How to Change From Exposed to Hidden Cabinet Hinges

Back out the screws holding the cabinet's hinges to the cabinet frame with a Phillips screwdriver. Lay the cabinet door face down on a flat work surface, and back out the screws holding the hinges to it. Repeat this step with the remaining cabinet doors.

Scoop up a small amount of wood putty with a 1/2-inch putty knife. Spread the putty over the screw holes in the back of the cabinet doors and in the cabinet frame. Apply enough pressure to the putty knife to force the wood putty all the way into the screw holes.

Wait for the wood putty to harden. Sand the putty smooth with a 220-grit sandpaper. Paint or stain the wood putty to match the surrounding area.

Lay the cabinet door face down on a flat work surface. In two locations, measure 1/4 inch in from the edge the hinges will be installed on. Connect the two marks with a straight edge, and draw a light pencil line down the door.

Measure the cabinet door's height. If it is 40 inches or less, use two hinges. If it is between 40 and 60 inches, use three hinges. Measure 3 inches up from the door's bottom edge, and place a mark on the line you made in Step 4. Measure 3 inches down from the door's top edge, and place a mark on the same line. If you are installing three hinges, divide the distance between these two marks in half, and place a mark on the line.

Line up a 1 3/8-inch Forstner bit's edge with the line you drew in Step 4, next to the bottom mark you made on the line in Step 5. Drill a 1/2-inch-deep hole at this location. Move up to the next mark on the line. Line up the Forstner bit's edge with the line and make a second 1/2-inch-deep hole. If you are installing three hinges, make a third hole next to the third mark.

Place the hinge-cup pieces in the holes you bored. They should sit tight in the holes with the sides pressed against the back of the cabinet door. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the screw holes, then drive the supplied screws through the screw holes to hold the hinge-cup pieces in place.

Measure 3 inches down from the cabinet door opening's top edge and 3 inches up from the cabinet door opening's bottom edge. Place a mark at each of these locations. If you are installing three hinges, place a third mark centered between these two marks. Measure 1 inch back from the cabinet frame's front surface at each of the marks you just made.

Center a mounting plate over the bottom mark on the cabinet frame. Line up the mounting plate's front edge with the 1-inch mark you made in Step 8. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the screw holes, then drive a supplied screw through each hole to secure the mounting plate in place. Repeat with the remaining mounting plates.

Lift the cabinet door up to the opening. Clip each hinge-cup piece onto the mounting plate next to it. Close the cabinet door to check for alignment. Use the adjustment screws on the hinge to adjust the door's position over the opening. The front screw on the hinge-cup piece's arm adjusts the door side to side. The back screw on the hinge-cup piece's arm adjusts the door back to front. The adjustment screw on the mounting plate adjusts the door up and down.