Decorating Kitchen Decor & Design Kitchen Cabinets Cabinet Makeovers How to Upgrade Builder-Grade Cabinets for a High-End Custom Look By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on February 19, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Give your kitchen a low-cost makeover by upgrading your builder's cabinets with custom details starring paint, new hardware, and more surprising ideas. 01 of 14 Paint Plus Paint is a go-to option for cabinet makeovers. Take it to the next level by going two-tone: paint the lower cabinets a darker shade than the uppers. Keep your colors within the same family, but two or three shades different. Consider choosing one of the bottom colors on a paint strip and the very top color. Kitchen Cabinet Ideas for Every Design Style 02 of 14 6 Easy Steps to Paint Your Cabinets Get a pro look when painting your cabinets by following these 6 steps. 03 of 14 Paint the Island If painting all of your cabinets sounds like too much, focus your effort on just your island. Paint the central figure a striking color and add in a few accents of the same hue for a fresh facelift. 04 of 14 Open Up Convert cabinets to open shelves and lighten the look of your kitchen, no remodeling required. Watch and see how easy it is. 05 of 14 Add Molding to the Soffit Give cabinets a custom look by adding molding to the soffit above the cabinets. Just be sure the new molding doesn't interfere with opening and closing the cabinet doors. 06 of 14 Hardware Help Swap out existing hardware or add hardware where there was none before and you'll give you kitchen a fresh face without much of an investment. Go to the next slide to see how it's done. 07 of 14 How to Install New Hardware Watch and see how to install new hardware on your kitchen cabinets. 08 of 14 Back It Up Add a little visual interest to the back of open shelves or glass front cabinetry with beaded board or wood paneling, which will lend a rustic quality. Or give wallpaper a go. 09 of 14 Add Glass Fronts Change up your cabinet game by retrofitting one or two sets of existing cabinets with new glass fronts. The owners of this kitchen swapped out two solid doors for glass doors to the tune of about $70. 10 of 14 Chalk It Up Paint the panels of cabinet doors with chalkboard paint and add an instant message center to your kitchen. 11 of 14 Retrofit Storage Customize the inside of your cabinets with after-market storage add-ons. Shop home centers and organization stores for options. Be sure to take good measurements to ensure you'll get add-ons that fit like a glove. 12 of 14 Pattern Play Bring a little pep to your cabinets with pattern. Watch and see how to stencil a design on your cabinet doors. 13 of 14 On Hand Add a strip of wood with cup hooks to the inside of a cabinet door and you'll never go looking for a measuring cup or spoon again. Include a conversion chart for quick reference too. 14 of 14 Lighten & Brighten Undercabinet lighting doesn't require a pro. Watch and see how you can easily add undercabinet lighting. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit