When we recently painted our kitchen cabinets mauve, we also replaced the old surface-mount hinges with modern concealed hinges. It was a small change that cost about $40, but it instantly updated this dated kitchen while we wait for a full renovation. Best of all, these concealed hinges mounted to the surface so we didn’t have to bore large round holes in the backs of the cabinet doors.
Hidden Hinge Before & After
In our original kitchen post the cabinets had the old surface-mount hinges visible on the cabinet face. They had been painted over multiple times, creaked, and felt past their prime. We were concerned that a darker or richer paint would make them stand out even more, so we decided to install concealed hinges that would be hidden when the doors were closed. After painting with Sherwin-Williams Artsy Pink and swapping the knobs to brass pulls, the update felt like a big improvement for a modest cost.
The Hidden Hinges We Used
Many modern concealed hinges require a large round cup hole drilled into the back of the cabinet door. There are jigs and tools to make that easier, but our doors were relatively thin and we didn’t want to risk weakening them. Instead, we chose self-closing concealed hinges designed to mount to the existing door surface. These mount without boring the standard cup hole and still give the clean, hidden look when the doors are closed.
Installation was a bit tedious at first, but we discovered a faster method than the printed instructions. The packaging included paper templates and a set of steps likely intended for new cabinetry. For replacing existing hinges, a shortcut using the original hinge holes saved time and ensured accurate alignment.
Installation Hidden Hinges Video Tutorial
We made a short video demonstrating the trick we used to speed up the install. The method is ideal for cabinets that already have hinges because it uses the existing screw holes to position the new hinge precisely without measuring or marking.
(You can also watch the video on YouTube.)
Marking Your Hidden Hinge Holes
If you can’t watch the video right now, here’s the short version. Rather than using the paper templates, we temporarily mounted the new hinge directly over the old hinge using one screw that matched an existing hole. That held the new hinge in perfect position so we could drill pilot holes into the cabinet frame where needed.
On our frames, the hinge base slightly overhung the frame in places. We resolved that by driving a longer screw at an angle back into solid wood where necessary. With pilot holes in place we removed both the old and temporary-mounted hinges, then permanently attached the new hinge using the pilot holes on the frame and the existing screw hole on the door. From there it was straightforward to add the remaining screws on the door side. No templates, no measuring marks, and much less fuss.
We installed the hinges before painting the doors and frames. That let us check fit and make any wood-filler repairs without having to repaint. After confirming everything lined up, we removed the hinges for painting and reinstalled them once the finish was dry.
While the doors were off, we sanded and filled the old hinge holes on the cabinet frames with wood filler to create a smooth surface before painting.
Filling The Old Hinge Holes
Carefully sanding and filling the old hinge holes is important for a clean finished look. We applied wood filler where the previous hinges had been attached, allowed it to dry, then sanded the surface smooth. This left the cabinet frames ready for paint and removed the visible evidence of the old surface-mounted hardware.
After painting and reinstalling the doors, the new concealed hinges blend in when the doors are closed and the kitchen looks refreshed and more modern.
Two Other Tips
A couple of additional tips that helped us:
- Install the door-side screws in two steps. First put screws into the oblong slots and close the door to check alignment. Loosen and shift the hinge if the door looks crooked.
- Once the door sits correctly, drill pilot holes and add screws into the round holes to lock the hinge position in place.
For an extra upgrade, you can add small soft-close attachments to the cabinet frames so doors close quietly. They’re an inexpensive way to make older cabinets feel more modern and refined.
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