Can You Reverse Kitchen Cabinet Doors?

Kitchens are the most used rooms in any home, which is why many people invest a lot of time and money in making sure that theirs looks and functions perfectly. Fortunately, there are a few tricks to make your kitchen look brand new without actually doing a whole renovation. 

One of these is to reverse your kitchen cabinet doors. This tip is a cost-effective solution to replacing outdated cabinetry, and it’s efficient–you’ll be maximizing the value of the doors you already have! 

Why Reverse Kitchen Cabinet Doors?

Reversing kitchen cabinet doors is like putting in replacement cabinet doors or placing new cabinet doors on old cabinets, except these fixtures aren’t necessarily new. Still, you can make them seem brand new, especially with a good paint job. 

Replacing kitchen cabinet doors can save you a good amount of money, and they come with some flexibility that allows you to customize them the way you prefer. Here are some reasons why you should consider reversing your kitchen cabinet doors:

Budget

While replacing kitchen cabinet doors is already a budget-saving hack (versus completely taking out your whole cabinet system for another), reversing your existing fixtures is even more cost-effective. You’ll only have to pay for paint or new screws and hinges if needed, which shouldn’t set you back by more than a hundred bucks.

Design

When reversing kitchen cabinet doors, you get the choice of keeping the original look of your kitchen cabinets, which you can definitely do if the insides of your frames are still just like new, or changing it up by giving your cabinet doors a paint job. For the latter, you can enjoy the flexibility of new colors or even added designs. If you’re removing glass from kitchen cabinet doors, you can even put in some new fixtures to replace those features for a drastically different look.

Environment

Reversing kitchen cabinet doors is an eco-conscious choice because you’re saving your old cabinets from rotting in landfills and instead giving them new life. You’re maximizing their value!

How to Reverse Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to reverse your kitchen cabinet doors:

Gather Your Tools

First, gather all the tools you need. This simple project doesn’t require any special tools; you’ll likely already have everything in your home toolbox. Here’s a list of what you’ll want on hand:

• Screwdriver
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Chisel
• Sandpaper
• Wood filler

Of course, you’ll also need your doors, any handles or fixtures to add, and eye and ear protection for when you’re working.

Remove the Frames

First things first–remove your kitchen cabinet doors. Loosen and take out all the hinge screws of the doors that you want to reverse. Make sure to lay the screws aside if you’re reusing them. Then, place the doors onto your work surface.

Revamp Your Doors

Sand all the surfaces of the doors with sandpaper to remove the original finish. Then, fill the holes on the backs of the frames with wood filler. Prime the material, then paint the doors with the color you want.

Drill New Holes

Once the paint has dried, you can start prepping to return your kitchen cabinet doors. Use your hinges and a pencil to mark for new holes on the opposite sides of the frames then drill them in, then fasten the hinges.

Reinstall the Doors

Reinstall your hinges and doors, making sure that they’re properly aligned so that they look nice and function correctly. Finally, attach any handles and accessories.

Reversing Versus Replacing Kitchen Cabinet Doors

There are multiple benefits to reversing kitchen cabinet doors, and it’s easy to get done. But if you want a truly updated modern kitchen (and have the time and resources to spare), it’s always better to invest in replacement kitchen cabinet doors, such as the ones featured in 27EStore’s catalog of modern kitchen doors. Check out our website for high-value, eye-catching, and customizable options!