The Simplest Method To Elevate Your Kitchen’s Appearance

Spoiler alert: Enhancing your cabinets is the key.

When considering the components that contribute to your kitchen, nothing has a greater impact on the appearance and functionality of the area than your cabinets. Opting for custom cabinetry allows for a kitchen tailored to your preferences and functions seamlessly, but the cost can be a barrier. This is where cost-effective cabinetry comes in.

How to Make Affordable Cabinets Look Luxurious

Plenty of individuals prefer ready-made cabinets and find ways to personalize them to match their kitchen’s specific requirements. However, the issue with more budget-friendly cabinetry options is their tendency to appear inexpensive. The good news is, there are strategies to enhance the appearance of existing or off-the-shelf cabinet choices to exude a more upscale feel. We consulted various interior designers and cabinet specialists for their insights on elevating the look of more affordable cabinets.

Consider Painting Them

To infuse your kitchen with some vibrant colors, you can opt to paint your cabinets with a beautiful hue. According to interior designer Victoria Holly, many affordable cabinets often come in white or gray, so her team suggests painting over them with a different color to achieve a custom look. This not only allows for adjusting the gloss level but also enables you to choose a personalized color palette for your space.

Product and design manager Milly McEwan from RJ Living recommends using eco-friendly paints in earthy shades like forest green, slate gray, or navy to add a touch of sophistication to your kitchen. These colors can elevate the overall aesthetic of the room while being environmentally conscious.

Upgrade Your Cabinet Doors

An effective cost-saving strategy for cabinets is to opt for affordable boxes and invest in high-quality cabinet doors. According to Teri Simone from Nieu Cabinet Doors, directing your budget towards eye-catching doors can significantly enhance the overall look of your space and add a touch of luxury. Whether you are DIY-ing your cabinet installation or working with existing ones, you have the option to select custom doors, hardware, and finishes from a refacing company. You can then choose to install them yourself or hire a professional, achieving a custom cabinetry look without the hefty price tag.

Enhance Your Cabinets with Molding

Transform ordinary flat cabinets into a sophisticated focal point by adding molding to create dimension and a custom-built look. The Home Designer recommends this technique for shaker cabinets as well, giving them a distinct and upgraded appearance.

Consider incorporating crown molding or baseboards to the cabinet tops and bottoms for a seamless built-in finish. This simple addition can elevate the overall look, especially if the cabinets fall short of the ceiling or have a basic toe kick. By matching the color precisely, you can seamlessly integrate the molding to enhance the cabinets instantly.

Upgrade Your Cabinet Hardware

Enhance the look of your kitchen by upgrading the cabinet hardware, which acts as the jewelry of the room. By replacing ordinary and dull cabinet pulls or handles with more unique options, you can not only transform the appearance of your cabinets but also the overall ambiance of the kitchen. According to McEwan, opting for vintage or artisan-made pulls and handles can add character and a sense of quality to the space. Simply changing the hardware to better reflect your style, whether it’s modern and sleek or warm and inviting, can instantly elevate the luxurious feel of your kitchen.

Upgrade Your Cabinet Hinges

Swapping out your cabinet hardware goes beyond aesthetics; it can also improve your kitchen’s functionality. According to Raymond Boozer, a leading designer at Apartment48, choosing slow-close hinges is a smart move that pays off. These hinges prevent cabinet doors from slamming, reducing wear and tear on your cabinets and enhancing their longevity.

Avoid Excess

Emphasizing the principle of “less is more,” renowned designer and former Queer Eye participant Bobby Berk advises simplicity, particularly in kitchen cabinet design. Instead of opting for intricate detailing or busy patterns in wood grain, Berk suggests choosing a more minimalist approach. His preference typically leans towards flat-front cabinets or panel-style doors, which exude a classic and enduring appeal. Moreover, these styles offer flexibility for future updates through a fresh coat of paint or updated hardware.

Conclude with Illumination

After transforming your cabinets, McEwan recommends enhancing the overall look with inviting lighting. You don’t have to break the bank for this. According to her, “Under-cabinet LED strip lights create a cozy ambiance and can accentuate the cabinetry effectively.” Subsequently, you can adorn your countertop and any exposed shelves with stunning decorative items and accessories that complement your updated style.

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