How to Redo the Front of Cabinets

Remove your cabinet doors, leaving the hinges in place if you plan to reuse them; if not, remove these as well. Take off any handles or knobs, and store all the hardware, including the screws from the hinges, in one location.

Label each cabinet door in an inconspicuous spot so you know where it should go when you reinstall it. Even if all the doors look the same, slight irregularities can make them hang or work improperly if you install them in the wrong location. Mark the cabinets themselves with the corresponding number to avoid any confusion.

Purchase a paint or stain that matches your cabinets as closely as possible. In most cases, you can either look up the stain or paint color with the manufacturer of your cabinets or purchase stain or paint from the company.

Apply a stripper to the front of each cabinet door. Let it sit for the manufacturer's recommended time, then use a putty knife to remove the finish from the wood. Flip the doors over, and repeat this process on the other side.

Sand the cabinet doors lightly, and use a tack rag to wipe down the surface to remove any dust.

Apply your stain or paint according to manufacturer's directions. If you are using paint rather than stain, use a spray paint or a paintbrush instead of a roller to get the smoothest finish. Let the cabinet fronts dry for the recommended time.

Reinstall the knobs or handles onto the doors, or install new ones. Replacing your cabinet hardware is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom.

Reinstall your cabinet doors using the existing hinges or new ones.