As the world sits firmly entrenched in a recession, homeowners might be thinking that this spring is hardly the ideal time to be contemplating a kitchen overhaul. As the heart of the kitchen, kitchen cabinets most often come to mind when it comes to a room makeover. Unfortunately, brand new, custom-made kitchen cabinets are expensive and fall outside the budget of most of today's recession-anxious homeowners. Fortunately, however, many affordable alternatives exist.

The Daily Journal recently tackled this topic in its spring home improvement section with an article titled, ?Cost-effective ways to rejuvenate one of the busiest rooms.? That room of which the publication is speaking, of course, is the kitchen. So what ingenious ways did the newspaper and its expert sources come up with to take the financial sting out of a cabinetry overhaul?

1. Consider refacing your kitchen cabinets over replacing them. Your local home improvement center can give you a good idea about what new door fronts will cost you. Such a supercenter can also give you a glimpse into all your cabinet door options in one convenient place. The wide variety of wood species, door shapes and finish options may at first overwhelm you. The retailers? staff, however, can help you make sense of all your choices so you select the right door fronts to fit your needs and lifestyle. As long as the basic construction of your cabinetry is in solid shape, refacing is a great money-saving option. It isn't, however, always the least expensive route.

2. Look into assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. One of the homeowners highlighted in the article ?assumed it (kitchen cabinet refacing) would be less expensive than pulling out the old cabinets and starting over. The price [for such refacing, however,] was not cheap. Ultimately, the homeowner was able to remove all the old cabinets, replace them with semi-custom wood cabinets, install Corian countertops and install a tiled backsplash for $4,000 less.? With so many options to choose from, stock cabinetry is fast becoming comparable to custom designed, yet it's much more wallet friendly.

3. Consider the fact that maybe your actually cabinetry doesn't need any work at all. If you're looking for a quick and easily update that will give your quality-constructed existing cabinets a brand new look, perhaps a simple and inexpensive upgrade in your hardware is all that is needed. ?If the cabinets are made of wood and are in good, working condition, buy new hardware, knobs and hinges for a lot less money than replacement cabinets,? one expert recommended. Decorative accents put the finishing touch on your cabinetry. These enhancements customize your cabinetry for a look that reflects your personal style ? and doesn't put a strain on your bank account.

4. When all else fails, you can't go wrong with a new coat of paint. ?A homeowner can get a brand new freshening up on their existing cabinets without all the project mess and inconvenience, using a washable oil-based paint in semi gloss, and the cost will range between $1,200 to $1,500.?