When it comes to home improvement projects, many of us think twice and delay when it's crunch time because the costs often seem to exceed our budgets. Not so fast. There are always ways to save money in the short-term and the long-term. And with the kitchen being the hub of activity for families, especially those with children and young adults, the best way to reinvigorate domestic life and to save money at the same time is to work on the cabinets. 

Instead of replacing cabinets, which might be the first impulse for certain homeowners, here are a few low-cost, creative options. 

Paint It White

This may seem a little bit too "Leave It To Beaver," but believe us at Lakeside Painting: if you have those cabinets of yours painted white, and then accent them with another themed color for kitchen appliances and accoutrements, or even the walls, then the cabinets will look brilliant and classy. 

Go Tuscan

We've covered the Tuscan Look on our blog before, but in case you are new to the Lakeside Painting blog or the memory has faded, here's a refresher:

The Tuscan Look employs a lot of earth tones such as various hues of yellow, burnt sienna, brown, sage green, ochre, rusty red or even even gold. A terra cotta color that resembles baked red ceramics is also a wise choice.  It is rustic and inviting, and we here at Lakeside Painting have seen the style gaining in popularity in Southeastern Wisconsin.

For those with more daring aesthetics, remove the doors and keep the cabinets open. This will allow the cabinets to display display ceramics, baskets, pots and pans and other kitchen utensils. We've helped our customers achieve this look before and we can confirm that it looks great. 

Contrast Upper and Lower Cabinets

Another vibrant looks can be achieved if the upper and lower cabinets are contrasted. That is, one displays a darker color or stain, while the other a lighter color. It would be best to give the upper the lighter color, as it will look less odd and will also serve to create a more expansive atmosphere in the kitchen. 

The Distressed or Lived-In Look

Another subject we've covered here is the "Lived-In" or Distressed Look, which is a decorative painting technique that Lakeside Painting is often asked to employ. 

There are various ways to achieve this look, but first and foremost a glaze can be added to walls to make surfaces appear older and more rustic. We’ve done rathskellers in homeowners’ basements, for instance, by using a glaze, a thinner paint or varnish to create a translucent quality to the wood or plaster. Layer it up with various colors, then distress it with chains, bags of bolts, sandpaper, chisels—anything you can find to give the surface a distressed look. 

You can also use an aging glaze or tea stain to make the surface look dirty.  It adds patina, which occurs naturally with surfaces over time.  Add pigment to a varnish, like an amber or a green to a kitchen table and its chairs, and it will appear as though you found the table in a vintage shop.

This look is wonderful for the kitchen. 

Go Modern

There are any number of ways to create a modern look for a kitchen's cabinetry. One of the best ways of doing this is by paying attention to interior painting trends and, in particular, current popular kitchen looks. A striking color such as red or orange is quite modern, as is a paint infused with a shimmering powder. 

Another way to go is with a modern, industrial look. This technique only works with cabinets made of metal, which can be sandblasted and polished to create a modern, minimal and artsy aesthetic. 

If you're in the Southeastern Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee area and have any questions on these various cabinet looks, give Lakeside Painting a call at 262.642.9445 or email us at [email protected]