How to Update Old Kitchen Cabinets on a Budget (Without Replacing Them)

Last updated April 29th, 2025 at 01:26 pm

We used wood filler, fresh paint, and less than $100 in trim to do a complete cabinet door makeover—no replacements needed! Learn how to update routed kitchen cabinets on a budget with this beginner-friendly DIY project.

Last week I revealed our kitchen makeover. One of the biggest transformations? A complete cabinet door makeover that totally updated our old kitchen cabinets—without replacing them. Doing your own DIY shaker-style cabinet doors is a super budget-friendly way to modernize your kitchen.

We would’ve loved a full kitchen reno with brand-new cabinets, but that just wasn’t in the budget. So we got creative! With less than $100 in trim, new cabinet hardware, and a whole lot of wood filler, we completely refreshed our outdated cabinets. Because they were still in good shape structurally, this affordable upgrade made a massive difference.

How to Update Routed Cabinet Doors (Step-by-Step)

The first thing we did was sand down the cabinet doors and drawer fronts.

I read a lot about painting kitchen cabinets and there are all kinds of recommendations. Instead of cleaning and using a deglosser, we used an electric buffer with 80 grit sandpaper to cut through EVERYTHING. That saved a bit of time, and got us to the bare wood with no problems.

We used wood filler to smooth over the routed 1970s-style grooves on the cabinet fronts. If you’re planning your own cabinet door makeover, this step is key! My brother does auto body work, so he cranked through 10 doors while my mom and I managed… two.

Want more simple home updates like this? How to Paint a Table Without Sanding

This took two rounds. You fill in the design with the putty (thickly) and let dry. Then you sand off the excess and fill in a second time. After the second round is dry, sand again. Be sure you allow it to dry between rounds, otherwise you just move the putty around.

After the last of the wood putty had been sanded, we primed the cabinets and moved on to one last step. We wanted to add something to our now flat/smooth front cabinets so we trimmed them out for a faux shaker style cabinets or a craftsman style cabinet doors. Attach with wood glue and a nail gun.

After adding the trim pieces, we used wood filler to fill in the cracks and also the nail holes. We then sanded to make sure sure we got a smooth finish.

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This step right here is what made all the difference! By redoing these cabinet door fronts, we were able to update old kitchen cabinets and completely changed the look of this kitchen! Preparing the doors in this way probably added an extra day to our work load but it was worth it! The trim cost around $100 but compared to the price of brand new cabinets – I think this is a great alternative!

Updating your kitchen? You may also like this countertop makeover: Paint a Bathroom Vanity + Faux Marble Countertop

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to update old kitchen cabinets?
Painting, swapping hardware, and doing a cabinet door makeover with trim and wood filler are affordable ways to modernize cabinets without replacing them.

Can I update routed cabinet doors to look like shaker style?
Yes! By filling in decorative grooves and adding flat trim, you can easily DIY shaker-style cabinets for a fraction of the cost.

Is wood filler durable enough for cabinet doors?
Yes, if applied and sanded correctly, wood filler can create a smooth, long-lasting surface—even on heavily routed cabinet doors.

When you update old routed cabinet doors you can bring your kitchen up to date and go from an old or traditional look to a modern look. Instead of a light color, we went with a dark color. Here’s a link to several dark color paint options!

We made this project even easier by using a paint sprayer. I was able to get several coats of paint done and it didn’t take a long time at all. Be sure you paint both the front and back of the door. I also used a small foam roller on the cabinet face frame. This gave our paint a nice, professional look. It’s a good idea to use a paint sprayer if you can. You can get one for about $100 bucks and you’ll thank yourself for investing a little bit here!

Here’s another example of how to update routed cabinet doors. My mom had a few in her bathroom she wanted to change but didn’t want to do the shaker cabinets we’d done in the kitchen. For these, she took the old doors and added a 1/4 inch plywood panels and glued them right on front. She also sanded, re-stained to keep the wood grain look, and added new hardware. This is another simple way to update the cabinet faces.

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This DIY kitchen update completely changed the look of the room! Transforming old cabinet doors into shaker-style fronts gave us a modern look on a serious budget. We spent just $100 on trim—compared to thousands for new cabinetry. If you’re looking to update your kitchen cabinets on a budget, this is one of the best ways to make a big impact.

Check out the full kitchen makeover reveal!

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