Guide to Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling for 2022

A kitchen cabinet remodel should balance appearance, storage, and everyday use while fitting the style of adjoining rooms. This guide explores five approaches: lightening a galley kitchen, refacing existing cabinets, introducing color, choosing custom cabinetry, and adding island storage. Start with how your current cabinets function, then consider the finishes, layout, and door clearance that will help the space work for you.

Kitchen Cabinet Remodel | Ideas & Inspiration

Your kitchen is the center of daily life, which is why you should make design choices that take both form and function into account. A kitchen makeover can alter the ambiance of your house, and sometimes changing the cabinetry is the starting point. Cabinets are an essential part of kitchen design. Whether you’re a seasoned host or feeding a busy family, consider how a kitchen cabinet remodel could improve the appearance and functionality of your kitchen.

Think about the style and feel you want. Also, consider how your kitchen meshes with other major areas like the living and dining rooms, especially if you have an open-plan space. The key to kitchen cabinet remodeling is cohesion.

Explore these cabinet remodeling ideas as you plan your kitchen renovation.

1. Go Light and Bright in Galley Kitchens

Galley kitchens can have limited kitchen storage and floor space, but that doesn’t mean they are short on character. The narrow layout and parallel counters can make for a functional and beautiful kitchen.

Consider painting your base cabinets white and replacing top cabinets with open shelving to create a more open, airy feel. To keep things interesting, contrast your white cabinetry with a glossy tile backsplash that adds a burst of personality to your small kitchen.

2. Reface Your Cabinets

Do you love how your cabinets sit and function? Refacing updates the visible surfaces of existing cabinetry, including doors and drawer fronts, with a new veneer or finish. It can retain the kitchen layout you love while giving it a style uplift. The resulting cabinetry can have a different color, style, or surface material.

You can also consider replacing cabinet hardware, including hinges, handles, and drawer pulls, during this process.

3. Introduce Color to Your Kitchen

While white kitchens are aesthetically pleasing, they don’t work for everyone. You can opt for bolder color choices that infuse your kitchen with more personality. To prevent a bold color from overpowering your kitchen, consider using it in small doses, perhaps to highlight a unique focal point.

Blue kitchen cabinets with black or gold hardware, for instance, are a bold choice. If you love experimenting with color, you might paint your kitchen, including your cabinets, a muted shade of blue and create a focal point by painting your kitchen pantry armoire hot pink. Let the overall look and feel guide your choices.

4. Customize Your Cabinets

Custom cabinets can be designed around your kitchen’s space and your personal style rather than relying solely on standard cabinet designs. Discuss with an experienced contractor how cabinet frames and configurations could be tailored to your existing space.

Custom cabinetry can offer a choice of styles and materials. If domestic hardwoods or locally sourced materials are priorities, discuss availability with your contractor or supplier rather than assuming those options are included.

5. Build Cabinets into the Kitchen Island

If kitchen storage is a concern, consider customizing your kitchen island with extra cabinets and drawers. If you remove upper cabinets to keep the walls clear and create a more open feel, plan how island storage could make up for the storage you lose.

Consider how the doors will open: you don’t want cabinet doors running into anything. You also don’t have to use cabinets all around. Combine storage and display in your kitchen island by incorporating open shelving, drawers, and cabinets.

Planning Your Kitchen Cabinet Remodel

When planning your kitchen, consider partnering with an experienced contractor to discuss the ideas you envision and how they fit your space. Use the cabinet approaches above to clarify the appearance, storage, and everyday function you want before choosing a direction.