What HGTV Star Mike Holmes Suggests Before Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

When renovating your home, it is always important to look at the big picture — not just what you want to get done now, but what you might want, or need, to renovate in the near future. It is especially true in the kitchen where replacing or upgrading anything is a costly job. This is why we love turning to experts like HGTV's Mike Holmes for advice before taking on any major home project. Holmes, the TV host of shows like "Holmes on Homes" and "Holmes Family Rescue," is an expert on renovating houses and shares his plethora of knowledge with fans of his television shows. He has offered countless tips and tricks for a seamless home renovation, helping people make thoughtful and educated decisions about remodeling their spaces.

One of the things Holmes feels strongly about is replacing all of your cabinets, especially since it is usually the most expensive part of any kitchen remodel. That's why he says it's not something you should do impulsively. His advice is to think more long term. "Before you replace the cabinetry, think about what other pieces will need to be swapped out in the next five or 10 years," he said to HGTV Canada. New cabinetry can make the biggest impact when remodeling your kitchen, but we can't ignore how big of an investment it is. Homeowners spend on average $6,373 installing new cabinetry — so take a cue from Holmes. He suggests you "make sure that your new cabinets will match any updated appliances or countertops in the future."

We love Holmes' top recommendations for a kitchen remodel because it's a room where attention to detail and overall budget can be a tricky thing. That's especially true for cabinets. If your cabinets are intact — meaning they are undamaged and structurally strong — and you are happy with the layout, you should look into alternative renovation options. Holmes suggests one solution to a dingy or outdated kitchen is refacing your cabinets. This means keeping the existing box structure and just purchasing new doors to upgrade your space. Installing only the front facing part of your cabinets costs on average 30% to 50% less than a full replacement.

Cabinets also last up to twenty years on average, so a full replacement is not always necessary for a major upgrade. Another option Holmes suggests is to simply paint your existing cabinets, which is by far the quickest and easiest way to refresh the look of your kitchen. In his HGTV article, Holmes notes that painting is a "less expensive option in lieu of doing a full replacement, which is great for any homeowner on a budget." You will be amazed at the transformation you can make with just a coat of paint and some new hardware. In addition to Holmes' suggestions, you can also enhance the overall look of your cabinets by adding some under cabinet lighting or installing cabinet crown molding.