6 Pro Tips for Updating Cherry Cabinets Without Replacing Them
Older cabinets don't have to age your home's design
Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Kaitlin Green
Cherry wood-stained cabinetry was once a popular home feature in the 1990s. But after years of use, these cabinets started to feel outdated in some homes, especially in the wake of light wood cabinets and all-white kitchen trends.
If you have an older home that needs a refresh in its cherry wood cabinets, believe it or not, there are quite a few ways to change up your cabinetry without the expense of completely replacing it.
We talked to expert designers, gathering advice on how to update cherry wood cabinets to make them feel brand new again. Read on for all the best tips and tricks according to the experts.
Meet the Experts
Kathryn Murphy is the founder and principal at Kathryn Murphy Interiors.
Joyce Huston is the lead interior designer and co-founder of Decorilla.
Paint the Cabinets
Painting your cherry wood-stained cabinetry is a great way to update them. Kathryn Murphy, founder and principal at Kathryn Murphy Interiors, used Farrow and Ball’s Green Smoke paint color to completely change the look of these cherry cabinets to offer a more muted tone in the kitchen. But consider more than just the cabinet paint color.
“When choosing a paint, make sure you look for a cabinet enamel, as it will dry harder and last better on your cabinets,” Murphy says. Murphy likes to go with an eggshell or semi-gloss sheen depending on the room's style.
The color she used in the interior space above was an eggshell sheen. While this and other types of cabinet enamel will last longer than regular paint, you will still need to be prepared for future touchups.
“Even properly painted cabinets will show wear and lots of life happens in the kitchen," she says.
Properly prepping the cabinets before painting them can make all the difference. Murphy suggests a thorough cleaning.
Murphy suggests using a deglosser before sanding everything down, priming, and making sure all the materials you choose are compatible with the paint that's decided on.
Add Open Shelving
Another way to update cheery wood cabinetry is to pop in some open shelving in the kitchen.
Joyce Huston, the lead interior designer and co-founder of Decorilla, wanted to turn a client’s tired cabinets into a living room showstopper.
“The cherry wood cabinets can be a love-hate relationship,” she says. “I’ve seen it with my clients, sometimes their elegant and sophisticated vibe can also turn into an outdated one pretty easily.”
Her number one tip? Update cherry wood with open shelving. “This will completely change the look, creating visual interest and breaking with the monotony of the solid doors," Huston says.
Replace the Cabinet Doors
Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Kaitlin Green
You can also break up the repetitiveness of cheery wood doors by replacing them entirely. Huston changed out some of the doors on these cabinets in favor of glass doors.
Replacing cabinet doors can also help remove the signs of age. “Cherry wood naturally darkens over time, and exposure to sunlight will accelerate this process,” says Huston.
Thus, cabinet doors can be some of the most aged features of cabinets as they are more likely to be exposed to the sunlight streaming through kitchen windows.
If you are unsure about what cabinet doors you want to use, Murphey suggests connecting with companies like Niue and Semihandmade since they have a variety of options.
With so many different options for cabinet doors, consider opting for a more custom and high-end look and picking doors with intricate details, Huston says.
Select New Countertops
Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Kaitlin Green
Countertops commonly paired with cherry wood cabinetry during the 80’s and 90’s have likewise become outdated.
“The cherry cabinets were so often paired with 90’s brown granite,” Murphy explains. This is why she went for a sleek black countertop to balance the cooler tone of the paint color of the cabinets she chose.
But if you would rather not paint your cabinets and instead keep the warmth of the cheery wood, consider balancing out the red cherry hue with light countertops. White quartz countertops, for example, can immediately lighten and brighten dark cherry wood.
With a clean, white countertop, you can easily balance out the wonderful warm tones of the cherry wood cabinets for a modern meets classic finish in the kitchen.
Choose Under Lighting
Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Kaitlin Green
Likewise, you can also draw attention away from older cabinets by including under lighting. Bright under lighting installed underneath cherry wood kitchen cabinets (or in the form of multiple lights pointing down at the cabinets) helps illuminate the countertops. This creates a functional food prep space and a spotlight for your new countertops to shine.
“With my clients, we’ve enhanced the look [of new countertops] by adding under and in-cabinet lighting, making all the details pop, and making the space feel warmer and more welcoming,” says Huston.
Put on the Final Touches
Keep the cherry wood polished for a shiny luster. Doing this will also preserve the wood from scratches.
“Cherry wood has a fine and straight grain, which makes it aesthetically pleasing but also makes it prone to scratches and dents,” Huston says. “Regular dusting and occasional polish with a suitable wood cleaner is the best way to maintain it in its glory. And you should always avoid harsh chemicals.”
Finally, make sure to choose stunning hardware, the jewelry of your kitchen cabinets, as a final beautifying touch. For her cabinets, Huston added sleek and modern hardware to offer a more contemporary look that brought the cabinets more up to date.
“Choosing knobs and handles with a modern look uplifts the current aesthetic,” Huston says.
Read Next: 14 Kitchen Color Schemes With Cherry Cabinets That'll Complement Any Space
Read the original article on The Spruce.
