Happy Friday! After a week of big updates — from furniture hauls and office planning to showhouse progress — it felt satisfying to slow down and tackle a few small, practical projects. Jumping from large-scale decisions like layout and furniture placement to quick hands-on fixes is a great way to keep momentum without burning out. This week’s small win was one of those tiny, cheap improvements that make a surprisingly big visual difference: flipping the removable panel on our almond-colored dishwasher.
We’re planning a full kitchen renovation down the line, including replacing appliances, but until then I wanted to try a tip I’d heard from readers: many older appliances have removable face panels that can be flipped or painted to change their appearance. It sounded almost too good to be true, but a little exploratory unscrewing revealed it was legit.
With just three screws removed from the side trim, a thin metal strip popped off easily and a panel slid out. Inside there were two thin, double-sided panels nested together — one side of a panel was bright white and the other side was black, while the cream-colored original and an unexpected mustard option were hiding on the other surfaces. I tested the white first because it matched the upper cabinets and shelves, but against our darker lower cabinets it drew too much attention and felt out of place.
Flipping the panel to its black side solved the contrast problem immediately. The dishwasher blended more naturally with the surrounding cabinetry and no longer read as a distinct, dated almond appliance. It’s far from a professional appliance upgrade, but for ten minutes of effort and zero cost it made the whole kitchen look cleaner and more cohesive.
This kind of small, reversible change is a great trick if you want to reduce the visual impact of an older appliance without committing to a full replacement. Options include flipping reversible panels, painting the panel before reinstalling it, or covering it with a thin stainless-steel sheet cut to size for a more modern appearance. For a retro look you could spray the panel in a bold color, or match it to cabinet hardware for a coordinated touch.
That simple swap also sparked renewed momentum for a few bigger kitchen projects we’ve been planning. Right now we’re working on:
- Removing a broken trash compactor and replacing it with something more attractive and functional.
- Redoing countertops with a concrete finish — messy but transformative and worth the effort for the dramatic change it brings.
Small changes like flipping a dishwasher panel often lead to bigger decisions because they make the possibilities feel more tangible. We’ve already had success updating other appliances and features: repainting and refinishing an older refrigerator, installing a secondhand range hood that finally feels right in the space, and moving the microwave into the pantry for a cleaner countertop. The stove is still the only remaining almond element in the room, and it’s next on the list.
If you’re considering similar appliance updates, here are a few practical tips:
- Check for removable panels before assuming an appliance needs replacing. Many models have hidden, reversible inserts.
- Test both sides of a reversible panel to see which works best with your cabinetry and finishes.
- If you want a different finish, consider painting the panel, applying a stainless-steel sheet, or using adhesive metal laminate for a changeable option.
- Keep the change reversible if you’re renting or planning a future remodel; simple swaps preserve resale value and avoid permanent alterations.
Has anyone else discovered this trick or taken small steps to modernize older appliances? We’d love to hear what worked for you — whether you flipped a panel, painted a fridge, or replaced a dated element with an affordable upgrade. Kitchen projects can be disruptive, but the payoff when the space finally looks and functions the way you want is always worth it.