David Bromstad's Affordable Trick For Making Kitchen Cabinets Feel More High-End

David Bromstad's best tips for creating your own dream home include plenty of budget-friendly upgrades you can easily DIY yourself. Whether it's adding a fresh coat of paint or swapping out accessories, it's easy to make rooms feel more high-end without spending a whole lot of money. One place where small upgrades can go a long way is in the kitchen. Indeed, kitchen cabinets are Bromstad's secret to a luxe home and you can make yours feel more high-end with a simple trick. While the average price of overhauling cabinets can run between $69 and $119 per linear foot, it's possible to upgrade them for a fraction of the cost with paint, new pulls and handles, and the addition of an often overlooked feature: soft-close hinges.

During Season 14 of "My Lottery Dream Home," Bromstad guided a mother and son duo in their house search and revealed soft-close hinges are among his simple go-to upgrades for older kitchens. A two-pack starts at just $12 at Home Depot and can make all the difference, eliminating irksome slamming noises while adding longevity to the cabinets themselves. Here's how to DIY this upgrade in a few steps.

Before shopping for new hinges, check what's currently being used in your cabinets. If you have concealed hinges, measure the placement of existing screws and search for an exact match to eliminate the need for new holes. If, on the other hand, your cabinets use exposed hinges, you'll need to drill 35 millimeter holes into the doors, so first check if they're thick enough to accommodate this upgrade. What's more, keep in mind that self-closing hinges are not the same as soft-close hinges. The first ensures that doors close on their own while the latter silences slamming sounds while also helping to protect kitchen cabinets from wear and tear.

Once you're ready to start, unscrew the existing hinges, saving the screws so you can reuse them. One option is to swap each hinge individually, which allows you to work on the doors while they're semi-attached to the cabinets. Alternatively, you can remove all the hinges at once and place the door on a flat surface for easier access. The key is to perfectly align the openings of the new soft-close hinge with the existing holes in the door and screw it in. If the holes don't quite line up, you may be able to slide the plates in some hinge models from side to side for a better fit. If that isn't possible, though, use a self-centering drill bit to create new pilot holes in the correct location. Once the new hinge is safely attached to the door, screw the other half into the cabinet and you're done.