How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

Are you into the latest styles and color trends? Maybe you just get tired of the same color after a few years. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. There are various options when it comes to updating kitchen cabinets, and most don’t involve a full remodel.

Consider cabinet refinishing, cabinet resurfacing or updating cabinets with a few new accessories. Each of these offer different benefits from a new color to a completely new door style plus upgrades. With such a wide range of price points, there is something for everyone.

Explore 3 different options to refinish kitchen cabinets below!

Over time, kitchen cabinets can start to look worn down from everyday use. Kids, entertaining and lots of cooking can easily take a toll on cabinets, not to mention built-up grease and grime. These are just some of the most common reasons why homeowners start updating their cabinet finish.

Cabinet refinishing is when you remove the existing paint or stain from cabinets and apply a new finish. Some people prefer to paint cabinets and others enjoy stained cabinets. Both methods are very similar in price and process. Other ways to refinish kitchen cabinets include cabinet refacing or updating the look with new cabinet handles and more.

Deciding to refinish, reface or update cabinets can be complex. Each option has many benefits and can give you the brand-new look you’ve been hoping for, but they also have limitations. To learn which option is best for you start by deciding how much work, time and money you’re willing to invest into your remodeling budget. Once you have a clear picture of your goals, it will be easy to move forward.

Let’s explore all three options including average pricing, pros and cons and more below.

Get a brand-new color and look that transforms your kitchen in a matter of days. Most people love the idea of cabinet refinishing and cabinet painting because it’s less expensive than replacing a whole kitchen. However, you are still left with the same cabinet function, layout and door style that you had before. Take time to decide what option would be most cost-effective and valuable to you.

Refinishing cabinets by painting or staining is an exciting project. It allows you to get involved if you enjoy DIY projects and completely customize your cabinets for relatively low cost. To skip the hard work, call local professionals for an estimate. During this process you can mix and match any color and cabinet finish for a personalized look.

With refinishing comes the tools and cost required to complete the project. Some of the most used tools include sanding blocks, paint brushes, paint trays, rollers, painter’s tape, wood filler, tarps, eye protection, gloves, orbital sanders and more. If you don’t have these tools, you will need to borrow or purchase them to complete the project.

As you can see, refinishing takes a lot of tools and time. It’s normal to expect your project to last a few days, or even a long weekend depending on the kitchen’s size. The average cost to refinish kitchen cabinets is $3,106 with a range of $1,987 - $4,496. Contractors typically charge an average of $55 per hour to refinish cabinets, so if you would like to trim your budget, consider DIY cabinet refinishing.

Learn about DIY cabinetry painting and staining steps below to see if it’s right for you.

Step 1: Remove all doors, drawer fronts and cabinet hardware 

Step 2: Clean out the kitchen packing everything away in boxes 

Step 3: Remove existing finish from all doors, drawer fronts and cabinet boxes 

Step 4: Use wood filler to repair any damaged areas or holes 

Step 5: Roughly sand all doors, drawers, and cabinet boxes then clean with a tack cloth 

Step 6: Prime the cabinets 

Step 7: Paint the cabinets 

For more information on how to refinish kitchen cabinets, explore our Ultimate Guide to Painting kitchen cabinets now!

Step 1: Remove all doors, drawer fronts and cabinet hardware

Step 2: Clean out the kitchen packing everything away in boxes

Step 3: Remove existing finish from all doors, drawer fronts and cabinet boxes

Step 4: Use wood filler to repair and damaged areas or holes

Step 5: Sand all doors, drawers, and cabinet boxes then clean with tack cloth

Step 6: Apply the wood sealer

Step 7: Apply your preferred stain

Step 8: Apply a varnish to protect the new finish

View our cabinet care guide for how to clean kitchen cabinets!

Refacing can make any old kitchen look new again. This is a great option that sits right in the middle of refinishing cabinets and full replacement. Unlike refinishing, cabinet refacing gives you access to a completely new cabinet style with new doors and drawer fronts. Each brand has a wide variety of door styles, finishes and cabinet hardware to choose from. And some even offer retrofitted storage accessories to improve your kitchen’s function.

Depending on the brand, they may provide professional services that come out to do all the work including applying new veneer to your cabinet boxes. Other brands offer a more DIY approach with new doors, drawer fronts and cabinet hardware that you install after re-painting your old cabinet boxes. Cabinet resurfacing does take hard work if you choose DIY.

On average, the cost for cabinet refacing can range from $4,300 - $10,000. The wide variation will be determined by the brand you choose, whether it’s installed for you and the design choices. Think about it this way, if you want to replace cabinets, your cabinet company of choice will have tiered options with all kinds of upgrades. It’s up to you which tiers and upgrades are added to your total.

As you can see, professionally installed cabinet doors and drawers can be costly. If you decide to go the DIY route, you will save a considerable amount of money, but it will be hard work. Like refinishing, cabinet resurfacing is labor intensive and takes time to complete. The steps are the same as cabinetry painting for your existing cabinet boxes, plus installing new doors and drawers at the end. Each kitchen is different, but it can be completed in one week or less depending on your work ethic.

Do you need to change your kitchen layout? Learn more about how to replace kitchen cabinets!

Investing time and energy into a kitchen can be lots of work. It’s okay to look for less complicated options. If you’re hoping for a simple and less expensive way to improve the aesthetic of your kitchen, here are a few quick options.

• Change out your cabinet hardware. Consider placing new knobs, pulls, or cup pulls for low-cost way to change up the look of your cabinetry. 
• Add a tile backsplash. By simply adding a timeless backsplash, your kitchen will look more polished and put together. 
• Install pendant lights over a peninsula or island. Find some show-stopping pendant lights that coordinate with your color scheme and enhance existing finishes for a beautiful focal point. 
• Paint or panel your island. With some simple DIY skills, you can completely transform your kitchen by adding a two-tone color scheme or custom paneling to your island. 

The time necessary to complete any of these projects can be a few hours to 1 – 2 days. Considering these are straightforward with minimal steps, any of these DIY projects are great for a quick kitchen turnaround. On average, costs will range between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for materials. Overall, the price and time investment will give you a big bang for your buck.

Want to skip the hard work of updating and refinishing? Consider cabinet replacement. CliqStudios offers cabinets in every style and budget, so contact a CliqStudios designer to get started!