Cabinets are useful pieces of furniture aren't they? They keep your stuff clean and more or less secure from pests, and they make great hiding places if you are a kid.
Joking aside though, cabinets are essential to making a home tidy and organized.
Nevertheless, there will come a time when you look at your old cabinet and ask yourself: should I fix it up, or just get rid of it and buy a new one? There are quite a few things to consider when making this choice, and in this article we take a look at them.
Antique status should be considered first of all.
Your old cabinet may be considered an antique and can be worth a tidy sum from certain collectors.
True, it may be hard to actually find those collectors, but you could ask around in antique shops and the like.
If you do not mind parting with a little bit of history, then you could sell your antique cabinet and buy something new.
If your cabinet is looking a little shabby, then you must consider its structural integrity.
After all, just because it looks quite old does not mean it is weak and no longer useful.
It is possible to have a cabinet with an exterior dulled by use, but is not creaking or showing any real signs of structural damage.
It might just need a new coat of paint or varnish.
In these cases, renewing is definitely a better option.
The soundness of the material is the next criterion, particularly when it is a wooden cabinet.
Steel and plastic cabinets are not really the kind you would repair, but wooden cabinets certainly are.
Before attempting to repair them though, make sure to assess the quality of the wood.
Over the years, the wood can lose its strength and integrity due to pests like termites, moisture, and in some cases dryness.
As a result, the wood may not be sturdy enough, so even if you do nail the whole thing back together it will not last very long.
If the wood is still in pretty good condition, renew.
If the wood is in pretty bad shape and won't last much longer, replace.
If you are remodeling your home and are planning to make major changes, then you should check whether your cabinets will fit in.
Especially if you are trying to achieve a certain feel or style, your old cabinets may not fit in.
If you can afford new cabinets that will not stand out incongruously then go ahead and buy new cabinets.
This may sound like a frivolous reason, but it is valid as far as interior design goes.
Still, retaining your old cabinets can save you a fair bit of money, as long as they are still sturdy.
Lastly, we have the question of space.
If your old cabinets just do not have enough space for all your stuff, even if you changed the configurations, then you will want to buy new cabinets.