Looking for a smart, budget friendly solution for updating your kitchen? If your cabinets are in relatively good shape and you really don’t have the money to have them removed and new ones installed, consider the idea of learning how to paint laminate cabinetry. 

While this is a kitchen remodeling project you might want to tackle yourself, often it’s a far better idea to hire a professional painter or contractor to take care of this for you.  Most homeowners don’t even know that laminate cabinets can be painted let alone the various steps involved in the process.  There is also a good chance you don’t have all of the necessary tools laying around either.  If you are still in doubt about needing a contractor, take a look at what all is involved.

How to Paint Laminate Cabinetry

The reason the contractors know how to paint laminate cabinetry is that it is a fairly long process.  The first thing that has to be done is remove the fronts of all of the cabinets and take the drawers out.  It’s important to keep any hardware in one place to limit confusion later.  Everything from the cabinet drawers, doors, and the cabinets themselves has to be carefully cleaned and dried.  Sanding is the next item on the to-do list.  Your contractor will also need to wipe the surfaces down with a lint free cloth after the lengthy sanding process.  We haven’t even gotten to the paint yet and at least the good part of one day is gone.

After all of this prep work, there are still even more steps. Your contractor will have to apply a primer and then let it dry for 24 hours before moving on. Then, finally we get to the painting. At least two applications of a latex paint are needed.  To complete the project, a sealing agent or high gloss sealer is typically used to protect all of the hard work done.  This kind of home improvement project, while worthwhile, is time consuming and better left up the professionals.Â

Say the words kitchen remodel and most people begin seeing dollar signs flashing in front of their eyes.  To save money you might try looking at your kitchen again, and learn to love the 70’s look.  After all, avocado green really isn’t so bad. But you really don’t need to live with it, it’s entirely possible to remodel economically. If homeowners understood where the costs of kitchen remodeling really came from, they might be more likely to start making the changes necessary to add value to their homes and function and beauty to their kitchens. 

The one element of remodeling that is known for being expensive are the kitchen cabinetry costs.  New cabinets are a popular project among homeowners wanting an updated look. There is no doubt that new cabinets will cost money, but take a look at what all is involved in this kind of cost estimate you get.

Kitchen Cabinetry Costs Can Vary Based on What You Want From Your Project

The first thing to understand about kitchen cabinetry costs is that unless you are getting the kitchen cabinet estimate from a general contractor and it includes the cost of installation and labor, those extras aren’t added in.  In other words, in a home improvement store estimate, the price on the cabinets is for the cabinets alone.  The pretty granite countertop is extra and so are the experienced people to install them.  Of course, stock cabinets, or those you find ready made, are going to be the most cost effective.  The problem is you can only get what you see.  There aren’t nearly as many options as there are with custom cabinetry.

When you are calculating the kitchen cabinetry costs of custom cabinets, you have to factor in some other elements.  Semi-custom cabinets are made after you or your contractor places the order with the factory.  Things like special woods or finishes can increase the price, sometimes dramatically.  With custom made cabinets, you can expect the addition of extras like glass fronts and intricate trim work to add dollars onto the bottom line as well. So understand that the more you ask for, the more you will pay for. As with other household products, you often get what you pay for with cabinets of all kinds. 

Read more about kitchen cabinetry costs

The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home. Everyone tends to congregate there whether or not any actual cooking is going on at the time or not.  It’s only natural that you want every detail of this room to look and work great.  Cabinets are certainly not one of the details that typically get overlooked, but outstanding cabinetry hardware and drawer fronts are.  Those two elements found on any set of cabinets can determine if you have an elegant kitchen or one that made it on the list of what not to do.  Look on the bright side, replacing these simple parts of your kitchen cabinetry is affordable and easy with the help of a good contractor.  As you go about making some changes, keep these tips in mind.

Cabinetry Hardware Drawer Fronts

You have lots of options in finding the right cabinetry hardware drawer fronts.  Of course to examine these things up close, a trip to your local home improvement store will be useful.  Seeing all the options will likely help you make a better decision about what will look best in your home. Like so many other home project materials and products, you can’t possibly find more in one place than on the Internet.  The advantage to searching online is that you are much more likely to find unique choices that aren’t available or popular in your area. 

There is more involved with this project than just picking out the cabinetry hardware drawer fronts.  You have to have them installed.  There are those brave souls that decide to attempt the chore themselves.  Most of the time after all kinds of set backs, fights with their significant others, and several visits to church to express regret for their choice of colorful words, these homeowners go ahead and hire a contractor to take care of the job for them.  It would be far better and faster to cut out the frustrating DIY attempt and let the professionals take care of it from the beginning.�

It’s funny what one person thinks of as small when it comes to their home.  Small to one family or person is huge to another.  Regardless, the truth is houses do come in a wide variety of sizes and small ones, though usually quaint and cozy; do have their own set of problems when it comes to the features installed in them.  For example, a small house can have every convenience and comfort of a large home, but the features simply need to be scaled down.  Let’s take small cabinet design as a starting point.  No home can do without cabinets in the kitchen and possibly the bathroom, but they have to be scaled to look right in the limited space and still provide enough storage for the people in the house.  If you and your contractor are struggling with small cabinet design, here are a few ideas for your home that provide both function and style.

Small Cabinet Design

Style is important to many people when it comes to their homes.  After all, a house is the only space where a homeowner can truly demonstrate their personal taste and style.  Cabinets are part of that equation and when it comes to small cabinet design, a little bit goes a long way.  One method of creating cabinet space and keeping things interesting is to invest in and have glass fronted cabinets installed in your home.  They look charming in the kitchen, hallway, or bathroom of any home.  The key element to these cabinets is to make sure the items you put in the cabinets stay neat and tidy.  Look at it this way, glass fronted cabinets are perfect for displaying Grandma’s antique china. 

How you use small cabinet design also plays a part in the overall usefulness and appearance of your rooms.  Galley style kitchens are perfect for some small homes, with the cabinets running conveniently on either side of the kitchen.  You could also think about adding cabinets in unique areas of the room, like above the stove and refrigerator.  The important thing is to place the cabinets in such a way as to not look crowded and cluttered.  Your contractor will be able to help out with that detail. 

For more information on small cabinet design