It’s a New Year and you’re ready for a change in your kitchen or bathroom. However, your budget doesn’t have the room for a total renovation. If this sounds familiar, then it’s time to consider a happy middle ground: cabinet refacing.
With this process, your kitchen or bathroom will get a whole new look and feel without the hefty price tag of brand-new custom cabinetry. By refacing your cabinets, you’re simply changing out the doors, drawers, and hardware while keeping the cabinet boxes in place. This not only saves time and money but natural resources, too.
If you’re considering this as a DIY project, there are some things you need to know ahead of time. Before you roll up your sleeves and get to work, take a look at these common do’s and don’ts for a cabinet refacing project.
#1: Do Plan Ahead Before Refacing Cabinets
When it comes to the planning stage, there’s a lot to cover. But the more you plan ahead, the smoother the project will be. Planning also helps avoid the likelihood of unwanted surprises.
Before you begin, make sure you plan out every step from start to finish. Consider everything from the schedule you want to keep to your budget and the cost for every item. Don’t forget small details like the cost of hinges and hardware. When it comes to nailing down areas like cost and timing, it’s best to over-estimate than under-estimate.
Also, before you start refacing your kitchen cabinets, have a plan in place for how you’re going to make meals during the project. You may be able to access parts of your kitchen, but not all of it. Or, depending on the space, it might be best to close it off the kitchen entirely and set up a temporary cooking area somewhere else in your home.
#2: Do Take the Current Layout into Consideration
Before you dive into your cabinet refacing project, make sure you’re considering the current layout of your kitchen. This is important because changing the style of size of cabinet doors or drawer fronts could change the subtle ways your cabinets and appliances interact. Cabinets close to the microwave or refrigerator often need to be configured so opening doors don’t conflict with each other. Even the subtlest change in the size or dimension of the cabinet doors or drawers can cause an issue, as can changing out the type of cabinet hinge being used.
#3: Do Consider the Existing Look of the Space
You want a fresh new look at a cost you can afford. However, don’t ignore the style and color of what’s already in your kitchen or bath. Picking a new refacing option you like, rather than one that will complement the whole space, an put you at risk for creating a visual clash of colors or styles.
If this happens, you’ll end up downgrading the whole appeal of your home rather than improving it. So work with what’s already there, considering how new cabinet refacing options will fit in before making a final decision.
#4: Don’t Rush the Cabinet Refacing Process
When it comes to your cabinets, they’re one of the most important parts of your kitchen or bathroom. It’s, therefore, crucial to take ample time with the process. Do not try to rush through or skip steps in order to get the job done quickly or cut corners to save on costs. If you do that, you might get done a little earlier or save a few dollars, but you’ll pay later in terms of quality, longevity, and value.
#5: Don’t Focus Too Much on Trends
Cabinets can be time consuming and expensive to refinish or reface. That’s why, when you’re choosing a style, you should consider going for a more classic, traditional or neutral aesthetic.
If you want to make a bold or colorful statement, do so with a new paint color on the walls, artwork in the kitchen, or other decor choices that are simpler and less expensive to change out. You can also choose unique hardware for your drawer pulls and knobs to add a touch of flair.
Design trends come and go quickly. That one “must have” trend you chose can start to look dated in just a couple of years. A classic look, however, will never go out of style.
#6: Don’t Choose Low-Quality Materials to Save Money
If you have hardwood cabinets already, don’t use veneers when covering the boxes. These materials aren’t as high quality and are more susceptible to damage in a shorter amount of time. This is especially true of thermofoil veneers, which have a surprisingly short lifespan, reducing the value of the cabinets dramatically.
#7: Make an Easy Choice, Choose N-Hance
Instead of dealing with all these do’s and don’ts, you can instead give N-Hance® a call and hand off your cabinet refacing job to professionals. When you do, you can avoid costly and common errors.
You’ll also get expert help choosing a style and color that will look stunning now and for years to come. As a result, you’ll get higher quality cabinets without all the hard work, stress, and energy.
Interested in transforming your kitchen or bathroom space with cabinet refacing? Call your local N-Hance at (855) 642-6230 today to request a FREE estimate.