6 Best Cabinet Restoration Tutorials for apartments That Won’t Cost a Fortune
Revamp your rental’s cabinets on a budget. This guide details 6 affordable, renter-friendly tutorials for a fresh look without losing your deposit.
Staring at dated, honey-oak cabinets in a rental kitchen can feel like a design dead end. But a cabinet refresh is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can make in a small space, completely changing the feel of a room without major demolition. These tutorials break down the best budget-friendly methods, from temporary fixes to durable finishes, so you can choose the right path for your apartment.
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Prep with Krud Kutter for a Flawless Finish
Krud Kutter Original Concentrated Cleaner/Degreaser tackles tough stains on building materials and tile. This powerful, water-based formula is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for home and work.
Any good project starts with good prep, and with cabinets, that means deep cleaning. Years of cooking grease, finger oils, and dust create a film that paint simply won’t stick to. Skipping this step is the number one reason for peeling, chipping paint jobs down the road.
This is where a heavy-duty cleaner and degreaser like Krud Kutter comes in. It’s not just soap; it’s a formula designed to cut through the grime that builds up in a kitchen. A thorough wipe-down does more than just clean—it also de-glosses the old finish slightly, giving your new primer or paint a much better surface to grab onto.
In an apartment, the goal is to minimize dust and mess. A good cleaning with Krud Kutter often means you can avoid heavy-duty sanding, which is a massive win for small-space living. Think of it as the cheapest insurance policy you can buy for your project. Five dollars and thirty minutes of cleaning will save you the heartache of having to scrape and repaint everything in six months.
d-c-fix Contact Paper for a Reversible Update
Easily refresh any flat surface with this durable, water-resistant self-adhesive maple wood film. Its grid backing ensures precise cuts, and it's removable without residue for a quick, personalized update.
For renters, permanent changes are often off the table. This is where high-quality contact paper becomes your best friend. Forget the flimsy, bubbly stuff from the past; modern brands like d-c-fix offer thick, durable vinyl coverings in hundreds of finishes, from realistic wood grains to matte colors and marble patterns. It’s a completely reversible way to test out a new look.
The application is straightforward but requires patience. Clean the cabinet doors thoroughly, measure carefully, and peel back only a few inches of the backing at a time. Use a plastic squeegee or a credit card to smooth the paper down as you go, pushing air bubbles out toward the edges. For corners, a hairdryer can gently heat the vinyl, making it more pliable for a clean wrap.
Is it as durable as paint? No. But for a one or two-year lease, it’s an unbeatable solution. It costs very little, can be done in an afternoon, and peels off with minimal residue when it’s time to move out. This is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward update for anyone hesitant to break their lease agreement.
The Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations Kit
Refresh your cabinets with this easy-to-use, water-based coating kit. Achieve a durable, satin finish on wood, laminate, metal, or melamine surfaces without sanding or priming. Covers up to 100 sq ft.
If you want a true painted finish without the intimidating guesswork, an all-in-one kit is the perfect middle ground. The Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations kit is a standout because it bundles every single product you need into one box: the deglosser, the bond coat (the paint), an optional decorative glaze, and the protective top coat.
The magic of this system is that it’s engineered to work on existing cabinet finishes with no stripping, sanding, or priming. After a deep clean, you apply the deglosser to prepare the surface. Then, you brush or roll on the bond coat, which is formulated to adhere tenaciously to old varnish. The process is methodical, but the instructions are clear and designed for a beginner.
While buying a kit might seem more expensive than picking up a can of paint, it eliminates the paralysis of choice and the risk of using incompatible products. You know the primer, paint, and topcoat are all designed to work together. For someone who wants the durability of paint without becoming a chemistry expert, this is a clear and reliable path to a beautiful, lasting finish.
A Classic Finish with Behr Cabinet Enamel
For those who own their apartment or have a landlord’s blessing for a permanent change, using a dedicated cabinet enamel is the gold standard. Products like Behr’s Cabinet & Trim Enamel are specifically designed for the job. This isn’t just wall paint; it’s an acrylic-alkyd hybrid that cures to a hard, durable finish that resists scuffs and cleans easily.
The process is more involved but yields professional results. After cleaning with Krud Kutter, a light scuff-sanding with 220-grit sandpaper is crucial for adhesion. Then, apply a high-quality bonding primer like Zinsser B-I-N. Once the primer is dry, apply two thin coats of the cabinet enamel, using a high-density foam roller for flat surfaces and a quality brush for details to minimize texture.
