Cabinet Upgrade Options, From Smallest to Biggest Change

Updating kitchen cabinets is not one all-or-nothing project. There is a range of options, from a weekend swap you can do yourself to adding new cabinetry and changing how the room works. Knowing where each option sits on that range makes it easier to spend your effort where it counts.

Below are the main cabinet upgrade options, ordered from the smallest change to the biggest, with what each one changes and what it leaves alone.

Start with what bothers you most

Before choosing an option, name the problem. Most cabinet complaints fall into a few groups, and each points to a different starting point:

• “It looks dated, but it works.” The finish or colour is the issue, not the cabinets.
• “I can never find anything.” Storage and access are the issue, not the look.
• “The doors are wrecked.” Swelling, damage or a door style you no longer like.
• “The layout does not work for us.” Missing storage, an awkward corner or no island.

Many kitchens have more than one of these problems. That is fine, because the options below can be combined.

1. Hardware and small fixes

The smallest change is swapping knobs and pulls. It is quick, and you can usually do it yourself with a screwdriver. New hardware can make cabinets feel a little more current, especially if the old pieces are worn or mismatched.

What it does not change is the colour, the finish or how the cabinets function. If your doors are a colour you dislike, new handles on the same doors will only go so far. Think of hardware as a finishing touch rather than a full update, and if you plan a bigger change later, choose hardware at the same time so everything works together.

2. Organizers and space savers

If the problem is how your cabinets work rather than how they look, organizers are the next step. Our custom-built organizers and space savers include garbage and recycling pull-outs, under-sink organizers, spice and pantry pull-outs, tray storage and blind-corner solutions, all with soft-close hardware.

Organizers do not change the look of the kitchen from across the room, but they change how it feels to use every day. They can be added on their own or as part of a refinish or reface, so you can start here and build on it later.

3. Refinishing: a new colour and finish

When the cabinets work but look tired, cabinet refinishing is the next level up. It keeps your existing doors, drawer fronts and boxes and changes the colour and finish.

Doors and drawer fronts are removed and sprayed in our shop with an industrial two-component coating, then bake-cured. The frames are finished in your home. That means about four days of work in the home, with a 7 to 10 day gap while the doors are in the shop, and less dust and noise because the doors are done off site. Refinishing comes with a written 3-year warranty.

If you are comfortable with some hands-on work, the DIY Kitchen Update Kit sits in between. We professionally refinish your doors and drawer fronts in our shop, and you paint the frames with the materials and guidance in the kit.

4. Refacing: new doors on your existing boxes

Refacing is a bigger visual change. It keeps your existing cabinet boxes but replaces the doors and drawer fronts with brand-new ones, and the frames are finished to match.

Cabinet refacing makes sense when your doors are swelling or damaged, or when you want a different door style, such as moving from a raised panel to a Shaker or slab door. Because the boxes stay, you keep your layout. New doors come with a written 5-year warranty.

5. Custom carpentry and modifications

The biggest change on this list is altering the cabinetry itself. This is where the layout problems get solved. Common modifications include:

• Adding an island or extending an existing one
• Extending upper cabinets to the ceiling for more storage
• Adding cabinetry where there is open wall or an empty corner
• Converting base cabinet doors to drawers for easier access

Our carpenters and finishers work under one roof, so custom carpentry and cabinet modifications can be built and finished to match a refinish or reface. The carpentry portion usually takes a day or two.

Some changes sit outside a cabinet makeover. If you want to move the sink, that involves plumbing, which we do not do, so you would need a licensed plumber. Countertops can be coordinated through FloForm.

Choosing between cabinet upgrade options

Match the option to the problem you named at the start. A dated look usually points to refinishing. Damaged doors or a new door style point to refacing. Storage frustrations point to organizers, and layout problems point to modifications. Many homeowners combine two or three, such as a refinish with a few pull-outs and drawers in place of doors.

Every kitchen is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all price. When you are ready to compare options for your own cabinets, book a free in-home quote and we will walk through what each level would involve, with clear, line-item pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add organizers without refinishing my cabinets?

Yes. Organizers and space savers can be added on their own or as part of a refinish or reface. Some homeowners start with organizers and update the finish later.

What is the difference between refinishing and refacing?

Refinishing keeps your existing doors, drawer fronts and boxes and changes the colour and finish. Refacing keeps the boxes but replaces the doors and drawer fronts with brand-new ones, which suits damaged doors or a change of door style.

Can I combine a refinish with cabinet modifications?

Yes. Modifications such as converting doors to drawers or adding ceiling-height cabinets can be built and finished to match a refinish or reface, since our carpenters and finishers work under one roof.