The Property Brothers' Expert Tips For A Seamless Kitchen Cabinet Remodel

Cabinets are important for both the aesthetic and function of the kitchen, so putting the focus on this feature can transform the space. However, since they're the base of the kitchen design, renovating your cabinets can put the room out of commission while being worked on, especially if you're going for a substantial change. Fortunately, taking on a major remodel with brand-new cabinets isn't always necessary.

Jonathan and Drew Scott from HGTV's "Property Brothers" and "Property Brothers: Forever Home" often put an emphasis on a beautiful and functional kitchen for their clients. "The kitchen is the most important room in the home," the brothers write on their website, The Scott Brothers. "It's where we do some of our most loving, life-sustaining work. ... It's a room everyone wants to get right, design-wise." There are a few keys the brothers have shared to stylish cabinets and a seamless remodel.

For one, adding color in order to add personality. Darker tones on the cabinets, in particular, are a favorite of the renovating pair, including darker greens and blues as well as neutrals. However, painting isn't their only suggestion. Many of their cabinet remodeling tips leave the current cabinets in place and cosmetically upgrade them to fit the homeowner's current style. Other tips push to maximize the functionality throughout the kitchen.

When it comes to a kitchen remodel, there's often a battle between upgrading the quality and staying within budget. But for Jonathan and Drew Scott, splurging on luxury cabinets isn't always the go-to choice. Most standard cabinets are sturdy and durable without breaking the bank.

"[T]he quality of pre-fabricated cabinets is way better than it ever was in the past," Jonathan Scott explains in an interview with NBC News. "And if somebody doesn't have the budget to a custom kitchen, we actually will do prefab and finish it with details like molding to make it look custom." Prefab cabinets, also called stock cabinets, average between $100 to $300 per linear foot. Compared to custom cabinets, which can cost between $500 and $1,200 per linear foot, this is a major saving point.

As the Scott brothers said, with a few simple steps, you can make prefab cabinets look custom. Adding crown molding, replacing the doors, or using unique hardware can all elevate the look of your kitchen cabinets.

Adequate kitchen storage is essential and that often means working with vertical space. While high kitchen cabinets may not be the best option for your daily needs, they're not totally useless. "You have to have upper cabinets, unless you have a huge abundance of storage in a pantry," Jonathan Scott says in an interview with Apartment Therapy. Needing sufficient storage is another reason the brothers are against open shelving in the kitchen. Instead, they suggest taller upper cabinets.

The Scott brothers suggest using these high cabinets for things like baking supplies or casserole dishes only used a few times a year, per Taste of Home. Opt to have your upper cabinets run to the ceiling, providing you with some much-needed storage space. For a standard room that has 8- or 9-foot ceilings, the standard 42-inch wall cabinets with a 12-inch addition will usually suffice. Using taller cabinets can also help give the illusion that your ceilings are taller overall. By extending that main feature vertically, you can draw the eyes up and visually expand the room.

If there is one thing that can transform a kitchen with ease, it's a new coat of paint. The Property Brothers always emphasize adding a pop of color when possible, especially on kitchen cabinets. Both bold shades of color and muted tones have trended as popular finishes for cabinets in recent years. Use paint as a way to create an accent by opting for a two-toned kitchen. Accomplish this by painting the island one color and the rest of the cabinets another. Or painting the upper and lower cabinets two different colors.

Drew and Jonathan Scott also believe that even all-white kitchens should have some color. "If people are going modern, they think of white everywhere, but maybe some contrast is good," Drew Scott explains in an interview with The Kitchn. Jonathan Scott adds, "Too much of a good thing is not a good thing. White is classic and nice as long as you don't go too ultra white on the cabinet." Infusing a little color helps make the design look a little more visually interesting. Jonathan Scott suggests an infusion of blues, greens, yellows, and grays among stained woods to add a pop to the room.

You don't always need to do a massive tear-down renovation to give your kitchen new life. Upgrading the kitchen cabinets you already have can instantly make it look like the room has new cabinets without the costly purchase, removal, and reinstallation. This is especially true if you're not planning to overhaul the layout or design of the space. Drew Scott says in an interview with Architectural Digest, "If the layout of your kitchen cabinets is not bad, you can always make it look fresh and new — without spending all the money — by resurfacing the cabinets that are already there."

The basics of resurfacing include sanding down the cabinets to remove any old paint or veneer and applying a new coat of stain or paint to upgrade the exterior. Drew Scott offers this advice when resurfacing: "Do not use latex paint to refinish cabinets." Latex paint tends to be less durable on wood cabinets. One that's oil-based will be more resistant to moisture and stains, leaving you with a paint job that won't bubble or peel over time.

If the facade of your cabinets needs a style facelift, another option is replacing the doors of the cabinets. This allows you to keep the cabinet boxes, especially if they're still in great shape, and upgrade the part of the cabinets that offer the most aesthetically. It's another option for new-looking cabinets without breaking the bank.

Maximizing your island can help increase the efficiency of your kitchen overall. Drew and Jonathan Scott often prefer to put the microwave on the island rather than in standard locations, such as above the stove or on the counters. Rather than the typical microwave with a door, the Scott brothers use a drawer version that can be fit into lower cabinets. Tucking the microwave away allows for more counter space and a more open kitchen. A wine fridge is another appliance the brothers have added to a kitchen island in order to get the most out of the square footage without cluttering up the rest of the room.

Of course, when it comes to making the most of a kitchen island, storage has to be a top priority. Including plenty of a deep drawers for larger cookware, such as pots and baking sheets, allows you to keep your kitchen organized and these items in easy-to-reach locations.