We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Ever spotted a fancy kitchen in a magazine and wondered why yours looks so different? It could be the styling, the lighting, or – most likely – the cabinets. When your cabinets look boring and mass-produced, your whole kitchen feels run-of-the-mill. But you can easily make them look more custom and luxurious with a few simple tricks. From adding panels for depth to hiding joins with trim, there are plenty of easy ways to upgrade the look of your existing cabinets and make your kitchen feel truly one-of-a-kind. Personalizing your cabinets is not only great for your style, but it can also make them more functional. Things like creating custom fillers and removing doors for open shelving can totally transform the vibe. Even if you’re a DIY beginner, chances are at least a few of these tips will work for your kitchen. So let’s dive in and explore some ways to make your cabinets look like a high-end designer piece.
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10 Easy Ways to Make Your Kitchen Cabinets Look Custom-Built
Create fillers
Nothing makes a kitchen look more haphazard than gaps between the cabinets and walls. To give your space a more luxe, intentional feel, why not make some simple custom fillers? Just use wood glue or nails to attach two pieces of wood into a corner shape, then paint the front to match your cabinets. Slide those fillers into any visible gaps, and voila – it’ll look like your cabinets were built specifically for your space.
Add panels for extra depth
If your cabinet doors look flat and boring, adding some decorative panels can give them awesome depth and dimension. Just pick out some panels that will fit the front of your doors, then use a nail gun to attach them. Paint over the whole thing for a seamless, built-in look.
Add texture
Want to add some cool texture to your cabinets? Try using pole wrap – it’s a fluted wood sheet that can give your doors a custom, column-like look. Just cut it to size, paint it to match, and glue it on. You may need to touch up the paint afterwards, but it’s a really easy way to get a high-end feel.
Remove doors for open shelving
Mix up closed cabinets with open shelving to make your kitchen feel way more custom and personal. The open shelves are great for displaying decorative items, so your cabinets feel built around your stuff, not the other way around. Just unscrew the hinges, fill in the holes, and paint over them – easy peasy!
Hide joins with trim
If your kitchen has separate cabinet units stacked on top of each other, you’ll probably see some annoying joins in between. To make them look seamless, try adding some trim over those seams. Chair rail trim works great because it has natural depth, adding cool visual interest where there was just an ugly gap before.
Add feet
Adding feet to your cabinets is a great way to make them look more built-in than tacked on. Baseboards can get in the way in high-traffic kitchen zones, so toe kicks are usually a better bet. You can buy ready-made feet or cut them yourself – either way, it’s an easy upgrade that breaks up long, boring cabinet lines.
Install crown molding
Adding crown molding to the top of your cabinets is a super easy way to make them look more custom and built-in. Even if your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, the molding will still give them a more ornate, intentional vibe. It’s a simple upgrade that goes a long way!
Add paneling to empty spaces
If you have big gaps between your cabinetry, like around the oven or in a desk nook, adding some matching paneling can help it all feel more cohesive. The paneling adds visual depth and connects the different areas, so your kitchen looks like one big, custom built-in unit. Just paint it with a glossy finish to protect against spills.
Caulk all gaps
Even small gaps around your cabinets and shelves can make your kitchen look unfinished. Caulk is your friend! Filling in all those little spaces with a precise bead of caulk will help everything look seamless and built-in. Just make sure to use a small, angled tip for the neatest application.
Build in appliances
Appliances that stick out like a sore thumb can really ruin the custom look you’re going for. But you can easily fix that by covering bigger appliances like fridges and dishwashers with matching cabinet panels. Just remove the handles, add hinges to the panels, and use sliders to attach them so they can open and close easily. This blends everything together for a truly built-in feel.
