Most homeowners balk at the idea of renovating the kitchen, seeing it as a time-consuming and costly process. However, it is entirely possible to transform the space without having to rip everything out and start from scratch. Small but meaningful upgrades to certain features and fixtures can make a huge difference and give your kitchen a brand-new look.
Read on below for our favorite ways to instantly rejuvenate the heart of your home.
Refresh your kitchen cabinet doors
Since they take up the most amount of space in the kitchen, your cabinets can contribute a lot to the space’s look and feel. But this doesn’t mean that you have to replace them completely when renovating your kitchen. Indeed, there are simpler ways to instantly freshen up your kitchen such as having your cabinets repainted or even incorporating wallpaper as a replacement to boring wall paint. This process can even be simplified if your cabinets are designed to be easy to upgrade or switch out. IKEA cabinet doors, in particular, are easy to replace, thanks to their modular design and standard measurements.
Apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls
Your kitchen walls see a lot of wear and tear over the years—it’s the one room in the house that sees a lot of extreme temperature fluctuations, and after a while, it will start to show. Oil and food splatters behind the stove, bubbles and cracks in the paint, and damaged wallpaper is unsightly. A simple way to conceal flaws is to apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Bright colors such as white or ivory bring lightness into the room to instantly create a sense of space. Mint, turquoise or shades of blue, on the other hand, can create a sense of calm and tranquillity, while red is believed to stimulate the appetite; paint your walls in this color if you have a family member you’d like to encourage to eat more!
Update the tiles
Most people like to use tiles for kitchen’s floors and walls because they’re low maintenance and easy to clean. However, similar to walls, they can start to discolor and look dated after a while. Bring your kitchen out of the 80s and into the new decade by painting them over. Dirty grout may require cleaning or replacing entirely, but if you’re not ready to do either, interior designer Bobby Berk from Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye suggests simply painting them black. You can also opt to have the tiles gutted and replaced with fresh ones if you fancy.
Put in a new backsplash
A backsplash is a panel behind your sink, stove, or both that protects the wall from accidental splashes. If this is something your kitchen doesn’t have, now could be a good time to think about installing one. However, since kitchens tend to see a lot of use, most backsplashes can become dirty and stained beyond recognition within a short period of time. This is why a lot of people prefer backsplashes made from tiles, which are much easier to clean than other alternatives. You can also opt for designs that will better fit the look you’re intending for your kitchen.
Add a splash of color
Bored of white and beige tones? Adding accent colors that work well with your walls and kitchen cabinets can give your kitchen a more harmonious feel. A little-known interior design trick is to choose only a few colors and using them to guide your furniture, lighting, and decoration choices. Keeping the room to five colors or less keeps it from looking too busy and cluttered. Stick to a set of tried-and-true neutrals and add a bold color as an accent for a clean, modern kitchen you’ll be happy to show off to your guests and visitors.
Even a small investment can have a huge impact when renovating the kitchen. With our suggestions and a bit of elbow grease on the weekends, you, too, can have a showstopper of a kitchen that you will be glad to spend time in.
