7 WAYS TO LIVEN UP YOUR KITCHEN
Feeling bored with your kitchen + want to change it up, but not sure where to start?
here are several budget friendly ways to do just that!
1. Change Cabinet Hardware
One of the simplest ways to give your kitchen a more modern look is to swap out the old drawer pulls and knobs with their updated counterparts. A popular finish today is brushed nickel, which works no matter the style. For kitchens with an eccentric, modern feel, chrome works too. One caution, however, is to resist specialty hardware that may not appeal to the general public. Although they may be fun at first, chances are they will fall out of favor quickly.
2. Paint Your Cabinets
Giving cabinetry a fresh coat of paint is an easy way to really change the look of the room without going through the hassle of demolition and added cost. For the most clean, professional look, be sure to prime the bases and doors before you apply the paint. A satin finish works best on kitchen cabinets. White and grey are popular right now, and citrus colors are always fun choices for a bright, sunny kitchen.
3. Add a Backsplash
For a simply painted wall along the counters and appliances, a backsplash can change the look in an instant. And since it’s likely there isn’t a lot of square footage to cover, it’s an extremely inexpensive way to spruce up your kitchen. Conventional tile and grout (think subway tile), is a quality, long-lasting option, but there are also ‘press and apply’ options that look fantastic without the added cost and hassle. No messy grout, and the tiles are designed to be easy to cut so you can easily work around the tricky spots.
4. Choose an Accent Wall
Prefer to just keep it simple in the paint department? Pick a wall. Accent walls have many benefits from both a visual and aesthetic standpoint. In addition to adding more color to the room (consider a darker shade than the walls) and brings a little pizazz in without being too overwhelming.
5. Declutter your surfaces
This is especially important if you’re staging your house for photographs. Everything looks more cluttered in photos; so in that case, we recommend clearing everything from your countertops except for a few pops of color/visual interest. These could include a bowl of fresh fruit, a colorful cookbook on a stand, or a sweet, minimal coffee station to set the stage. Put away magnets, notes, and pictures attached to the refrigerator.
6. Upgrade Your Faucet
Replacing faucet fixtures gives your kitchen a new flair and focal point, not to mention newer technology that can be more reliable and water-saving than the old fixture. They are inexpensive to purchase and install and can be a great first-step as you ponder the future of your kitchen.
7. Switch out Your Light Fixtures
At a minimum, replace any burned-out lightbulbs. For added function, you can install undermount cabinet lights to illuminate your prep work (if you’d rather not hard-wire, there are some battery-operated options), and pay close attention to tone. For staging, we recommend softer, more inviting golden-hued bulbs (incandescent or LED) as opposed to blue or green tinged fluorescents (this goes for every light in your house). And during the day, opening your curtains or shades all the way up to maximize natural light can make a huge difference, too.