Remodeling your entire kitchen is a giant undertaking, not to mention extremely costly. If your kitchen is lacking some luster and could use a little updating, try these nine easy and affordable steps I found on Dummies.com to give it the makeover that it deserves, without creating a brand new space.
1. Apply a fresh coat of paint: Kitchen walls are easily dirtied, so coating them with a bright, new paint color can liven up the entire space, and return it to a new clean look.
2. Don’t be afraid of wallpaper: Although you might feel like wallpaper is outdated, it is actually acceptable to use in your kitchen. If you’re afraid to cover your entire kitchen, using wallpaper on just one wall can give a pop of color and texture to the space.
3. Make use of a border: If wallpaper just isn’t your style, then opt for a border strip. These eight to nine inch strips are applied to the top of the wall near the ceiling, and will give a more subtle hint of color to your kitchen.
4. Spruce up your window treatments: Exchanging your current window treatments for new and brighter ones, or adding a window treatment to a bare window can also introduce the essential element of texture into your kitchen, changing the feel of the entire space.
5. Change your cabinet’s hardware: Replacing all of your kitchen cabinets will cost you a pretty penny. However, opting for new cabinet hardware is cost effective and can upgrade even the most tired looking cabinets. Old wooden or wrought-iron hardware gives your kitchen an outdated feel, so exchange your current knobs with polished brass hardware for a more updated look.
6. Replace your faucet: There are currently hundreds of different options when it comes to choosing a new kitchen sink faucet. Pick one with modern colors and features, and you’ve given your sink a very affordable facelift.
7. Set the mood with lighting: A new light fixture can change the way a space looks by how it allows light into your room. Choosing updated fixtures will not only bring new hardware into the space, but will also allow yourself and others to see your kitchen in a whole new light.
8. Take your pots and pans to the rack: Free up cabinet space, while simultaneously creating an interesting decorative feature, with a pot rack. Pot racks can give your kitchen a functional feel, while allowing you to utilize your kitchen’s space to its full potential.
9. Invest in new towels: Perhaps the simplest step to upgrading your kitchen is purchasing new kitchen linens. New brightly colored and patterned hand towels will not only make your kitchen look more sophisticated, but will also introduce an element of color to the space.
Your kitchen can look brand new with these helpful tips that won’t break the bank!
I am in the need of a make over for my kitchen..do so love the spacious looking kitchen. Have done the paint job, the new faucet, repainted my cabinets (fauxe finish) aka antiqued in Black…yes I said Black…looks awesome but 3 different people helped and I can tell because all 3 did their own thing antique finish. All in black but different. Time to Redo Floors Counter Tops and Bar Area.
Sounds like you’re on a mission Angela! I’m sure the antique black finish looks amazing, you’ll have to let us know how the rest of it goes! I’ve even heard of using pennies as flooring, and concrete for countertops in DIY projects.
I’d love to have a kitchen like this. This is awesome.
We’re glad you like it Cherisha, and you could be on your way to a kitchen just like this! These tips are a lot cheaper than updating the entire room.
Wow!
We’ll take that as a compliment Dominique! 😉