How to Add Trim to a Cabinet Face

Adding trim to a cabinet face is an easy way to dramatically update your plain, drab cabinets without a lot of expense or mess. The idea involves gluing decorative trim over the face of the doors, giving the illusion of panels. For best results, use flat trim molding cut with simple miters. Although you can nail the trim on, glue works just as well and you won't have to worry about the nails protruding through the doors.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Tape measure
• Prefinished flat-trim molding
• Miter saw
• Wood glue
• 8 small spring clamps per door

Instructions

1. Remove the cabinet door by taking off its hinges. Lay it on a work surface.

2. Measure the upper width of the door. Mark out the measurement on a length of trim with two marks, leaving room beyond each.

3. Lay the trim on your miter saw, face up, with the upper edge along the back rail. Position it so one mark is under the blade. Turn the blade 45 degrees inward, pointing toward the measured length of the trim. Make the cut.

4. Reposition the trim so that the other mark is under the blade. Turn the blade 45 degrees in the other direction, again pointing at the measured length of the trim. It will point in the opposite direction as before, since the cut is being made at the opposite end of the trim. Make the cut.

5. Spread wood glue on the back of the cut piece of trim, drawing squiggly lines that come close to the trim's edges.

6. Press the piece onto the door, along the top, so that the miter cuts start at each upper corner of the door and angle sharply inward and down.Wipe away any glue that is squeezed out from under the trim.

7. Secure the piece with two spring clamps while the glue dries.

8. Repeat the process for each edge of the door, measuring each side before you cut. Let the mitered ends of the trim meet each other to make the corners. Repeat the process for each door.

9. Let the glue set overnight before removing the clamps. Reinstall the doors on the cabinets.

Tips & Warnings

• Lay out your trim so that it doesn't hit or block the cabinet knobs. Alternately, remove the knobs, glue the trim over the knob holes, then drill out the knob holes from the back of the door, through the trim, so that you can put the knobs on top of the trim.

References

• Kelleher Corporation: How to Mitre Mouldings