This Outdated Cabinet Trend Is Making Your Kitchen Look So Cheap

Through the years, curtains have been used in many ways around the kitchen, including as a replacement for cabinet doors. Some people use it as a way to refresh a kitchen without trashing dated cabinets. But this seemingly simple design choice can have the opposite effect, making your home feel outdated if you use it in the wrong way — which is the last thing you want to do if you're trying to give your kitchen a fresh feel. Once considered cute and charming, cabinet curtains can easily lean much more toward kitschy than cute and can make your kitchen feel not only outdated but also impractical. 

The thought behind the cafe curtain trend is that it is a cheap and easy way to mix up your kitchen without spending a lot of time on renovations. Plus, it is a popular way to soften and warm a room. But you might find that it makes your cabinets more difficult to access, and it can also leave the kitchen feeling cluttered and outdated. Traditional cabinet doors give a clean, minimalist look compared to the flowy design of fabric. It also tends to give the space a more cottage-y or farmhouse tone — which is fine if that's the general feel of your home, but when it sits too far outside of your overall design style for the space, it can feel out of place.

It's not just the look of curtains that gives designers pause. They are also just not that user-friendly. While cabinet doors are easy to open and close, curtains can be a bit more complicated — especially if you are trying to work with dirty hands. Plus, they won't stay open as easily as a door would, so you either have to hook the curtains behind something or hold them open to access the interior. Curtains are also generally more difficult to clean — you won't be able to give them a quick spray and wipe down. If you spill on the cafe curtains, you'll have to remove them and throw them in the wash, which isn't the end of the world, but it does take more time, effort, and energy than the alternative. 

They also aren't as effective at keeping the interior of your cabinets neat, clean, and protected. It is much easier for kids and pets to push past a curtain than to open a door. Plus, you won't have the option of installing child-proof locks — or making a DIY childproof lock with a wooden spoon. That could be potentially dangerous, especially in areas like the cabinet under the sink where people tend to keep cleaning supplies. Fabric is also just more prone to collecting dust and grime — and unlike a solid surface that can be dusted in a matter of minutes, curtains have to go through the wash to get them fresh and dust-free. Plus, they are more likely to hold onto odors, and most of us don't want to smell last night's dinner the morning after.

If you want to mix up your cabinets but don't want to spend a ton of money, there are many ways you can do that without opting to remove your doors. A quick coat of paint is a great way to give your kitchen a face lift without spending a ton of cash. Switching up the hardware can also make a bigger impact than you would think, and it's a project that only takes a couple minutes to install. 

To make a bigger impact, you can swap out your upper or lower cabinets for an alternative style. This not only gives your kitchen a fresh look overall, but it also helps to provide more dimension, makes the room feel more spacious, and gives it a more modern and less matchy-matchy look. If you want a similar feel without swapping out a row of cabinets, you can simply opt for two contrasting paint colors, as this will achieve that modern split look for a much lower cost, fewer materials, and less labor.