If your kitchen and bathroom cabinets are looking shabby, don’t tear them out — give them a face-lift.

As long as the cabinet box and any drawers are in good shape and kitchen layout allows for good workflow, those cabinets are good candidates for a coat of paint, some new doors, or even a veneer to give them new life.

But before tackling the cabinets give the kitchen or bathroom a good once over. Consider the layout, is it convenient? Will updating one portion of the room make the rest of it look worn out?

For the kitchen, consider the workflow. Can several people work in the room at the same time without bumping into each other? Are the appliances positioned in convenient places?

Will the existing cabinets accommodate new appliances in the future? Refrigerators are getting larger, taller and so are stoves.

If the answers to these questions are yes, consider painting the existing doors, drawer fronts and cabinet boxes. That’s the most economical option for an update, said Warren Smith, vice president and designer of Kitchen & Bath ReStylers in Kennewick.

Smith and his wife, Connie, have owned the business since buying it in 1991 from his father, Marvin Smith.

There is a drawback to simply painting the existing cabinets, Smith said.

“You lose the option of getting rid of decades of dings and damage. — those fingernail scratches around the knobs will still be there even after you paint,” he said.

If you opt for the do-it-yourself painting route, Smith said to check out the big box stores. They sell some good kits that include instructions and tips.

“Follow them carefully,” he cautioned.  “Painting is always about preparation. You’ll need to de-gloss the finish already on the cabinets and get them super clean. Those are the big issues.”

Be prepared for the job to take weeks or even months.

If that sounds daunting, consider hiring professionals to do job.

Another option, which still involves painting, is to clean, prep and paint the cabinet boxes then replace the existing doors with factory painted doors.

“The factory doors have a harder, tougher, catalyzed enamel finish on the parts that get handled,” he said. “The difference in the quality of the finish on factory doors is like comparing what’s on your car to what you get from a rattle can.”

Buying modern, factory-made doors makes it possible to modernize the look of your cabinets. Modern doors are larger, covering more of the cabinet box and are hung on concealed hinges.

Changing these details help give cabinets a sleeker, more modern look, he said.

Re-facing the cabinet box with veneer and replacing doors and drawer fronts is another option homeowners have.

Some companies use laminate, which comes in many colors and is durable, though the edges are prone to chipping and coming loose. Laminate also limits your style options.

“You can do anything you want with it, as long as it’s flat. It does not lend itself to anything like this,” Smith said, tracing his finger along the carved edge of a wood cabinet door.

But if that’s the look you’re going for, there’s nothing more durable than laminate, Smith said.

If you prefer a wood look for your cabinets a wood veneer is the better choice.

“Manufacturers of laminates haven’t yet perfected one that has the depth and eye appeal of true wood,” Smith said.

In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 1/8 inch, which are glued in place. These come in all wood tones and the glues are strong, yet the edges can be chipped and come loose over time.

Smith prefers to sheath the cabinet box with 1/8-inch plywood that comes with a top layer of thin hardwood. Adding solid hardwood caps on the exposed corners of cabinets adds protection against wear and tear.

With either veneer, Smith still recommends replacing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts with those made in the factory.

“Again, you’re getting a better, more durable finish,” he said.

Re-facing isn’t a good do-it-yourself project, he warned.

“Unless you’ve done it 10, 12 times, you don’t realize the potential pitfalls that you simply wouldn’t know how to avoid,” he said.

If you do decide to give it a try Smith recommends consulting a professional and doing some advance planning.

“Don’t just purchase materials off the internet or from a box store and set to work. That can lead to trouble down the road,” Smith said.

A re-facing project can take a month to plan, and up to a month to receive the materials. And then it can take from a week to a month for a partial kitchen redo. For a full-blown kitchen redo, figure you’ll be eating off paper plates and cooking in the microwave for six to eight weeks, he said.

As for cost, a partial kitchen update will generally run under $30,000, including countertops while a complete kitchen will start at $35,000 and go up.

Realtors will tell you that a good part of the value of a home is based on cosmetics. Painting and resurfacing cabinets are much less expensive than replacing them. Yet the investment will bring a good return at resale because they’ll look good.

“If you’re planning to sell in the short term, five years or so, I recommend painting, it’s the most cost effective,” Smith said.

For more information on Kitchen & Bath ReStylers go to www.kitchen-restylers.com or call 509-582-1893. The showroom is at 516-A W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick.