What to do with old kitchen cabinets?
Working at home or office, you cannot deny the need for change by humans in their living environment.
You get bored of monotonous settings and things in the kitchen too.
The most dominant parts of the kitchen are the cabinets.
Versatility gives you satisfaction but the question arises what to do with the old kitchen cabinets?
You can use your old kitchen cabinets in various ways like :
- Re-painting them with vibrant colors
- Polishing them with lacquer
- Installing lights in them
- Changing them into toy cabinets
- Assembling them in your garage for extra storage
- For adding capacity to your bathroom
- Renovating them into a kitchen island
- By adding new hardware and hinges
You cannot simply discard them or make them a part of the landfill.
Everything is so expensive these days, right!
You can think of many other ideas yourself too for re-utilizing these kitchen cabinets and creating something new-fangled.
How? We can give you some innovative notions by answering some common questions that will come into your mind when you plan to change your old cabinets.
Keep reading, fellows! We promise that you will be significantly surprised by our ideas.
Should I keep my old cabinets?
The first thought that will strike you will be whether you should keep your old cabinets or not?
It depends on the condition of the old ones.
If they are in good condition, they can be remodeled and utilized, if not in the kitchen, then at any appropriate place in your house.
It can be used for storage purposes or as a cupboard too.
You can show your creativity by recycling them, especially if you are tight on budget.
Be wise with your selection of places to assemble your old kitchen cabinets.
Related Reading: How To Remove Kitchen Cabinets – Learn To Do It Yourself Here.
What is the average life of kitchen cabinets?
A good invested set of kitchen cabinets can be from 30 to 60 years, depending upon your use.
The wear and tear are evident after 20 to 25 years, for example, the knobs, handles, and doors alignment.
The drawers also seem to loosen up.
The areas under the kitchen sink are worn out because of exposure to water and cleaning detergents.
The outdated and old-fashioned fragmented kitchen cabinets should be replaced after 30 to 40 years.
The materials used in the construction of kitchen cabinets play a vital role in their durability.
For example, oak wood is the most durable.
Still, the lamination sheets (MDF)used nowadays do not guarantee a longer life.
You should invest in good-quality kitchen cabinets as they are better water-resistant and don’t crumble easily.
How to make old kitchen cabinets look new again?
The wiser ways to reuse your old kitchen cabinets and give them a new look depending on your home requirement.
You must survey your house and think about the novel ways to skillfully use the good-conditioned piece of craft and then add innovations to them.
Here is a list of changes you can do to make your cabinets look new again:
Re-Paint Old Kitchen Cabinets:
The best way to renew your old cabinets is to paint them.
Add lacquer as a top coat on the paint of your choice.
This will add light and beauty to your old and gloomy kitchen.
A professional can do wonders:
Suppose you have the good fortune to spend on the kitchen of your dreams.
You can always seek professional help and get it done by painters.
Polish your cabinets to give them a new look:
Suppose you have wooden cabinets that are long-standing.
In that case, you can undergo a process of repolishing the cabinets with the hues of your choice.
You would be required to get the things from any hardware shop.
The method may take a few days, but the results will amaze you.
How to modernize old wood cabinets:
You can modernize your old wood cabinets with simple yet effective techniques.
Some small changes can add an entirely novel and stylish look to your old kitchen surroundings.
Brighten your kitchen with adequate lights:
A kitchen with a dark atmosphere can cause a boring ambiance.
You can install an ” under cabinets valence” light on your cabinets to brighten up and make your food preparation way easier.
Change Hardware and Hinges:
The worn-out parts like hinges and locks can be replaced within your budget.
A change in the design of hooks and knobs will add a new style to your old cabinets.
There are various knobs and handles available in the market that can be a means of renovating your kitchen with significantly less effort.
Replace your old cabinets’ doors:
You can wisely replace your old cabinets’ doors with pocket-friendly modern ones.
Always remember that the outer styles keep on changing.
However, if your cabinets are in good condition from the inside, you can save some pennies by giving them a top-notch outlook.
You can add glass doors too to add illumination to your kitchen.
In order to update the old cabinet style, you can follow the tip of adding MDF strips then give a topcoat of paint for a glossy finish.
Related Reading: How To Keep Painted Cabinets From Chipping – Click Here To Find Out.
Remove doors: and open face cabinets:
To fit in according to the new era of kitchen styling, you can remove the cabinet door, especially the top ones.
You can keep some decoration pieces, or candle stands to add freshness and color to your kitchen storage.
