They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, don’t they? I wholeheartedly agree because it’s where I cook and eat with my husband, it’s where we share the events of our day and is a gathering space for nights in with my friends and family. Of course, I want my kitchen to be an inviting welcoming space where I truly want to spend time but at the moment it’s looking rather sorry for itself and actually makes me feel reluctant to invite people into my home.
Anna’s kitchen from don’t cramp my style blog
Just by asking around, I’ve discovered that many of us don’t have the kitchen of our dreams so I’ve been thinking about ways that you and I can both update our kitchens without splashing the cash. While brand new kitchen may be too expensive and out of the question for your budget right now (as it is for me), there are many ways to brighten up your kitchen and bump up the style without breaking the bank. Here’s what I’m planning to do…
Refresh with paint
Take down all the pictures in the kitchen and think about colour. White or neutral shades are obvious choices but soft grey, blue, and green are beautiful hues for a kitchen and add an elegant feel. A rich red offers a pop of colour – where else can you be so bold with colour but the kitchen?? You can add interest and depth to a room by varying shades of the same colour, or use contrasting colours to make a statement.Painting the cabinets is a great way to give your kitchen a completely new look. New cabinets are very expensive, but you might be surprised what a coat of paint can do for outdated cabinets. I’m planning to spray paint mine cupboard doors with Rust-Oleum Mode paint but you could also consider chalk-painting the cabinets or even staining them. Be sure to remove all the door fronts and drawers, and clean them thoroughly before painting. It’s also a good idea to use a primer first and at least two coats of paint.
Replace old handles
Updating cabinet hardware is an easy and very inexpensive way to change or modernise the look of your kitchen. Make sure to find pulls and knobs the same size as the existing ones. This way you don’t have to re-drill the holes. There are so many choices at your local hardware store, or you could simply paint the handles you already have – a metallic copper paint would change the look of the handles completely and will turn plain white cabinets into something special. Do a little Pinterest or Internet searching for some inspiration and choose what’s just right for your kitchen.
Install a new kitchen splashback
If you think adding or replacing a splashback has to be expensive, you might be surprised at some of the affordable options available. And, you don’t need to hire someone to fit it for you, either! If you don’t have to opt for expensive tile or stone it can be a relatively easy DIY project. Try wooden boards, tin ceiling tiles, peel-and-stick tile-cover kits, wallpaper covered with splash-resistant acrylic. I used magnetic chalkboard paint in my last home to spruce up the splashback area and it worked really well. I’ve seen some cute ideas like pegboard panels (good for hanging kitchen gadgets) and even a patterned vinyl tablecloth as makes a charming backsplash.
Add a wooden worktop
Who says all your kitchen surfaces have to match? If you have a countertop that is damaged (mine actually has a hole in it!) or one you would rather not look at, consider replacing it with an affordable wooden one. You can replace just one small prep area to make chopping veg easy, or change all the surfaces, including the kitchen table. Wood worktops are less expensive than tile or stone, and they add character and warmth to a kitchen.
Change your curtains
Tired of your ugly plastic blinds or frilly kitchen curtains? A new window treatment can help transform any room and it’s a great opportunity to inject some more colour. You don’t need custom window treatments when there are so many affordable options out there. One cute look is DIY shutters, which add a homey yet classy, clean look to any kitchen. Or if you do want blinds, faux wood blinds are affordable and durable and available in white or darker colours to match your cabinets.
Install a new kitchen tap
A new tap can make an impact. There are endless choices and designs. So, whether you want to update or modernise with shiny silver or nickel finish or go for a classic bronze look, you can add functionality and beauty to your kitchen with new fixtures. Consider matching the style of your new handles to your fixtures; bronze faucets and hardware throughout the kitchen make beautiful metallic accents.
These are only a few of the many wallet-friendly ways you can transform your kitchen and make it the heart of the home again. Before you know it, hungry friends and family will be gathered around the table in your newly spruced-up kitchen; all you need are some fresh flowers and homemade chocolate chip cookies! Let me know if you have any other tips to share about your own thrifty kitchen makeovers by leaving me a comment below – it’ll definitely help me when I get round to decorating my kitchen this summer.
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