The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. When you consider how many times the cabinets are opened and closed in a day, it's surprising how well they stand up to the constant wear and tear. If you're planning on selling your home, any agent will tell you, buyers concentrate on kitchens. If you're considering a renovation, this is the room to start with. Unfortunately renovating a kitchen is also one of the most expensive fix-er-uppers in the home; just having a set of cupboards refinished can run in the thousands of dollars.

A few years ago, dark stained wood doors were all the rage - now, they just make a room appear small and dated. For a minimal cash outlay, and a bit of time invested on your part, you can re-vamp those old cupboards, and give your kitchen a whole new look.

Many are opting for either a clean white or a dramatic, velvety black door that shows the wood grain underneath. Either can be just as effective, and if it's done right will look like a professionally renovated cupboard door. Follow these steps for a seamless professional paint job.

1. While it may seem easier to paint the doors while they are hanging, do it the way the pro's do and remove all the hinges and handles. Lay out your doors on a flat work surface in a well ventilated area.

2. Get yourself some rubber gloves, and wipe down the cupboards with liquid deglosser. This will prepare the old finish for re-painting by lifting the wood grain and removing any remaining substances like wax or oil. Using a 220-grit sandpaper, give the cupboards a light sanding and wipe clean with a tack cloth.

3. Investing in new hardware is a great way to perk up your new-looking doors. If you've fallen in love with a slightly different size of handle, no matter, this too can be fixed. Fill in the holes with wood putty, and once dry just give the door a quick sand.

4. Using a China-bristle brush apply an oil-based primer. You may think any old brush will do, but for a really great job these brushes work exceptionally well with oil-based coatings, allowing for a better flow and smoother finish.

5. Once dry, give the doors a light sanding, removing any dust with a tack cloth.

6. Apply your first coat of paint with a brush, not a roller, using long strokes and following the grain of the wood. Avoid dripping by only using the top third of the brush and wiping off any extra paint.

7. After 24 hours, repeat sanding and wiping, and you're ready for the second coat. After another 24 hours you can replace your hardware and hang your "just like new" cupboards.