9 Inexpensive Updates To Make Your Kitchen Shine
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. Not only is it the nutritional hub for your family, it’s where many people spend a great deal of time preparing food, too. Kitchen remodeling projects are the number one type of remodeling project Americans do year after year.
Yet, remodeling your kitchen can be expensive. Cabinets, appliances, and flooring add up, and fast. The good news is you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to breathe new life into your kitchen and make it shine.
Here are some relatively quick, simple, and most of all affordable updates you can implement that will make it look like a different place altogether:
Give it a new coat of paint. One of the remodeling tasks that gives the most bang for your buck is a new coat of paint. If you’re thinking about selling your home sometime soon, think about using a neutral tone. That way, prospective buyers see the kitchen walls as a canvas, and can imagine it the way they want to see it. If you won’t be selling the home anytime soon, feel free to choose whatever color scheme you like. As long as it’s pleasing to you and your family, feel free to get a little creative.
Replace door and drawer covers. You don’t have to completely remove all of the cabinets from your kitchen to make it shine. In some cases, all your cabinets need are some new doors and some new fixtures. You’ll be surprised just what a difference shiny new cabinet knobs can make for your kitchen.
Stain your cabinets. Rather than replacing cabinets, consider stripping their original finish and re-staining. Stain comes in all sorts of colors, so pick what you like. You’ll want to make sure that the topcoat you use is one that won’t yellow over time, which tends to be problematic in the kitchen. Alternatively, you can paint your cabinets, or consider using vintage wallpaper for your cabinets.
Change your counter-tops. Counter-tops are one of those areas that can become a huge expense if you’re not careful. That being said, there are inexpensive counter-top options that really don’t look too bad, and may at least help to modernize your kitchen a little bit, if nothing else.
Replace your faucets. A new faucet can brighten up an otherwise dreary kitchen sink. Faucet replacement is a relatively simple proposition, and you can get all of the tools and equipment you need at your local hardware store. You can find faucets in all sorts of styles and price ranges, and even some budget faucets can be tremendously attractive.
Replace some flooring. Family life can be hard on your kitchen floors. Here again, there are options in all sorts of styles and price ranges. Tile, hardwood, and even vinyl are all valid options. If you can’t find something in your price range, consider a thorough scrubbing and a coat of wax to help that kitchen floor shine – at least for a while.
Add or change window dressings. Windows let light into your kitchen and they also control the flow of energy from inside the home to outside the home. Choosing the right blinds or other window dressings can not only help your kitchen to shine, it may actually save you some money on your heating bill each month.
Set up some track lighting. Track lighting helps your kitchen to really pop. Today’s track lighting isn’t bulky and awkward the way it used to be; you might have a thin cable with shaded lamps above your center island, or even an artwork-style lamp. Try out different configurations, different types and colors of bulbs to create the right setting in your kitchen.
Bring it all together. While you might need to do your updates one at a time because of budgeting purposes, you should still map out a master plan that will take you forward. Those window dressings should complement the counter-tops, which should accent the cabinets, which should look good against your new flooring.
A coordinated approach to kitchen design is key, especially when you’re on a budget. Your kitchen can look amazing, even if you have limited funds. Consider some of these inexpensive updates to add a sparkle and a shine to your kitchen today.
~ Nick Simpson
Nick Simpson is Social Media Coordinator at Blindsgalore, a leading provider ofcelullar blinds and shades and discount faux wood blinds.
..home is where the hearth is..a wonderful post.. 🙂
rigzin namgyal recently posted....poetry left me.. 🙁 🙁
Thank you, Rigzin. Yes, the kitchen is truly the heart of the home, isn’t it?
Sometimes I change the nicknacks and this does a world of good. I love plants in the kitchen, but some people don’t have room!
Heal Now and Forever recently posted..The Power of “I can’t”
That’s a great idea too, Jodi. Yes, plants add so much color and ‘life’ to any room, don’t they?
Great tips here! A few years ago, we had the counters replaced and added better lighting and faucet fixtures. The cabinets could use a good sprucing up, though, and I love the idea of staining them. Thanks for sharing this, Corinne!
Martha Orlando recently posted..A Trip, A Tryst, and A Terror
Am glad that you found a useful idea here, Martha. Nick has done a great job with these tips, hasn’t he?
I appreciate this post. My house is pretty big, but when I have company everyone congregates in the kitchen. I need to keep it nice and it looks like it’s time to spruce up my cabinets. Good post.
Myrna recently posted..THE OCEAN I SEE
Glad you found Nick’s article interesting, Myrna. Our kitchen also becomes a place for family to gather when we do entertain.
Our kitchen is woefully out-of-date. These are good ideas for how to make simple improvements without it costing an arm and a leg. Thanks!
Sandra / Always Well Within recently posted..A Treasury of Free Resources to Inspire Your Meditation, Compassion and Wisdom
We did up our kitchen about four years ago, Sandra in a major renovation of our apartment, but already things need replacing! I guess it’s a constant cycle of maintenance. I’m glad you found Nick’s post useful.
Thank you.I have made my wife read this post
B k Chowla recently posted..FAIR DEMAND
I hope Mrs Chowla found the post useful. 🙂
Hi Corinne & Nick,
A beautiful kitchen can tremendously increase the value and beauty of any home. In my previous home I had dark wood cabinets. I primed and painted the cabinets in an off white color, added new hinges and handles and it completely changed the look and feel of the room.
Take care
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You’re so right, Justin. Our kitchen is truly the best room in the house and reflects our love for food and family. I love an off white kitchen, but it quite a challenge to maintain in India where we use a lot of turmeric in our food. Permanent staining from that condiment! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Are You Satisfied With The Life You’re Living?
These are some really great ideas! I have been wanting to paint and update things around here. I would love to paint my whole house in vivid bright colors.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Kathy recently posted..My First Car
Glad you found the ideas useful, Kathy. Given your artistic leaning, I’m sure your home would love beautiful in your choice of colors.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Are You Satisfied With The Life You’re Living?
Like the ideas. That what we did when we first moved in to our house.
Journey of Life recently posted..Journey to the Philae Temple
Wonderful Corinne!
Your post reminded me of the time when we did up our kitchen and made it a modular one. The earlier one had to be totally broken down, though am glad it’s all brand new and good now. Yes, there’s a lot you can do without really breaking it all down, but in our case the house itself is over 40 years old, so there was no way anything else could be done with it. I loved these tips though. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Harleena Singh recently posted..Is Yours the Most Effective Parenting Style
Oh our story is quite similar, Harleena. We joined our two one bedroom flats together and created a huge kitchen, which really is the heart of our home. I think Nick’s tips are handy for future reference once you’ve done the ‘big’ renovation! 🙂
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Are You Satisfied With The Life You’re Living?
I’ll surely be happy if this proceeds in our house project… but at the moment, it just isn’t our priority. But thank you very much for the tips. I’ll surely come back to this…
Great write-up, Corinne!!
I believe that maintenance aspect of every nook and corner of the home is as important as creating it in the first place.
I simply loved this post, and the fact that you tried to draw eveyone’s attention towards the need to do so.
The kitchen is the heart of the home and a well kept kitchen speaks volumes about the people living in the home.
Am subscribing to your newsletter as well..
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