Old cabinets typically come with simple hinges that swing open—and stay that way—until you slam it closed and push it right into the opening. This is typically acceptable for cabinets like wardrobes or closets, but for kitchen cabinets, you will find doors that stay open a safety hazard, not only for overhanging cabinets that might hit you on the head, but also for floor cabinets that might leave a risk of bottle breakage for little hands.


If your house or apartment currently has kitchen cabinets that utilize these safety hazards, you have two choices: either you develop the habit of keeping them closed all the time as you go about your busy kitchen tasks, or you could replace the hinges with concealed hinges that automatically swing the door shut with a slight nudge. However, many people are uncertain how to install concealed hinges, as they are not as straightforward as the regular hinges which you simply screw onto the cabinet door and the sides of the cabinet. These simple steps should give you the confidence you need in replacing all the outdated hinges with concealed hinges:

Step 1. Before you remove the cabinet door, check the thickness of the wood: typically, concealed hinges will require at least ¾-inch thick plywood, as you will be burying the hinge into the wood, and anything thinner than ¾-inch might cause the hinge to go through the wood.

Step 2. Remove the cabinet door by unscrewing the existing hinges. Before you install the new hinges, you might want to apply a bit of wood putty to the holes caused by the screws of the hinges. If you intend to install the concealed hinges on another part of the door, you can even choose to repaint that portion.

Step 3. Open the concealed hinge with the fat part facing the cabinet door and the thin part assigned to the inner wall of the kitchen cabinet. Screw the thin part onto the cabinet wall. If the material is hardwood, you may benefit from using a hand drill.

Step 4. Hold the cabinet door to the kitchen cabinet to mark where you will put the fat part of the concealed hinges. Using a pencil, draw around the hinge, making sure you have the edge of the hinge meeting the edge of the wood.

Step 5. Chisel out the space for the concealed hinge using a hammer and a chisel. Use the other hinge in the pair to check if you have chiselled it out deep enough. Once it is thick enough, screw the hinge in place.

Step 6. Do the same for the other hinge in the pair. Now you get to enjoy your new kitchen cabinet with concealed hinges!