How to Modernize White Laminate Kitchen Cabinets

Change or add hardware. Replace your existing cabinet doorknobs, handles and exposed hinges with new ones in a more up-to-date style and finish. Upgrade plastic knobs and handles to metal, wood or ceramic. Bring your old hardware to the store to ensure the new hardware fits the existing drill holes. You also can add knobs or handles to cabinet doors that don't have them.

Paint the cabinets. Paint just the doors or paint the cabinets, too, in the same color or a contrasting one. Paint the wood trim, if your laminate doors has it, to match the cabinets for an update that minimizes the dated, wood-and-laminate look. Remove the doors from the cabinets before you paint. Prepare the surfaces by cleaning them with a strong degreaser, sanding to remove shiny finishes, then applying a coat or two of a binding primer to help the paint adhere. Sand the surfaces between each primer coat and each paint coat.

Add trim to your cabinet doors to mimic the look of panels. Place the trim around the perimeter of doors. Center the trim on edges of the doors or nest two trim frames on each door. Miter the trim corners for a well finished look. Paint the trim the same color as the cabinets or use a contrasting color. Leave the exposed areas of cabinet door faces white, paint them all one color or paint each section a different color. Remove the doors and hardware before painting your cabinets.

Reface your cabinets with new doors and drawer fronts. Measure each door and drawer front carefully to ensure that you order the correct sizes. Purchase peel-and-stick veneer to cover the face frames of the cabinets to match the doors and drawers. Attach plywood panels to cover the cabinets' visible side surfaces, such as at the ends of each bank of cabinets. Paint or stain the plywood to match the cabinets' face frames.