Update Kitchen Cabinets On A Budget
If you’re looking for a way to update kitchen cabinets and add a little detail I have the solution for you. After painting my kitchen cabinets I felt like my plain cabinets needed a fresh update. I discovered these silicone appliques while doing an online search. These are so easy to use and much cheaper than replacing cabinets. Using appliques to update kitchen cabinets is a great way to add details but don’t go over board. I just added these to my upper cabinets. Adding these to every cabinet would have looked tacky in my opinion. Let’s get started. (This post contains affiliate links please see disclosure policy)
Supplies needed:
- Efex appliques (but you can use wood appliques as well. These are much easier to work with)
- DAP® Weldwood Contact Cement
- Utility knife or scissors
- Tape measure
- Protective surface
- Pen
Update Kitchen Cabinets Using Appliques
To begin take your cabinet door off. While your cabinet door is flat start by laying your design on your door. You don’t want to start gluing your appliques on your cabinet doors until you’ve decided how you would like your pattern to lay.
For the inner trim I measured my pieces then using a pen I marked the corner that I needed to cut. If you are using a wood applique you’d need to saw the corner off. But since I’m using these silicone appliques all that’s needed to cut it is a utility knife or a sharp pair of scissors. Before cutting with a utility knife make sure you’re cutting your piece on a protective surface.
See how easy it is to cut? That’s what I love about this product it’s very easy to work with and you don’t need to use a saw to cut the pieces.These appliques can be manipulated very easily unlike wood. If you have a piece that you cut a little too short these will stretch out a bit. With wood you couldn’t do that.
When you’ve got your pattern all ready on your door you can start gluing it down. Using DAP® Weldwood Contact Cement apply it to the back of your applique then place your applique onto your kitchen cabinet door. Press down on it until it’s dry.
Take your time with this project and measure twice. When your appliques are completely dry you can paint your cabinet doors. I waited 24 hours before I painted my doors. If you have gaps where the seams matched on the trim use caulk before you paint.
Using Efex appliques to your cabinets is a wonderful way to add a little detail without breaking the bank. As you can see they are also so easy to use. Since adding these to my kitchen cabinets I’ve also added them to my media cabinet.
Have you ever thought about adding appliques to update your kitchen cabinets?
** Update**
I shared this several years ago but I just shared a video tutorial on how easy these are to use. Click on the video below to watch.
Those appliques are a great addition to your kitchen cabinets! It was helpful to see how you trimmed them out. Looking forward to seeing what you do next.
Thank you so much Kelly!
The cabinets look really beautiful! I agree with you that putting them on all the cabinets would have been too much! What you did is perfect!
Thank you Lisa!
Oh, your cabinets look so beautiful with the added wooden pieces. So very pretty and I think you added just the right amount. You have a lovely kitchen too.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 🙂
Those look great, Anne. Never thought of adding details like that to kitchen cabinets.
Thank you Kim!
Love!!!!! The appliques on the cabinets looks so great Anne. Great job. I love the two above your sink cabinet too and those sweet skirts. So pretty. Ok I want that bench. I need that bench!!!!! Everything looks gorgeous. Your kitchen is my fave room in your sweet home.
Kris
Thank you Kris….oh no not my bench LOL.I just bought it…if I get tired of it I will send it your way.
Anne I love it. I really like using appliques’. They add so much charm and character. I have been using them for years. Fantastic job!!!
Cindy
Thank you Cindy!
Would you be able to tell us the name of the company that you bought the appliques from? Love the kitchen “update” 🙂
Yes Melissa Efex you can click on the link I provided in the post 🙂
I love your cabinets they are wonderful,good job. Now you have me thinking! lol Have a great day.
Thank you Marlene!
Anne, your kitchen is so inviting and yet belongs in a magazine. Your molding project is great. I have always wanted to do that bet never new exactly how…. now I do and I thank you so very much for that. I have to check out the link that you gave so that I can see what other designs are available. I can hardly wait to see what you do next.
Thank you so much Susan! What sweet comments! Oh you will have fun with these appliques they are so easy to work with and I love that.And you will have fun adding these to your cabinets,furniture,mirrors…..the sky is the limit on these!
Your trim is beautiful, Anne! Added details really make a huge difference, don’t they? Definitely worth your time and effort. Someone will surely want your bench. Have fun decorating your home for Christmas!
Thanks so much Kim!
i found your blog from bnotp link party and LOVE this idea. it looks great and you did a fantastic job. i bet you smile every time your look at it. can’t wait to see your holiday decorations. mj
Thanks so much Maryjo!
Wow! Your cabinets look GREAT! Also I LOVE the little curtains under your sink I have always loved that look but never went through with attempting to take my doors off, too scared of commitment I guess? : ) I could definitely commit if I found some like yours could you tell me where you found those at? Beautiful kitchen ALL of it Great job once again. 🙂
Thank you Nikki! I found those curtains,well they are actually little towels,at a yard sale.Then I hand stitched a hem for the rod.Then I added a stretch rod.I was a little scared to do this too.But I figured I can always hang these doors back up if I wanted too.
Hubs is watching “Scorpion” tonight for 2 hrs. so thought would get few things done. Just not a show I enjoy. Have to get few things in from porch since due for rain and temps down to 30’s tonight. Dug out in shed so had to wash out to bring in house. Could find lots except what was looking for.
Many times will see things on here so go out to get what I need hopefully to make project. If not exact is similar enuf to use. Try to use what is available so don’t have to go to Grand Junction spending money don’t have.
Great idea using the appliques to snazzy up your cabinets, looks great from what I could see. With variety available can achieve many artful effects, just go with your imagination.
Have been wanting to take cabinet doors off under sink but hubs not going for it, nothing new. No matter what I want to do he doesn’t get the vision so can’t picture how would look. We go thru this every time I want to do something he hasn’t seen before. Would like to clobber him sometimes, gets frustrating.
Will look forward to seeing how your cabinets came out with appliques. Enjoy getting to do things you want without hub hassle every time.
Hope you have wonderful Fall week
Scorpion”which doesn’t do thing for me so thought would read posts while on – 2 hrs. tonight, groan. Can work on pumpkin he made for me, get stuff in from outside die to expected rain and getting down to 30
‘s tonight