Kitchen Remodel vs Cabinet Refacing in Austin: Which Makes Sense in 2026?

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in Austin for 2026, one decision tends to drive everything else: do you keep your existing cabinet boxes and upgrade the look, or do you start over with a full cabinet replacement?

Homeowners often use the phrase “kitchen remodel” to describe a wide range of projects—from updating doors and countertops to gutting the entire space. The best path for your home depends on your layout, your cabinet condition, your budget, and how long you want your kitchen to be disrupted once work begins.

We recently shared a short planning reminder in our Google Business Profile update, and you can reference it here as you think through your options: kitchen cabinet replacement vs cabinet refacing for 2026 planning. This blog goes deeper and helps you choose the right direction with realistic expectations.

Quick Definitions: What “Refacing” and “Replacement” Actually Mean

Cabinet refacing- keep the boxes, updating new cabinet doors and drawer faces

Cabinet refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes in place while upgrading the visible components—most importantly brand-new doors and drawer fronts in the style you want. After that, you select your paint color, and the new doors/drawer fronts and the existing cabinet boxes are painted to match so the finished kitchen looks cohesive and updated.

Refacing is one of the most popular ways Austin homeowners modernize their kitchens because it delivers a big visual transformation without the longer disruption of removing and rebuilding cabinet boxes.

New cabinets- remove the old boxes and install brand-new cabinet boxes

When the cabinet boxes are in rough shape, the layout needs to change, or you want a completely different configuration for storage and function, new cabinets are typically the best solution. This approach is a bigger construction project—but it’s also the right move when you’re trying to fix a kitchen that just doesn’t work.

How to Choose the Right Option for Your 2026 Kitchen Remodel in Austin

Here’s the simplest way to decide: if you like your current layout and your cabinet boxes are still solid, refacing is usually the smarter investment. If your layout is frustrating every day—or the boxes are damaged, sagging, or poorly built—new cabinets usually make more sense long-term.

Choose cabinet refacing when:

• You like your existing cabinet layout and it functions well day-to-day.
• Your cabinet boxes are sturdy and in good condition.
• You want a dramatic visual change (door style + paint color) without a full teardown.
• You’d rather invest budget into finishes like countertops , hardware, backsplash tile, and lighting.

Choose new cabinets when:

• You need layout changes (moving appliance locations, changing the island, adding pantry storage, etc.).
• Your existing cabinet boxes are water damaged, warped, or failing structurally.
• You want different cabinet sizes and storage features that your current boxes can’t support.
• You’re planning a bigger kitchen remodeling project with multiple moving parts.

Timeline Reality: How Long Each Option Takes Once Work Starts

One of the biggest planning mistakes we see is mixing up material lead time with on-site construction time. These timelines below refer to the active construction window once work begins in your home. The selections and ordering phase happens beforehand and typically does not disrupt your kitchen.

Option 1: Cabinet refacing + paint + countertops/backsplash (typically 4–6 working days)

If you’re keeping your existing cabinet boxes and focusing on upgrading the finishes—cabinet refacing, cabinet painting , new countertops, backsplash tile, hardware, and paint—our on-site work typically lands in the 4–6 working day range once the project starts.

This is a major reason refacing is so popular: you get a “new kitchen” look with a much shorter disruption window than full replacement.

Option 2: New cabinets (typically 4–6 weeks)

When you’re doing new cabinets—especially if you’re changing the layout—your remodel becomes more involved. Demo, install, trim, drywall, multiple trade partners, and a longer sequencing window usually puts the active construction phase in the 4–6 week range once work begins.

If you want a broader view of what happens before demo day (and how lead times fit into planning), this companion guide is helpful: 2026 kitchen remodel timeline in Austin.

Budget & Value: What You’re Really Paying For

Both options can be great investments, but they allocate your dollars differently.

With cabinet refacing, you’re paying for:

• Brand-new doors and drawer fronts
• Paint finish and prep quality (this is what makes it look “factory new”)
• Hardware upgrades and soft-close improvements as needed
• High-impact finishes like countertops and backsplash

With new cabinets, you’re paying for:

• New cabinet boxes, new layout options, and expanded storage features
• More labor and sequencing (demo + install + trim + adjustments)
• More trades and more time on-site
• The ability to redesign function, not just appearance

If your primary frustration is “my kitchen looks outdated,” refacing often wins. If your frustration is “my kitchen doesn’t work,” new cabinets are usually worth the extra time and investment.

Design Tip: How to Choose the Right Cabinet Color for Your Home

Once you know you’re doing painted cabinets (whether through refacing + paint or new painted cabinets), color selection becomes one of the most important decisions you’ll make—because it affects countertops, backsplash, wall paint, and even how bright the kitchen feels.

Here’s the approach we recommend for 2026 projects:

• Start broad: Use online inspiration and physical color decks/books to narrow your favorites down to 2–3 colors.
• Test in your real lighting: Buy sample pots and put the samples on multiple cabinet locations(near a window, under under-cabinet lighting, and on a shadowed run).
• Account for what’s around it: Flooring, backsplash tile, wall paint, and countertop undertones all change how a cabinet color reads.
• Decide with confidence: There’s no better way to pick a cabinet color than seeing it in the space, with your lighting, next to your finishes.

If you want to see what styles and palettes are trending right now (and what tends to stay timeless), this internal guide pairs well with color selection: Kitchen remodel design trends to know.

Our Planning Process for 2026 Kitchen Projects

A smooth remodel isn’t luck—it’s planning. For our 2026 kitchen projects, we keep things organized and predictable with a clear sequence:

1. In-home consultation and clear proposal: We walk the space, talk through goals, confirm scope, and provide a written proposal that outlines exactly what’s included.
2. Showroom appointment (after proposal): If you want to move forward, we schedule a showroom visit where you can see cabinet styles, refacing options, countertop materials, tile, and finish combinations in person.
3. Selections finalized: We lock in cabinet door style, paint color, countertops, backsplash tile, fixtures, and hardware so the project can run smoothly.
4. Deposit + ordering: Once the deposit is made, materials are ordered and staged so your kitchen stays functional until we’re ready to start.

This approach helps prevent rushed decisions and keeps your on-site timeline closer to the expected window—whether that’s 4–6 working days for a refacing-focused update or 4–6 weeks for a new-cabinet remodel.

Where We’re Planning 2026 Kitchen Remodels

We serve homeowners across the Austin area, and a lot of our 2026 planning conversations are happening right now in Lakeway , Leander , and Georgetown.

No matter which neighborhood you’re in, the goal is the same: choose the right path for your home, lock selections early, and keep your remodel on a realistic schedule.

Ready to Decide Between Cabinet Refacing and New Cabinets?

If you’re weighing cabinet refacing vs new cabinets for your 2026 kitchen remodel in Austin, we can help you evaluate your cabinet boxes, layout, and goals—and then build a plan that fits your home and timeline.

Schedule your in-home kitchen remodeling consultation today.