Should I Paint or Replace My Cabinets?
Cabinets are the quiet workhorses of the kitchen and bathroom. Every day, they’re opened and closed (or, if you have kids, yanked and slammed). Over time, this constant use begins to show:
Paint may be peeling or chipping around the edges.
A permanent layer of grease may have settled onto the cabinets by the stove.
The cupboards in front of the window may be discolored from the sun.
Moisture from the shower may have warped the bathroom cabinet.
When your cabinets reach this point, you may decide to make a change. But the question is: should you replace or paint your cabinets? Let’s look into the pros and cons for each.
Replacing Cabinets and Refacing Cabinets
When it comes to replacing your cabinets, you have a few options. You can fully remove the entire cupboard and replace it with a new one, or you can reface your existing cabinets. Refacing cabinets means that you keep the frame of the cabinet but replace the doors, hardware, and any other exterior-facing surfaces—both options have their places in kitchen or bathroom remodels.
Replacing Cabinets
Fully replacing cabinets is best if the inside of your cupboards have warped or are damaged. A full replacement is also a good option if you want to totally transform the look of your room. For example, if you’re moving around your fridge or stove or redesigning your bathroom, then installing new cabinets would make sense.
While replacing your cabinets gives you unlimited possibilities, it can also be an expensive process, especially if you get customized cabinets.
Refacing Cabinets
Refacing, on the other hand, is a good option if the bones of your cabinets are solid but the doors are showing some wear. Additionally, if your cabinets are an outdated style, refacing allows you to update the design of your cabinet doors and drawer fronts without shouldering the cost of a full replacement.
While refacing is less expensive than replacing your cabinets, there still is a significant cost in purchasing new doors, drawer faces, hardware, and any trim. If you order unpainted doors and drawer faces, you’ll also need to decide if you want to paint them yourself or hire a professional.
Painting Cabinets
Let’s say that your cabinets have no major structural issues, and you like the layout of the cupboards. If you simply want to give them a facelift with a clean new surface, painting is a great choice.
Painting cabinets can change the feel of the whole room. A kitchen with little light can be brightened with white cupboards. And a dark cabinet in your bathroom can help create a relaxing, cozy space. Cabinets are a fantastic opportunity to add a touch of your personal taste that blends into the aesthetics of the rest of your home, and you might be surprised at how big of a difference a new coat of paint can make! The best part is that choosing to paint your cabinets will always be more economical than replacing or refacing them.
But if you opt for painting your cabinets, you’re then confronted with another big decision: are you going to paint them yourself? Or hire a painting company?
DIY painting is the most inexpensive option, yet it requires a lot of work. You’ll need to remove all the doors and hardware, set up a painting site, and then start the process. This includes degreasing, sanding, priming, and applying multiple coats of the right type of paint. (Cabinets require a high-quality paint to withstand the constant use.)
On the other hand, professional painting ensures flawless results that will last. No mess, no fuss. Just clean lines, perfect coats, and the exact shades and colors you’ve always dreamed of.
Choose Legacy Painting for Your Perfect Cabinets
For a hassle-free cabinet painting experience, partner with Legacy Painting. As a local Northern Colorado company, we’ll handle the entire process while you continue to use your kitchen or bathroom. With a reputation for on-time, reliable work, we’ll be in and out of your house before you know it. Contact us today to see what your cabinet transformation could look like.
