Your cave-like kitchen feels that way because the dark cabinets have sucked all the light out of the room. But a brighter makeover doesn’t necessarily mean replacing those gloomy boxes with all-new ones. If the frames and doors are structurally sound, you can clean them up and brush on some new paint – and within a weekend take the kitchen from dreary to sunny. All you need is some strong cleaner, sandpaper, a paintbrush and a little elbow grease. This transformation will cost you a fraction of even the cheapest new cabinets.