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Updating Your Kitchen Cabinets: Replace or Reface?

When it comes to updating a kitchen, many of us consider new flooring, chic new appliances, a trendy backsplash and perhaps a few new décor pieces to spice up the space. However, when designing a new kitchen it is extremely important to consider the cabinetry.

Needham-black-and-white-kitchen-design-with-functional-cabinetsby Venegas and Company

In addition to taking up a large portion of the space, this job can likely be one of the most important (and expensive) investments in any home. One thing to keep in mind is that your kitchen cabinets do not necessarily need to be fully replaced. To save time and money, you may want to consider refacing instead of replacing.

contemporary kitchen cabinetry with wooden furnishingsGigi Olive Interiors / Rat Race Studios photography

Here are some points to consider when making this critical decision:

Do you like the current arrangement of your cabinets? Some kitchens come equipped with too many cabinets which shrink the space and make the space feel tight and crowded. On the other hand, some builders install too few cabinets which might mean you lack necessary storage. If you are experiencing either of these issues, you may need to completely re-arrange your cabinetry – which means a full replacement.

traditional-modern-kitchen-cabinetry-in-grey-with-marble-countertopsby Jason Ball Interiors

What do you think of the design? Refacing cabinets means replacing the doors and, often, the hardware. However, this won’t change the shape of depth of the cabinets themselves. If you need more space within your cabinetry, you may need an entire replacement. However, if you want the look of new cabinets without the effort of demolition and a full reconstruction, new doors and new hardware can achieve that concept.

Kitchen-with-Wooden-Tile-Backsplash-and-wooden-cabinetryby Green Line Architects / Brent Moss Photography

Lastly, what is the quality of the material? All too often, builders skimp on cabinet materials in order to save money. This happens in even the most luxurious of homes. However, top quality cabinetry can add value to your home. If you’re dealing with low quality cabinets then you may want to consider a full replacement as it will probably eventually be a necessity anyway.

white-kitchen-cabinetry-with-wooden-furnishings-and-green-wallsby Crisp Architects

Don’t forget – sometimes all it takes to freshen up your kitchen cabinetry is a fresh coat of paint.

Meanwhile, some more kitchen cabinetry design ideas

Maple-Wood-Kitchen-Cabinetsby CliqStudios

elegance-meets-contemporary-kitchen-cabinetsby IBDNJ

sleek-modern-kitchen-cabinetsby w.b. builders

Sask-Cres-Kitchen-with-black-cabinetryby Atmosphere Interior Design

ultra-contemporary-kitchen-cabinets-design-ideasPort Washington Residence

diy-wooden-kitchen-cabinetryby Richard Bubnowski Design

contemporary-wooden-kitchen-furniture-with-fancy-cabinetsby Old World Kitchens / Photography: Bob Young

streamline-modern-and-fresh-with-functional-cabinetryby DKOR Interiors

kitchen-cabinets-and-highly-modern-backsplashby Peter Rose Architecture and Interiors

Creative-Kitchen-Cabinets-and-Faux-Finishesby Creative Cabinets and Faux Finishes

white-traditional-kitchen-cabinetsby Dilworth’s Custom Design

european-kitchen-cabinets-and-shelving-unitsby European Cabinets & Design Studios

new-york-loft-large-kitchen-with-modern-cabinetsby Chelsea Atelier Architect

Carrie Dagenhard
Carrie is a seasoned blogger, entertainment journalist and all around professional wordsmith with a passion for interior design and home organization. A self-proclaimed eternal wanderer and neat freak, she enjoys sharing her eclectic tastes and zeal of creating a beautiful and balanced space through DIY home décor. After graduating with a degr[...]

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