Give a kitchen a makeover without replacing it

A weekend-by-weekend plan to refresh kitchen doors, tiles and trim without a full refit.

Guides in this project

01Paint kitchen cupboard doors 02Replace kitchen cupboard handles 03Adjust kitchen cupboard doors that don't line up 04Tile a kitchen splashback 05Regrout wall tiles 06Reseal around a kitchen sink or worktop 07Fit a new kitchen plinth

KM-01Plan, buy and clear the kitchenWalk round the kitchen and decide which doors, tiles and trim need work, then buy paint, primer, tile, grout, sealant and plinth clips before you start so colours and sizes match throughout. Clear worktops and empty cupboards near the splashback so you have room to work without rushing. Allow roughly two weekends plus some weekday evenings for drying and curing times, and budget around £150-£450 total depending on kitchen size and tile choice. Set up a dust sheet area with good ventilation, since you'll be painting, tiling and sealing in the same space over several days.

2 each · Dust sheets

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2 roll · Masking tape

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1 each · Washing-up bowl for small parts

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KM-02Paint the cupboard doorsFollow 'Paint kitchen cupboard doors' to remove, label, prep and paint each door and drawer front. This phase usually takes the longest because of drying time between coats; allow 2-3 days if you're using a hard-wearing eggshell or satin finish. Work in a ventilated room away from any dust the later tiling work will create, and don't rush recoating — painting too soon causes the finish to stay soft and mark easily.

2.5 litre · Cupboard door paint

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1 litre · Cupboard door primer

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1 pack · Fine sandpaper

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KM-03Fit new handlesFollow 'Replace kitchen cupboard handles' to mark, drill and fit new handles once the paint has fully cured — check the tin, as most paints need around a week to harden properly for everyday use. Doing this before rehanging the doors makes it easier to get hole positions straight on a flat surface. A common mistake is drilling before the paint is fully hard, which chips the fresh finish.

12 each · Cupboard handles

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1 pack · Handle fixing screws (if not supplied)

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KM-04Rehang and align the doorsFollow 'Adjust kitchen cupboard doors that don't line up' to rehang each door and adjust the hinges so gaps are even side to side and top to bottom. Do this after the handles are fitted, since their extra weight can shift a door's alignment slightly. Check every door while the cupboards are still empty, as it's far easier to adjust hinges without shelves and contents in the way.

2 each · Replacement hinges (if needed)

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KM-05Tile the splashbackFollow 'Tile a kitchen splashback' to remove any old panel or upstand and tile the wall behind the hob and sink. Before unscrewing or drilling into the wall, check for cables and pipes with a detector and still expect to find something, since kitchens often have wiring running behind splashbacks. If a socket or switch sits within the tiled area, switch off that circuit at the consumer unit and prove it dead with a tester before loosening the faceplate; if the socket actually needs moving rather than just lifted and refitted, get a qualified electrician to do it. A common mistake here is picking the wrong trowel notch size for the tile, leaving weak adhesive coverage.

RULES

3 sq m · Kitchen wall tiles

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1 bag · Tile adhesive

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1 pack · Tile spacers

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KNOW THE RULES

Always check for hidden cables and pipes before drilling, and isolate and prove dead any circuit before removing a faceplate. Moving a socket (rather than refitting it) should be done by a qualified electrician.

KM-06Regrout any other wall tilesFollow 'Regrout wall tiles' for any other tiled areas in the kitchen that look tired, while your tiling tools are still out. Leave the new splashback grout to cure fully, usually 24-48 hours depending on the product, before getting it wet or starting the resealing phase. Mixing an old grout colour with a different new one side by side is a common giveaway, so try to match or stick to one colour across the room.

1 bag · Tile grout

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1 each · Grout removal tool

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KM-07Reseal around the sink and worktopFollow 'Reseal around a kitchen sink or worktop' once the new tiling and grout are completely dry. Cut out the old sealant and run a fresh bead where the splashback meets the worktop and around the sink edge. Turn off the water at the isolation valves under the sink before you disturb anything nearby, and leave the new sealant to cure fully before using the tap or sink again — using it too soon is the main reason resealing fails.

1 tube · Kitchen and bathroom sealant

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1 each · Sealant gun

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KM-08Fit a new plinthFollow 'Fit a new kitchen plinth' to finish the makeover with new plinth boards and clips along the base of the units. Check for cables and pipes before drilling into the floor or wall for clips, since kitchen sockets and pipework are often routed down near skirting level. This phase is quick, usually half a day, and gives the whole room a finished look once everything else is done.

RULES

4 metre · Plinth board

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1 pack · Plinth clips

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KNOW THE RULES

Check for hidden cables and pipes with a detector before drilling into the floor or wall, and still expect something to be there.

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