The key benefit here is durability and a flawless, self-leveling finish. The paint smooths itself out as it dries, reducing the appearance of brush strokes. You also have unlimited color choices, as the enamel can be tinted to any shade. It’s more labor-intensive, but the result is a custom, factory-like finish that will stand up to years of daily use.
Instant Upgrade with Liberty Hardware Pulls
Update your cabinets with this 10-pack of durable, champagne bronze drawer pulls. These 5-1/16 in (128mm) center-to-center handles offer easy installation and a modern style.
Never underestimate the power of small details. Swapping out dated, cheap-looking cabinet hardware is arguably the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective upgrade you can make. It requires no painting, no mess, and can be done in under an hour with just a screwdriver.
The most important step is measuring the distance between the screw holes on your existing pulls, a measurement called "center-to-center." Take an old pull with you to the hardware store to ensure a perfect match. Brands like Liberty Hardware offer a massive selection of affordable styles, from sleek modern bar pulls to classic knobs.
This simple swap can instantly elevate builder-grade cabinets, making them look more intentional and expensive. Always keep the original hardware in a labeled bag. When you’re ready to move out, you can screw the old pulls back on in minutes, leaving no trace of your upgrade and ensuring you get your full security deposit back. The impact-to-effort ratio is off the charts.
Frame Cabinets with a Smart Tiles Backsplash
Instantly upgrade your kitchen or bathroom with these premium, self-adhesive Smart Tiles. Featuring a realistic 3D design and patented adhesive, they offer a mess-free, tool-free installation that won't yellow, peel, or crack. Enjoy lasting style and easy cleaning in moisture-prone areas.
Sometimes the cabinets themselves are perfectly fine—it’s the wall around them that’s letting the kitchen down. Installing a peel-and-stick backsplash is a brilliant way to frame your existing cabinetry and make the entire area look more polished and complete. It’s an upgrade that enhances your cabinets without ever touching them.
Premium brands like Smart Tiles are the way to go here. They aren’t flat stickers; they have a gel-like top layer called Gel-O that gives them the texture and reflection of real tile. They are also resistant to heat and humidity, making them perfectly safe for use behind a stove or sink in an apartment.
Installation is all about careful prep and alignment. The wall must be perfectly clean and dry. You then simply peel the backing and stick the tile sheet to the wall, overlapping the designated grout lines to create a seamless look. It’s a project that looks incredibly high-end but is 100% removable, making it another fantastic, damage-free option for renters.
Open Shelving Using a Ryobi Hand Sander
For a more dramatic transformation, consider removing some cabinet doors entirely to create open shelving. This can make a small, cramped kitchen feel more airy and open, while also providing a space to display your favorite dishes or glassware. It’s a bold look that costs next to nothing.
The process is simple: just unscrew the doors and hinges. The real work is in finishing the interior of the cabinet box. You’ll need to fill the old hinge screw holes with wood putty. Once it’s dry, a small hand sander, like a Ryobi Corner Cat, is perfect for smoothing the putty flush and lightly scuffing the entire interior surface in preparation for paint.
This approach comes with a major tradeoff: you have to be tidy. Open shelving puts all of your clutter on display. But if you have a curated set of dishes and can keep things organized, it’s a powerful design move that modernizes a kitchen overnight. Painting the back of the cabinet a contrasting color can add an extra pop of custom style.
Protect Your Work with Minwax Polycrylic
After you’ve spent a weekend painting your cabinets, the final step is to protect them. A protective top coat is the invisible armor that will defend your hard work from water, grease, dings, and scratches for years to come. Do not skip this step.
For kitchen cabinets, especially if you’ve painted them a light color, a water-based top coat like Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is the best choice. Unlike oil-based polyurethane, it won’t "amber" or turn yellow over time, keeping your whites and grays true to their color. It also has a much lower odor and dries faster—both huge advantages when you’re working inside a small apartment.
Apply two or three very thin coats with a high-quality synthetic paintbrush. Lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper between coats (after the previous one is fully dry) for the smoothest possible finish. This final step is what separates a DIY job that looks good for a month from one that looks great for years.
A cabinet refresh is well within your reach, no matter your budget or your lease agreement. The key is to honestly assess your space, your timeline, and your comfort level before you begin. By choosing the right method—from a temporary peel-and-stick fix to a durable enamel finish—you can completely transform your kitchen in a single weekend.
