How to Modernize an Old Stove

Modernizing your old stove does wonders for the look of your kitchen.

Replacing an existing stove can be an expensive undertaking, but updating one can be more fun and require less money out of your pocket. If you have an older stove that needs a facelift, you have a few options that vary with respect to time commitment, skill level and monetary investment, but are sure to modernize your kitchen. Retaining your older stove's style and enhancing it with modern upgrades can even lend a more rustic, chic look to your interior design scheme.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Appliance primer
• Appliance paint
• Paint brush
• Burner grate guards of your choice
• Burner drip pans of your choice
• Stove door front of your choice with accompanying hardware
• Stove top of your choice with accompanying hardware
• Screwdriver
• Wrench and/or socket wrench set
• Appliance finishing film of your choice

Instructions

1. Paint your stove. Sand the surfaces of the stove you want to paint and prime them. After the primer dries, use appliance paint in a vibrant, modern color of your liking to paint the stove. This will make your stove and your kitchen pop. It should take about 12 hours for the paint to dry.

2. Replace the door or top of your stove with a more modern version that will fit on your model and give it an enhanced, upgraded style. Remove the old door and top of your stove using a screwdriver, adjustable wrench and/or socket wrench set, depending on your stove's hardware, before installing the new parts.

3. Remove your old burner grate guards and drip pans and replace them with new, updated ones to modernize your stove's look inexpensively and quickly. Stainless steel and iron guards with different colors and finishes are available at your local hardware or appliance store.

4. Put an appliance finishing film on your stove, such as stainless steel, to give it a new, updated look without replacing the whole unit. Many stove finishing films are adhesive or magnetic and easy to apply.

Tips & Warnings

• Apartment Therapy recommends contacting the manufacturer of your stove to get a list of door fronts and tops that will fit it. You can also contact a company that does custom stove fronts and tops.

• If you choose to paint your stove, tape off any areas you don't want to get color using painter's tape.

• Be sure to unplug your stove and turn the gas off before doing any upgrades or modernizations for the safety of you and your home.

• Only paint your old stove in a well-ventilated area so any fumes can dissipate and wear a face mask for extra protection.

References

• Apartment Therapy: Don't Buy New Appliances. Update Your Old Ones