If you want to give your kitchen an entirely new look, you can make some basic repairs or a few minor improvements to your kitchen cabinets. The look of the cabinets can be completely changed by changing the pulls or knobs, or re-facing or painting the cabinets.

You should repair or change the cabinet hinges if the cabinet doors don’t shut properly or if they droop. Try tightening the screws as a first step. If a screw won’t tighten because of an enlarged hole, take the screw out, put a little white glue into the hole, and fill up the enlarged hole with broken pieces of wooden toothpicks. The excess glue should be wiped off. Use a utility knife to cut the toothpicks flush with the cabinet surface after the glue has dried. Then you can twist the screw into the repaired hole. If you have some difficulty, drill a small pilot hole first before you put the screw in.

You can use exposed decorative hinges to freshen the design of your cabinets. You can find a large variety of hinges in home improvement and hardware stores. They come in many styles, sizes, and in an assortment of materials. The replacement decorative hinges will not only fit your cabinets but they will create a new look for them.

If your cabinet doors are always hanging open, you may want to install self-closing hinges. They will keep the doors from remaining open and they do not require a separate catch for door closure.

You may have European frameless style kitchen cabinets that have doors that are out of alignment. If so, try adjusting the hinges. These styles of cabinets usually have door hinges that can be adjusted by turning the screws so that the door comes into line. These self-closing hinges do not require a catch and are fastened directly to the interior cabinet side, remaining hidden when the door is closed.

If you have drawers that don’t close easily or completely, there is a simple repair. Just reattach or replace the drawer glides. If you want a smooth, trouble-free drawer closing or opening, select manufactured metal ball bearing glides that fasten to the sides or bottom of the drawer. Selection and installation will be determined by how your drawer is constructed and the type of glide currently installed. You should be able to get all the details you need regarding replacement andinstallation from the drawer manufacturer’s directions.