I hate my cupboards. They are that cheap wood looking stuff. They are in good condition but I can not afford

Question

new ones. Does anyone know how to spiffy them up at minimal cost?

Answer 1

If they are the fake woodgrain particle board cupoards, you don't have many choices. many products and cleaners actually remove the "wood look" from the pressed sawdust. If you just want them shinny clean again. Try Murphy's oil soap. If they have lost there sheen. and are actually stained cupboards. You can use a product called "Watco" Just wipe it on. A great product.

Answer 2

My cabinets were also cheap wanna be dark wood. I painted with enamel (almond color) Looked good but after a few years needed something to brighten them up. I re-did my Kitchen in Roosters, new curtains and all. But my cabinets were still plain so I bought some material in check pattern and covered the doors in material. My cabinet doors have the frame around them so I covered just the middle part with the material. I cut the material to fit and then sprayed some adhesive (craft section at Wal Mart) on the material and put them on the doors. I have done this in the past and when I want to change just pull off and put up a different color of material. I also used some of the material and put it on the border of my place mats to spruce them up and match the kitchen more. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I also had the same problem, I went to Home Depot and discovered that the company Mills Pride cabinet had a product cataloug on web. (millspride.com) went under product catoloug and found sizes of all the outside doors to replace my cabinets. Did this over a period of 2 months and I now have a brand new kitchen without replacing the the entire cabinet. I had been given an estimate of $30,000 to do what we did ourselves for under $4000. and this includes the new sink, stove, dishwasher, counter top, hardware and all. I even gave myself some rollout drawers to save my back. Good Luck. <> PS the doors are in package B, C, etc.
they are found on open stock at Home Depot, just match what you need in the correct style that you want, ex. Sherwood, Classic, etc.
also ask them what style is being discontinued,
and some items you may have to special order.

Answer 4

Go to your home improvement center and look for a display from Quality Doors. They have a VHS/DVD video of a couple refacing an entire kitchen in one weekend. You could reface the actual cabinets with the wood veneer they have (it works like contact paper but it is real wood) and then later on change out the doors. You might be surprised at the options available.

Answer 5

Well you could go to your local store and get shelf paper. They have some that looks like new wood. It is self adhesive like laminating paper and is easy to apply. Just put this on your shelves and they will look like new. The outside of them can probably be painted or stained. One way to get the stain look but use a paint so it will dry quicker and cover better is to go to the local paint store and get a gallon of glaze. It is a latex that they can tint just like paint, but it is semi transparent. It dries suoer quick and can be mixed in any color. You could get a brown mixed apply it withe a brush and then take another dry brush and go over it in the same direction or a different one to give it a wood texture. Good luck with your project I think you will do just fine.

Answer 6

The easiest way to spiff them up at minimal cost is to paint them with an oil base enamel of your color choice. Although it can chip, it will hold up much better than a latex type of paint, and will give you an even surface when using a small fine knap roller and fine bristle small trim brush. I have done this and it does make a decent improvement to dark or dated cabinets.

Answer 7

My cabinets came w/ the house 16 years ago. I have never been able to replace them. They were brown when I moved in but I repaint them in a white every few years. I remove the doors, the knobs; which are metal & repaint everything. I do this in the spring when I can do this outside. (Cover the picnic table first & paint away.)I spray paint the knobs in a glossy black.(Screws too !) I then hand paint the doors in a semi-gloss enamel white so I can wipe them down frequently. It's worked for me for 16 years & they always look like new cabinets !!

Answer 8

I had the same problem when I bought my house, not wanting to replace them, I tried painting. Didn't like the look and couldn't find a nice color. I resolved my problem by "crackling" them. It gives it a very different old world look, results depend on how dramatic you want to be with it. It is easy to do. Any home improvement store should have the products and instructions. It is worth looking into. It also hides existing imperfections and is very durable and easy to clean, won't wear or wipe off like latex paint.

Answer 9

Paint is a wonderful thing for fake wood cabinets.

I work in a cabinet manufacturing factory. we have wonderful wood cabinets, i despise when beautiful wood is painted, but fake wood ... that is best painted.

preparation is the key to a good job, fill the dents and scratches, sand sand sand and use a high quality paint (cheap will look that way) i have included sites to look at and get ideas.

good luck

Answer 10

Prime them, Kilz is great, but can make a mess if it is oil based. Paint them, you can add a thin trim to the front or around the edges and paint them the same color... I suggest brainstorming and drawing it out. New knobs can make a HUGE difference too and most hardware stores sell them in "value packs." If it is nice wood you could strip them and refinish them, I am doing this now but it is tough and very time consuming. Happy altering!