When we recently painted our kitchen cabinets a soft mauve, we also replaced the old surface-mount hinges with concealed hinges. It was a small update that cost about $40 but made the cabinets look much more current while we wait for a full renovation. Best of all, we avoided boring deep, round holes into thin cabinet doors by choosing a hinge that mounts to the surface.
Hidden Hinge: Before & After
In earlier photos the cabinets had exposed surface-mount hinges that had been painted over multiple times. They looked dated, creaked, and felt like they were past their prime. We worried that a darker paint would highlight those hinges, so since we planned to replace them anyway, we upgraded to concealed hinges and changed the pulls to brass for a cleaner look after painting (Sherwin-Williams Artsy Pink).
Which Hinges We Chose
Many concealed hinges require drilling a recessed round cup hole in the back of the door. Our cabinet doors are fairly thin, so we didn’t want to risk weakening them by boring holes. Instead we selected surface-mount self-closing concealed hinges that fasten to the door surface and the frame, eliminating the need for a large recess. These give the same clean, hidden look when doors are closed without aggressive drilling.
Installation takes a bit of patience, but we discovered a handy shortcut that speeds the process when you’re replacing existing hinges. The manufacturer’s template and instructions seem geared toward new cabinet doors, not replacements, so we adapted the approach to use existing screw holes for precise placement.
Video Tutorial for Installing Hidden Hinges
We recorded a short video demonstrating our faster method. The key is to temporarily mount the new hinge over the old hinge using a single screw that lines up, which holds everything steady for marking and drilling pilot holes. This trick minimizes measuring and ensures perfect alignment with the cabinet door and frame.
Marking Hinge Holes: A Faster Method
Instead of using paper templates, we temporarily attached the new hinge over the old one with a single screw that matched a hole. That held the hinge perfectly while we drilled pilot holes into the frame. In cases where the frame was a little thinner than the hinge base and the back holes overhung, we used a longer screw driven at a slight angle to secure the hinge into solid wood.
After drilling pilot holes on the frame, we removed both hinges and reattached the new hinge using the pilot holes and the existing screw hole on the door. Then we drilled pilot holes for the remaining screws on the door side and finished fastening everything. No templates, no additional measuring, and far less marking.
Important: we mounted the hinges temporarily before painting. That allowed us to fill or repair any issues with wood filler and then remove the hinges for painting so the hardware wouldn’t get painted. After painting, we reinstalled the hinges for the final fit.
Filling Old Hinge Holes
Before painting, sand and fill any leftover holes left by the old hinges. We used wood filler to patch old screw holes on the frames, allowed it to dry, then sanded the area smooth. This step creates a seamless surface so the new paint and concealed hinges look intentional and clean.
Once paint and hardware were reinstalled, the doors closed cleanly and the old visible hinges were gone. The transformation is an easy, inexpensive way to update dated cabinets without replacing doors or cabinets entirely.
Two Final Tips
One small trick when fastening door-side screws: first install screws into the oblong adjustment slots and close the door to check alignment. Loosen and shift the hinge forward or back as needed to correct any skew. Once the door looks right, drill pilot holes and add screws into the round holes to lock the position.
- Use the oblong holes first to adjust alignment while the door is closed.
- Then secure the round holes after confirming correct placement.
For extra refinement, you can add soft-close catches inside cabinet frames to make doors close quietly. This small addition helps old cabinets feel more modern and finished.
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