Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets Transforms the Room

Refinishing you kitchen cabinets will rejuvenate them, and you might really be surprised at what it does for the aesthetics of the room.

First, thoroughly inspect your cabinets to determine if they are in a good enough condition to keep. Keep an eye out for wood rot.

Check the structure of the cabinet boxes, and examine all of the hardware to see if any of it needs replacing. You can usually order a full set of hardware, but if the old material is still good, you can get by with just replacing the few needed pieces.

Lay some drop cloths or plastic over the countertops and mask off any other hard- to-cover areas for adequate protection. Then unscrew the hinges in the cabinets, and take off the doors.

They probably will be pretty dirty because kitchens see a lot of food and grease, so it will take some time to clean them properly. When you are sure that they are squeaky clean, sand them all until you have a smooth, level surface that will hold the new paint. Go over every inch of them with a wet cloth to remove all of the dust. (This is essential, as dust can ruin a finish job.) With either a roller or spray can, apply the varnish or paint. It is a good idea to start with the doors and then work on the frames while the doors are drying.

Apply two coats. Allow a day for all of the components to dry adequately. Then reattach the doors.

Refinishing kitchen cabinets is by no means beyond you if you have a basic set of do-it-yourself skills.