Replacing kitchen cupboard doors instead of the whole kitchen

Check the carcasses first

Before choosing doors, open every cupboard and look at the boxes behind them.

• Swelling or flaking board near the sink or dishwasher, usually from water.
• Shelves bowed or missing pins.
• Hinge holes torn out or already refilled several times.
• Cabinets that are out of level, so doors will never line up.

Measuring and sizing

Most fitted kitchens use standard carcass widths, but doors are not always the same size between brands and older ranges. Every door and drawer front should be measured, not assumed, including end panels and plinths if you want them to match.

Measure the existing door, not the opening, and note which way each one hinges.

Hinges and drilling

Concealed hinges sit in a round cup drilled into the back of the door. New doors often come undrilled or drilled to a standard position that may not match your existing hinge plates. Fitting new hinges at the same time is often the simplest way to get doors that close quietly and hang evenly.

Adjustment is where a kitchen looks professional. Even gaps between doors, and door edges that line up across the run, take patience with each hinge.

What else to change at the same time

Handles, cornice, plinths and end panels all affect the finished look. Some people add a new worktop at the same time, which is a bigger job but still far less than a full kitchen. Decide the scope before ordering, so everything arrives matched.

Choosing the style and material

Replacement doors come in many styles, from flat slab to shaker to traditional framed. Painted MDF, foil wrapped, laminate and solid timber all behave differently in a kitchen. Painted and solid timber doors can be refinished later, while foil wrapped doors can lift near heat sources such as ovens and kettles. Think about how the kitchen is used day to day, and choose a finish that will stand up to it.

Handles and soft close

New handles change a kitchen as much as the doors. Check hole spacing if you plan to reuse existing holes, or choose new positions on undrilled doors. Soft close hinges and drawer runners are a simple upgrade at the same time, and make the whole kitchen feel newer to use.

How long it takes

Swapping doors, drawer fronts and handles on a typical kitchen is usually a day or two, depending on hinge changes and adjustment. The kitchen stays usable throughout, which is one of the biggest advantages over a full refit.

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