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These kitchen cabinet makeover ideas will inspire you to take the leap and make the changes.
It’s inevitable…the day you walk into your kitchen and feel like something needs to change. Maybe it’s the cabinet color? Maybe it’s the outdated hardware? Whatever seems to not be serving you and your personal aesthetic anymore, there are so many easy ways to transform your space without breaking the bank. Today, we’re focusing solely on kitchen cabinets.
Whether you live in a rental apartment or slightly older home, you most likely have cabinets from another decade or have cabinets that aren’t to your personal design standards. With just a few design tips and tricks, we garuntee that your kitchen will be a space you love spending time in.
We took a deep dive on our favorite place to find quick and easy inpso — Tiktok. You’re not going to want to miss out on any of these kitchen cabinet makeovers. Not only will they instantly transform the look and feel of the heart of your home, but they can be done on a small budget too.
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12 Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Ideas
1. Keep the Light Oak, But Swap the Hardware
@bracehomes 📣 BUYERS‼️‼️ Don’t rule out those homes with “outdated” cabinets. Solid wood cabinets can be revived with a fresh modern look by adding new hardware, counters, backsplash & accessories! Take a cue from @functionalforyou & her STUNNING kitchen upgrade shown here 😍 #kitchenhacks #kitchenremodel #grandrapidsrealestate ♬ original sound – BraceHomes
While many people immediately want to get rid of the ‘90s light oak cabinets, you can keep them and make them look fresh and modern. Taking the steps to remove some bulky cabinets to open up the space and swapping the hardware for a more modern look will make this a refreshing space to walk into everyday.
In addition, this creator replaced the backsplash, countertops and lighting to make the design more cohesive.
2. Muted Green, Gray Cabinets
@kirsten_bydesign If you don’t like painted oak then don’t paint yours 🤷🏻♀️ #kitchendesign #kitchenmakeover #beforeandafter #diy #homedecor #homemakeover #90shouse #oak #paint ♬ Ready – Official Sound Studio
For those people who truly can’t stand the light oak finish, painting your cabinets is a great option. This muted green, grey color is a gorgeous cool, but neutral tone that instantly adds personality to the space. We are obsessed with how this turned out!
3. Transform an Ikea Hutch into Cabinetry
@valeriajacobs This might be my favorite project this year, an ikea Havsta turned into a vintage inspired kitchen hutch #ikeahack #greencabinets #kitchenhacks #kitchendesign ♬ Popular – From "Wicked" Original Broadway Cast Recording/2003 – Kristin Chenoweth
We’re convinced there’s nothing you can’t do with Ikea furniture. Every Ikea furniture hack we see completely blows our mind and this is certainly one of the best we’ve seen.
This creator used an Ikea hutch cabinet as added cabinetry storage to her kitchen. Not only is this solution stunning in beauty, but it’s also super cost effective too.
4. Change the Cabinet Doors, Paint & Hardware
@kiahortman And the only thing I did was change the cabinet doors and lights! #kitchenrenovation #fyp ♬ original sound – Hollie Freeman
Sometimes you just have to makeover every aspect of your cabinetry to get the look you’re wanting. This creator took the option of replacing her cabinet fronts, painting the fronts and frames of the cabinet to a neutral, beige color and replacing the hardware.
5. Ikea Built-In China Cabinet
@southernyankeediy DIY Kitchen Cabinets Using IKEA Hack When in doubt or in a hurry IKEA never disappoints 😉 Making this system look built-in & custom was super simple! You can find the complete tutorial at SouthernYankeeDIY.com #fyp #diy #kitchenhacksthatwork #kitchenmakeover #cheapkitchenmakeover #ikeahack #ikeahacks ♬ original sound – Lia | Southern Yankee DIY
We’re sharing another Ikea cabinet hack, because we can’t control ourselves.
If you’re in the need of extra kitchen storage, pantry storage or have a large blank wall you need to fill, these Ikea cabinets will become your best friend. This creator used several Ikea bookcases to create a gorgeous built-in china cabinet. How cool is that?
