narrow down the style, color and finish that you want. For example, do you want ornate, carved doors? Glass doors? Doors with knobs?

2. Measure every cabinet door you plan to replace. Even if two doors appear to be the exact same size, measure both doors. Write down the measurements to keep track of them. Drawing a floorplan of the kitchen to note the size and location of each door might make it easier to keep track of which doors will go where. Use these measurements to make or order the doors you want to use.

3. Remove the old doors. You will need to use a drill or screwdriver, depending on your hardware. Remove the hinges and hardware if you plan to update your hardware or paint the cabinets.

4. Sand and stain or paint the cabinets if you wish to do so. They could match the doors you plan to put on or contrast with the doors, as long as they look good together. For example, red doors hung on white cabinets could make a bold statement.

5. Reinstall the hinges or install updated hardware. Screw the hardware into place.

6. Hang your new doors by screwing them into the hinges where appropriate. Put on your hardware, such as knobs or handles, if you're using hardware.

Tips & Warnings

• Sand and paint your current doors for a less-expensive option if the style of the doors isn't the problem.

• Double- and triple-check your measurements to avoid time-consuming, costly mistakes.

References

• New Doors: Do It Yourself Cabinet Doors
• Rob Hazelton: How to Install Glass Cabinet Doors