How to Adjust Your Cabinet Doors

A cabinet door that hangs crooked or won’t quite click shut is one of those small annoyances that’s easy to live with and even easier to fix. Before you reach for the phone to call a tradesperson, it’s worth knowing that most misaligned cabinet doors can be straightened out in a few minutes with nothing more than a screwdriver. Here’s how. What you’ll need A Phillips head screwdriver A small level (handy for checking your work, but not essential) Step 1: Work out what’s actually wrong Have a proper look at the door before you touch anything. Is it sitting too high, too low, or out of line with the doors next to it? Does it wobble when you open and close it? Knowing exactly what’s off makes the rest of the process far quicker, since it tells you which adjustment you actually need to make. Step 2: Get familiar with the hinges Most modern cabinet hinges have two or three small adjustment screws, each controlling a different kind of movement: Side to side — shifts the door left or right. Up and down — raises or lowers the door. In and out — changes how far the door sits from the cabinet frame. Step 3: Make small adjustments Turn the side-to-side screw gradually to nudge the door left or right. Loosen the mounting screws slightly if you need to lift or lower the door. Adjust the depth screw if the door needs to sit closer to, or further from, the cabinet. The key here is patience. Turn each screw a small amount, close the door to see the effect, and repeat. A quarter turn can make a bigger difference than you’d expect, so it rarely takes much to get things sitting right. Step 4: Check your work Close the door and take a step back. If you have a small level, use it to confirm the door is sitting straight and even with its neighbours. If something still looks slightly off, go back and make another small adjustment until it’s right. All done That’s it, your cabinets should now open, close and sit exactly as they’re meant to. It’s a small fix, but it makes a noticeable difference to how a kitchen feels day to day. If you run into a hinge that won’t hold its adjustment, or you’re thinking about new cabinetry altogether, get in touch with RenovAct . We design, build and install custom kitchen and bathroom cabinetry across Melbourne, and we’re always happy to help.