6. Paint Cabinets a Deep, Navy Blue
@southernyankeediy DIY Kitchen Cabinets Using IKEA Hack When in doubt or in a hurry IKEA never disappoints 😉 Making this system look built-in & custom was super simple! You can find the complete tutorial at SouthernYankeeDIY.com #fyp #diy #kitchenhacksthatwork #kitchenmakeover #cheapkitchenmakeover #ikeahack #ikeahacks ♬ original sound – Lia | Southern Yankee DIY
Are you tired of your white kitchen cabinets? If so, opt to add some bold color and contrast to the space with an unexpected color. This creator used a gorgeous deep, navy blue and brass hardware to makeover her kitchen.
7. Opt for a Rich, Walnut Stain
@vivianshayhome I've said it before and I'll say it again… dark walnut forever!🤎 #darkwalnut #darkkitchen #kitchen #cabinets #kitchencabinets #stain #staincolors #sherwinwilliams #kitchenremodel #home ♬ you look like you love me – Ella Langley & Riley Green
Mark our words, stained cabinets will be the next cabinet trend this year. We’ve already seen people leaning back to the warmth of stained cabinetry in their kitchens and this creator is no different. The rich, walnut stain on her cabinets add character and gorgeous texture to the space.
8. Neutral, Beige Cabinets to Brighten Your Kitchen
@emilyburn01 Almost done painting cabinet doors #kitchenmakeover #diykitchenmakeover #greigecabinets #kitchencabinets ♬ original sound – <3
Neutral, beige is the new white, and we’re here for it. This light, putty color adds dimension to the kitchen cabinets while still making the space feel bright and airy. Brass hardware adds vintage character to the room as well.
9. Add Under-Cabinet Lighting for a Luxe Feel
@valeriaannnnnn This easy change just made our rental kitchen feel even more cozy! These lights dont leave behind any residue and they plug into a wall outlet 💡🤍 i am truly in love with this transformation #renterfriendly #rentershack #apartmentdecor #apartmenthacks #renterfriendlydiy #cabinetlighting #kitchenhacks #kitchendecor #kitchendiy ♬ Transcend – IRSNa
One thing all kitchen cabinets should have is under-cabinet lighting. This remote controlled, dimmable cabinet lighting creates a warm glow and a luxe feel. It’s the perfect addition to an apartment or older kitchen for a custom touch.
10. Use Contact Paper for a Renter-Friendly Solution
For all the renters out there, there is hope for you and creating the kitchen space you love. A great way to transform your cabinet color in an apartment kitchen is using colored contact paper. It’s a bit of a tedious job, but it’s super simple to do yourself. Trust us, you’ll be obsessed with the final product!
11. Create Open Shelving with Existing Cabinets
@mynorfolknest Easy kitchen upgrade with some renter friendly open shelving! I made these wood shelves and removed the cabinet doors to switch it up! #renterfriendly #diy #diyproject #diyhomedecor #diyhome #diyer ♬ Strawberry – Prod. By Rose
Did you know you can use your existing cabinets to make open shelving? This creator totally blew our minds when we watched her video. It’s such an easy DIY upgrade that you can make to your home or rental kitchen.
12. Mix Soft Neutral Cabinets with a Dark Stained Cabinet Island
@arceriinteriors I stared for yearsss at this kitchen coming up with new designs for it. It took a lot of patience because we did it in stages, but it was so worth it! It's an actual dream come true. I love that we were able to use what we had and build on to it. All the cabinets are the originals with new doors (and a few new uppers), and we were able to build on to the island to make it what it is. Just goes to show that a builder grade home can be totally customized. I have a kitchen reno highlight and and an island highlight both saved to my profile which have a ton of details and all the steps #buildergradeupgrade #kitchentransformation #kitchenrenovation #interiordesign ♬ original sound – Julia Arceri
Create a moody, character filled space by mixing soft neutral cabinets with a dark stained island cabinet. We are truly appalled by how this creator transformed her kitchen into a custom space that fit her old-world, modern aesthetic. Plus, we love how the rich, dark island grounds the space and makes it feel like it was always meant to be apart of the kitchen.
