Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) cabinets offer an affordable and convenient solution for kitchen renovations, but they don’t have to look generic. With a little creativity and effort, you can customize these cabinets to reflect your personal style and create a unique, high-end look. From painting and adding molding to swapping out hardware and enhancing functionality, there are countless ways to make RTA cabinets your own. This guide will take you through some effective customization techniques that can transform your RTA cabinets into a centerpiece of your kitchen.
Step 1: Paint or Refinish for a Custom Look
One of the easiest and most impactful ways to customize RTA cabinets is by painting or refinishing them. Most RTA cabinets come in neutral tones or unfinished wood, giving you the perfect canvas to express your style. Whether you want a modern, sleek look or a more rustic, farmhouse feel, the right paint color can make all the difference.
To get started, make sure the cabinet surfaces are clean and free from dust or oils. Sanding lightly will help the paint adhere better, especially if the cabinets have a pre-applied finish. For a professional look, apply a coat of primer before painting. When selecting paint, choose a high-quality, durable option, like satin or semi-gloss, which can withstand the wear and tear that kitchen cabinets typically endure.
If painting isn’t your style, you can stain unfinished wood cabinets to bring out their natural beauty. This works particularly well in kitchens with a warm, traditional feel. Experimenting with different stain colors can help you achieve a custom look that complements the rest of your kitchen design.
Step 2: Add Decorative Molding
Adding decorative molding is another great way to give RTA cabinets a custom, high-end appearance. Crown molding, in particular, adds elegance and makes the cabinets look more substantial. It’s ideal for bridging the gap between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling, giving a finished and polished look.
For molding to be fixed, one must take measurements of the cabinet tops and adjust the molding to the right proportions. A miter saw allows for precise cuts to be made for corner pieces. After determining the thickness and length of the molding, it can then be affixed to the cabinets using either finishing nails or wood glue. To give it even more oomph, some experts recommend also putting baseboard molding below your cabinets. If one is looking for an old-world or a transitional kitchen then this technique will definitely pay off.
Besides crown molding, one can put trim along the edges of a cabinet or use beadboard panels working on both doors or the sides of the box. This can help flat cabinet faces have a little more personality than when they appear as simple RTA cabinets.
Step 3: Upgrade the Hardware
The hardware actually used in the designing of the cabinets can go a long way in determining the general outlook of the cabinets. Replacing the normal knobs or handles that are provided for most RTA cabinets with something far more attractive is such a customization project that does not have to be costly but will change the look of a kitchen dramatically.
The third criterion is the miscellaneous aspect which refers to the overall look and feel of the hardware. In a modern kitchen, bar pulls or even knobs that are relatively simple, metallic and black or granite matched stainless steel would suffice. If you are more of a traditional type you could possibly select brass or bronze hardware with some engravings. Something as simple as adding cup pulls to the drawers or having different knobs on the cabinet can enhance it and give it a personalized and designer look.
Also, be certain that the title hardware is operating smoothly. Stick to higher quality material and better construction to allow the hardware to last longer especially in an area of the house such as the kitchen.
Step 4: Install Glass Inserts
Another advantage of considering glass inserts is that it gives a touch of elegance while making the appearance of your cabinet look lighter. Rather than solid doors, they give the impression of an open space within the kitchen and offer some of the elegant items such as dishware or glassware.
In order to add the glass inserts, it will be necessary to cut the center panel out of the cabinet door with a jigsaw or router. After you have fitted the panel, you have the option of adding the glass insert either by applying adhesive or by the help of clips depending on the design of the cabinet. To add to the customization, different types of glasses are available in the market: frosted glass, textured glass and stained glass among others depending on the desired design. Of all the customizations, this one fits well with upper cabinets and it adds a point of interest in the kitchen as well as the luxury aspect.
Step 5: Enhance Functionality
In addition to the aesthetics, you can make your RTA cabinets even more useful by incorporating certain features and additions to the cabinets themselves. One may want to consider adding pull-out shelves, lazy Susans or dividers in the cabinets to enhance their functionality. These are beneficial in increasing the options for getting things and help increase the use of space.
Another well-liked modification is retrofitting cabinets with soft-close hinges and drawer slides that stop the doors and drawers from slamming shut. This not only enhances the durability of cabinets but also creates an extra dimension that has become a standard add-on in most modern and sleek kitchens. For instance, if you are exceptionally good at carpentry, you could include lights inside the shelves or below the shelves to light up your countertop area.
Conclusion
It makes more sense now to buy RTA cabinets because they offer as much style as fully assembled ones at a reasonable cost. Customization is one of the best ways to give your kitchen a facelift. Areas include: interior painting, decorative molding, door and hardware upgrades and functionality upgrades among others. Thus, if you are willing to devote a certain amount of time for this purpose, it is possible to achieve a unique looking kitchen with functional RTA cabinets within a reasonable price range.
