It’s a terrible feeling to notice a scratch on your beautiful kitchen or bathroom cabinets – especially when you know you did everything in your power to keep them looking nice. Even if the scratch isn’t your fault, you’re likely to go through a series of emotions, much similar to the five stages of grief:

Grief of a damaged cabinet

• Denial: You may first try to tell yourself it is just a smudge or that you’re seeing it wrong.
• Anger: When you notice that it’s actually there, you’ll likely become irritated, blaming loved ones, and maybe even yourself (although it couldn’t possibly have been you).
• Bargaining: Perhaps you’ll try to tell yourself it isn’t that noticeable, or that it actually gives the cabinet character.
• Depression: As you realize the truth, you may get down on yourself – much like you did before you received cabinet therapy: feeling tired, hopeless and not wanting to host guests.
• Acceptance: Eventually, you’ll come to terms with what happened, and you’ll either live with it, or fix it – whichever you’re more comfortable with at the time.

Ok, so maybe that’s a little dramatic, but you can probably relate if it has happened to you. If you do choose to fix your scratch, there are a few ways to do so:

Know your warranty – Depending on what caused the damage, when you purchased them and where your cabinets came from, you may be able to catch a break. It can’t hurt to find out if your damage is covered.

Touch up kits – If your damage is not covered by a warranty, don’t panic. Many suppliers offer touch up kits to assist you in masking the blemishes. If the damage affects the color of the finish, simply going over it with a touch up pen may be enough to camouflage it so no one ever notices. For deeper gouges, you can use a fill stick or putty to fill in the area carefully, and then use a touch up pen over the putty to help it match better (if needed). If your cabinets didn’t come with touch up kits, contact your supplier, as you may be able to purchase one inexpensively. Always remember to test your touch up pens on another item before marking up your cabinets (to ensure it is the right color).

Other options – If you don’t have access to a touch up kit, you’re not out of luck. Simply find a small can of finish that matches (be extra careful, and consult with an expert if you’re unsure about the color match). Using a small paintbrush, you can fill in the scratch as you would with a touch up pen, and then wipe away excess fluid with a microfiber cloth. If you plan to touch up the top coat, be extra careful to use the same type that was originally used, and apply after lightly sanding down the area.

It’s important to remind yourself that a scratched cabinet isn’t the end of the world. If you’re ever unsure about how to repair the damaged cabinets, seek the help of a professional. Even if you don’t plan to hire them to fix the scratch, they’ll usually be willing to give you some pointers to keep you from causing more damage.