It is not necessary to remodel your kitchen cabinets only.
You can even bring a notable change to your kitchen by adding innovations to the surrounding.
You can paint the kitchen walls to accommodate or contrast the color of your cabinets.
In addition, you can invest in tiles and flooring to create a backlash and avoid focusing on your old cabinets.
What to do with Oak kitchen cabinets?
Oak kitchen cabinets were a style statement in the eighties and nineties.
These durable wood cabinets never wear out if properly taken care of.
If you don’t want to sell it at a low cost to the second-hand market, you can easily use them in a couple of ways.
Add some storage capacity in your bathroom:
If your bathroom has space under the washbasin or shelf, you can install your repainted old oak cabinets under it.
This will add length to keep your bathroom products inside and hide a lot of mess.
You can even keep your medicine or towels in this area and give your bathroom a neat look.
A tidy toy closet:
The children’s toys are overflowing all the time. If you have kids at your home, you must be aware of this problem.
Now that you are finding a place for your old cabinets, why not make a storage place to keep your kid’s stuff in them.
You can enjoy a clutter-free floor by just assembling your old oak cabinets after painting them in the right place.
Be cautious to put hinges on the cabinets to avoid safety hazards.
Organize your garage with your old cabinets:
We are always on a quest for keeping our old things in a place like a garage using boxes or cartons.
But now, you can organize your extra garage space by installing your old oak kitchen cabinets.
All the things you don’t need in the near future can go in these newly painted cabinets.
Enjoy ample free space in your rooms and lounge with only this fantastic idea.
A handy Kitchen Island:
Suppose you have intentions to give your kitchen a contemporary look.
In that case, you can bring your old oak cabinets to awesome use. Why not build a kitchen island?
The elongated cabinets used on the wall can now serve as an area for the preparation of your food.
All you need to do is add a countertop or shelf on the head of your cabinets, paint them and you are good to go.
Enjoy hassle-free food preparation in the future.
How much do used kitchen cabinets cost?
The price of used kitchen cabinets varies from 5$ per piece to 100 $ per piece depending upon the quality and condition of your old cabinets.
You must also keep in mind that, fixing charges are not included in the buying price unless you make a good deal with the seller.
The hardware for assembling the second-hand cabinets can be costly, but if you have the right instruments, you can do it yourself.
Are old China cabinets worth anything?
An antique China cabinet is a status symbol due to its high price. It costs between 500$ to 2500$ according to its condition.
These wooden cabinets are sturdy and resilient and give grace, class, and allure.
However, with the decline of formal dinners and bright dining rooms, China’s cabinets are not suitable for the middle class.
Even though modern designers focus on eco-friendly and low-budgeted furniture pieces.
One cannot deny the pose and elegance portrayed by an antique China cabinet.
How can China cabinets be reused?
You can use China cabinets with innovation and style by changing a stand-alone cabinet by adding wooden legs to it.
With a little more creativity, you can change it into a bookshelf.
Due to its strong build, it can hold heavy books too.
If there are drawers in the cabinet, you can keep your household things.
A China cabinet can be transformed into an elegant curio or as a side cabinet in the kitchen.
It can also be changed into a high-end shelf for keeping awards and trophies.
It will indeed be a way to showcase your family’s pride.
To exhibit your affluent crockery and signature antique pieces, a China cabinet can be reused.
It can even hide the unnecessary items you don’t want to display in front of your guests.
In the same way, your personal tools and leisure apparatus can be kept in your renovated China cabinet, along with family pictures.
Related Reading: How Long Does It Take To Install Kitchen Cabinets. Check Out Here.
Final Thoughts:
Your old kitchen cabinets should not be wasted.
They hold within themselves not only your kitchen tools but precious memories too.
The cost of new cabinets is reaching the sky.
If you are low on budget, you can renovate and remodel your old kitchen cabinets and satisfy your urgency for innovation.
Replacement is not a solution, but remodeling is.
With a bit of effort and creativity, you can reuse your old kitchen cabinets in an entirely new way rather than discard them at a low price.
Repainting or polishing can bring drastic change by staying within your budget.
A little difference in handles or hardware can be a note-worthy way too.
Another tip can be that you can clean and remove grease from your cabinets.
This will also be a means of bringing a notable change.
All in all, we can say that everything has a use, and all the things are worth it if handled intelligently.
We hope that your old kitchen cabinets will be put to correct use after reading this article.
