Cabinets are the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel. If yours are solid wood or good plywood and the layout works, you can keep them and still get a kitchen that looks new, for roughly a third of the cost of a full remodel.
WHAT A REFRESH INCLUDES
| Upgrade | Typical DMV Cost | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Professional cabinet painting | $4,000 – $8,000 | Highest |
| New quartz countertops | $3,500 – $7,500 | High |
| Tile backsplash | $1,200 – $3,000 | High |
| New hardware (pulls and knobs) | $200 – $700 | Medium |
| Pendants and under-cabinet lighting | $800 – $2,500 | Medium |
| Faucet and sink (with new counters) | $500 – $1,500 | Medium |
| Wall and ceiling paint | $600 – $1,500 | Medium |
Together, a complete refresh typically lands between $10,000 and $22,000, compared with $35,000 and up for a mid-range full remodel in the DMV. See our kitchen remodel cost guide for the full-remodel numbers.
DO IT IN THIS ORDER
- Cabinet repairs and any added panels or crown
- Countertops (templating, then install about 1–2 weeks later)
- Backsplash, which must follow the counters
- Cabinet painting, or before the counters if you want to avoid masking them
- Lighting, hardware and wall paint last
CAN YOUR CABINETS BE KEPT?
- Good candidates: solid wood or plywood boxes, sound doors, drawers that run smoothly or can get new slides.
- Poor candidates: swollen particleboard (common under sinks), peeling thermofoil doors, or a layout that doesn't work for you.
Thermofoil and laminate doors don't paint well. Those cabinets can often be refaced instead; see refacing vs. replacement.
WHAT A REFRESH CAN'T FIX
- A layout that's too small or awkward
- Moving the sink, range or walls
- Damaged or failing cabinet boxes
- Old appliances that don't fit modern sizes
Painted cabinets need time to cure before heavy use. Plan for gentle use for the first few weeks; details in cabinet paint cure time.
RELATED READING
CABINET PAINTING COST GUIDE: DC, MD & VA (2026)
Cabinet painting vs. full replacement — real pricing, what the process looks like, and why prep determines how long the job lasts.
KITCHEN REMODEL COST GUIDE FOR THE DMV (2026)
What a kitchen remodel actually costs in DC, Maryland, and Virginia -- broken down by scope, materials, and timeline.
BACKSPLASH INSTALLATION COST (2026)
Tile type, pattern labor, outlets and edges — and how the square footage really adds up.
Planning a project? See our Kitchen Remodeling service page for scope, process and recent work.
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