A great way to change the look of your cabinetry is to remove existing trim where possible to achieve cleaner lines, or to add trim or crown molding to plain cabinets to give them a high end, custom feel.
To remove existing trim, it is important to discover how it was applied and if it can be removed without damaging cabinetry. If so, remove it carefully, remove any glue that may have been used, and sand the area smooth. There will be a difference in the color of the wood where the trim previously was. You may end up having to sand the entire face and re-stain or paint it in order to achieve a uniform finish. It takes some work, but it will completely transform the look of your cabinets and give them new life.
If your home has cabinets that don’t go all the way up to the ceiling, adding crown molding to cap them off can give them a custom look. It’s similar to adding a frame to a picture, to make it look more finished. You may also want to add some molding or trim along the bottom to complete the effect.
For plain cabinets that don’t have a lot of style, you may want to add trim a couple inches in from the edges of each door to create the look of recessed panels. There are lots of great styles from very simple to intricately detailed. You might even want to add more than one design for more detail.
When adding trim or molding to cabinets, or for any other trim project, it is essential to create perfectly mitered corners. You can do this with an inexpensive miter box after measuring precisely.
Paint or stain trim ahead of time and allow it to dry. Lightly mark off the area where the trim will be applied, and tape off the outside edges of the lines. Lightly scuff the area inside the taped lines with sandpaper. Remove tape. Apply a light bead of wood glue and set the trim in place. Secure with finish nails.