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Closeup of wood finish kitchen cabinets with new black handles attached, as part of a white and wooden themed dining area

Overview

Looking to update a tired, old kitchen? Maybe you’re renting and want a temporary, stylish fix for a pre-loved space? Changing the whole look and feel of your kitchen is as easy as replacing your cupboard door handles – and it takes no time at all! Here’s how to do it.

Steps

1Gather your tools and materials

Below are all of the tools and materials you'll need to complete this project.

2Choose your handles

It's time to replace those tired, old cabinet door handles with something new and fresh – so head to Bunnings to check out their extensive range. To make things easy on ourselves, we opted for a black handle that matched the size of what was already there – in this case, 96mm – to avoid having to drill new holes. Choosing the same size handles is especially good if you're renting and you don't want to get in trouble with your landlord – just keep the old handles and swap them back when you move.

3Measure up

You may find the handles you want to replace are a different size to what was already there. This is where a template comes in handy – you can pick these up in store. Simply place it on the bottom corner of the door, opposite the hinges – the template has holes for each different cupboard and handle type, so pick the combination you want and use a pencil to mark up your drilling points.

4Remove your old handles

You can do this with a drill or screwdriver. Once these are off, you're ready to put the new handles on. Ours came with snap screws, which we snapped off to the correct size – you'll need some pliers to do this. Then it's as simple as screwing them in. 

5Put your new handles on

If you're not doing a simple swap, check you've marked the drill points correctly by taking your handle and placing it next to your pencil marks – once everything is lined up, drill a hole all the way through the door. Use a slightly wider drill bit than the screws. A good tip when putting your handles on is to lightly screw in the top part so it's finger-tight before affixing the bottom one – this way you've got some wriggle room. Once they're both in, tighten away!

6Sit back and admire your new kitchen cabinets

It really was THAT simple!

7Check out the range

Inspired to give it a try yourself? Take a look at our huge range of cabinet handles now.

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.