How to Remodel Hart Cabinets

Staining or Painting

• 1

  Cover your countertops, floor and any nearby appliances with plastic or paper sheeting. Secure the plastic or paper sheeting in place with painters tape. Open any available windows in the room for ventilation.

• 2

  Remove the doors from the cabinets. Move the doors to a well-ventilated area and cover the floors with plastic or paper sheeting, secured with painters tape.

• 3

  Remove the stain or paint from the cabinet doors using lacquer or paint stripper and clean rags. After all the paint is removed, sand the doors with 150-grit sandpaper to create a flat surface.

• 4

  Paint or stain the outside of the doors. Allow the doors to dry before flipping them over and applying a coat of paint or stain to the inside of the cabinet doors. Let the paint or stain dry on the inside of the cabinet doors before applying a second coat to both sides.

• 5

  Finish the cabinet doors with a coating of polyurethane for paint or lacquer for wood stain. Allow the finishing coat to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• 6

  Strip the paint from the built-in cabinet fixtures in your room using lacquer or paint stripper, and sand the cabinets with 150-grit sandpaper just like the doors.

• 7

  Paint or stain the built-in cabinets using the same method as the doors. After the second coat is finished drying on the built-in cabinets, you can rehang the doors on the cabinets.

Quick Fixes

• 8

  Replace the hardware on the cabinet to provide a more modern look. Cabinets tend to look dated after 15 to 20 years, and replacing the cabinet handles and hinges with something more modern, such as brushed or polished steel, can breathe new life into your kitchen.

• 9

  Use stencils to paint a pattern or design on the outside of your cabinets over the existing paint. Stencils are available at home supply stores and art stores. Choose a design that matches your kitchen style. For example, a fleur-de-lis pattern fits well in a home with French or English antiques or rustic style furniture. In a more contemporary house, a geometric or non-linear pattern is best.

• 10

  Reface the doors by buying new cabinet doors that are the same size as your other kitchen doors but with an updated look. Contemporary homes can benefit from clear glass doors, and more transitional style homes can use frosted or painted glass doors. If you have a more traditional style house, consider replacing the doors with dark wood that will blend with an array of colors and patterns.