As the world is firmly entrenched in a recession, homeowners might be thinking that this spring is not the ideal time to contemplate a kitchen overhaul. As the heart of the kitchen, kitchen cabinets often come to mind when it comes to renovating a room. Unfortunately, new custom kitchen cabinets are expensive and out of the budget of most anxious homeowners in today’s recession. Fortunately, however, there are many affordable alternatives.

The Daily Journal recently tackled this topic in its spring home improvement section with an article titled “Cost-effective ways to rejuvenate one of your busiest rooms.” That room that the publication talks about, of course, is the kitchen. So what clever ways have the newspaper and its knowledgeable sources come up with to take the financial sting out of a cabinet review?

1. Consider resurfacing your kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. Your local home improvement center can give you a good idea of ​​what new door fronts will cost. Such a supercenter can also give you a look at all your cabinet door options in one convenient place. The wide variety of wood species, door shapes, and finish options can overwhelm you at first. However, the retailers’ staff can help you understand all of your options so you can select the right door fronts to fit your needs and lifestyle. As long as the basic construction of your cabinets is sound, refinishing is a great money-saving option. However, it is not always the least expensive route.

2. Look for assembled, ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. One of the homeowners featured in the article “assumed that (relining the kitchen cabinet) would be less expensive than pulling out the old cabinets and starting over.” [for such refacing, however,] it wasn’t cheap. Finally, the owner was able to remove all the old cabinets, replace them with semi-custom wood cabinets, install Corian countertops, and install a tile backsplash for $4,000 less.” Custom designed, but much more wallet-friendly.

3. Consider the fact that your cabinets may not need any work at all. If you’re looking for a quick and easy upgrade that will give your existing quality built cabinets a whole new look, a simple and inexpensive upgrade to your hardware may be all you need. “If the cabinets are made of wood and are in good working order, buy new hardware, knobs and hinges for much less money than replacement cabinets,” one expert recommended. Decorative accents add the finishing touch to your cabinets. These upgrades customize your cabinets for a look that reflects your personal style…and doesn’t put a strain on your bank account.

4. When all else fails, you can’t go wrong with a fresh coat of paint. “A homeowner can get a new facelift on their existing cabinets without all the mess and inconvenience of the project by using a semi-gloss washable oil-based paint, and the cost will range from $1,200 to $1,500.”