Can You Flip Cabinet Doors?
Do you think the inner portion of your cabinet door would look more presentable than the outside? Flipping will be a reasonable idea if this is the case.
Most people would like to embark on these kinds of DIY projects. You’ll have the opportunity to change the look of your cabinet by reversing the door.
But before you embark on this DIY project, you need to find out if such would be possible. In other words, can you flip cabinet doors? If yes, how’s it done?
There are diverse questions about cabinet door flipping we’ll be responding to here. So, keep reading to know more.
Can You Flip Cabinet Doors Inside Out?
Yes, you can. But keep in mind that some cabinet doors are better replaced than flipped. Reversing them will be more complex, time-consuming, and expensive. However, reversing a cabinet door won’t be an issue if the cabinet boasts partial overlay doors. You have to detach the door, flip it over and reattach it. That’s how simple it is.
You can come up with a unique idea on how you want to flip the cabinet door. It is your project, but make sure you don’t mess up the appeal of your kitchen because you flipped the cabinet door. You have it do it right.
How To Reverse Cabinet Doors?
Whether you have some carpentry knowledge or not, you can successfully reverse your kitchen cabinet doors. But if you don’t, you can follow the steps below to reverse cabinet doors.
But keep in mind that this process can be time-consuming. You’ll need time to remove the door, sand, and repaint before reattaching it.
So, if you’re up for the task, follow the tips below to get it down.
Step 1: Check if the cabinet door is reversible:
Is the cabinet door something you can flip? You must be sure of this before embarking on this project. If the door has pre-routed edges cut out, reversing it would be challenging. So, let’s assume your cabinet door is reversible. Now you can proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Take down the cabinet:
This is where you have to remove the cabinet door. Firstly, unlock the door, and chisel the paint off the screws. Most door screws come painted. The paint helps to hide the screws and make the door’s finish appear uniform.
So, after chiseling the paint from the screw, take the screws off. Now use a knife to pry the hinges off the door.
This process is quite time-consuming but has to be done carefully. You don’t want to leave a nasty cut on your door before reversing it.
A Handy Tip: The cabinet door handle may change position since you’re flipping the door over. So remove the handle and choose a new spot you want the handle fixed.
Step 3: Sand and paint the doors:
You’re turning your cabinet door inside out. So the outer part needs to appear presentable. For this to happen, you have to sandpaper and repaint the door.
The first thing is to Bondo all the holes. Fill the holes and sand them until you can no longer feel the depressions created by the holes.
The next activity is to clean the doors properly using a degreaser, then sand and paint. Allow the paint to dry properly before you move on to the next stage.
Step 4: Mount the hardware and door:
You can mount the hinges and handles on the door before fitting them into the door frame. Another way to mount the door is to install the hinges on the door frame before screwing them into the door.
The main thing here is to mount the door accurately. Ensure the hinges are moving freely and are installed accurately.
How Much Space Should Be Between Cabinets And Walls?
You can leave a space of one to three inches between your cabinets and walls. But note that a one-inch distance isn’t too small. In other words, most people prefer to leave a one-inch distance between cabinets and walls.
Leaving enough space or gap between your cabinet and wall will allow the cabinet to open conveniently.
How Much Space Should Be Between The Countertop And Upper Cabinets?
The space between your countertop and upper cabinets should be 18 inches. With this height, an average person can reach all the shelves conveniently and carry out their work comfortably on the countertop.
However, the 18 inches distance isn’t set in stone. You can make adjustments if there’s a need for it. You can adjust the height of the upper cabinets if you’re taller or reduce it if you’re shorter.
But whatever you do, ensure the maximum height doesn’t exceed 20 inches or below 15 inches.
Can You Hang Kitchen Cabinets From The Ceiling?
Yes, you can hang kitchen cabinets from the ceiling. But is it the best option? Well, it depends on the homeowner’s preference. Remember that it will be challenging to reach items placed on the shelves when the cabinet is too high up.
For most people, the solution will be to stand on something to reach shelves comfortably. But then, not everyone fancies this, and it poses a safety concern.
On the other hand, most people wouldn’t mind hanging their cabinets from the ceiling. They won’t mind stepping on a platform or stretching to reach the shelves.
A Handy Tip: If you’re thinking of mounting a cabinet from your ceiling, ensure there’s someone around to support you. Cabinets are heavy, so you can’t support them with one hand and fix them with the other simultaneously.
You would need someone to hold the cabinet while you fix it to the ceiling. You can also consider erecting a sturdy platform or base to support the cabinet while fixing it to the ceiling.
Can You Flip Upper Cabinets?
Yes, you can. Some upper cabinets are reversible. They don’t have a hanging trail. Thus, there’s no specific difference in how the top is attached from how the bottom is attached.
If you have such a cabinet, you can turn it into a right-hinged door cabinet, even if it’s left-hinged. Just flip the cabinet upside down, and you’re good to go.
Should Cabinets Go To The Ceiling?
Whether you’re doing light or complete kitchen remodeling, you’ll always decide on your kitchen cabinetry.
You can mount your cabinet high up the ceiling with a gap in between the ceiling and cabinet. Another option is to have the cabinet run up to the ceiling. In this case, there won’t be a gap between the ceiling and the cabinet.
So, the answer to the above question depends on the homeowner’s preference. And several factors can influence such a decision. Let’s go through them.
1. Kitchen design idea
What is your dream kitchen cabinetry design? Do you want a modern look or a historical one? The modern cabinetry design is where the cabinet flushes with the ceiling, and it’s pretty popular these days.
So how you want the design of your kitchen to be will determine how you will mount your cabinet.
2. The overall cost of mounting ceiling-high cabinets
Ceiling high cabinets are expensive. Remember, these cabinets have to be massive in size to make it easier to reach the shelves.
So, if you don’t mind spending a fortune on your kitchen cabinet, you can mount ceiling-high cabinets in your kitchen.
3. The functionality of the kitchen cabinet
Ceiling high cabinets can transform the look of your kitchen. But looks aren’t all that matters. You’re going to use the cabinet one day.
When mounting ceiling-high cabinets, you’ll have to consider the average height of people in your home. Will it be possible to reach the shelves with ease? Or do you want people to stand on something to reach the shelves? You have to consider all these when mounting ceiling-high cabinets.
However, mounting a cabinet to the ceiling will prevent you from regularly dusting the top of the cabinet, which is a plus. You’ll have one less task to worry about in the kitchen.
Should Cabinets Match The Floor or Walls?
The wall, floor, and kitchen cabinet are essential elements when remodeling a kitchen. It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing a mini or complete remodeling.
Installing pieces of furniture, flooring, and painting the wall to match might seem like a great décor idea. But then, do you have to match all three?
The short answer is no. You don’t need to match your kitchen cabinet to the floor and wall. The best thing is to mix them.
Let’s look at it this way. You can choose a hardwood floor and an unpainted wood cabinet. Let it be a mixture of dark and light wood. In other words, you can use dark wood on the floor and light ones for the cabinet.
So, focus on using complementary colors, not matching colors.
Conclusion
So, can you flip cabinet doors? Yes, you can. Remember that it is crucial to leave space between the wall and cabinet when mounting it. You can leave a space of one to three inches.
Another area we looked at was the space between the upper and bottom countertop. How much space should be between these two? You can leave a space of 18 inches. But if there’s a need to adjust, feel free to adjust. But note that the maximum height shouldn’t be above 20 inches, while the minimum shouldn’t be below 15 inches.
