Whether you’re thinking about selling your home or simply want to spruce up your interior, giving your kitchen a facelift is a great place to start. As one of the most prominent rooms in your living space, it is important that you feel comfortable in your kitchen. By completing a few simple upgrades, you can have a stylish kitchen without tapping into your savings.
Change Up the Backsplash
The backsplash is the panel behind the sink, stove, and countertop, and it protects the wall from water splashes. This small area can make a big impression, but choosing to upgrade the backsplash will be significantly less expensive than updating your kitchen floor or countertop.
Update the Hardware
Old or rusty kitchen hardware can make your entire kitchen look outdated. By investing in some inexpensive hardware updates, your kitchen can receive a modern facelift for less than the cost of a tank of gas.
Eliminate the Cabinet Doors
A new trend when it comes to kitchen storage is the naked cabinet or pantry, so consider removing your doors and their associated hardware. You can add some color by painting the cabinets inside of the pantry or the shelves, as the color will be on display when the doors are gone. While changing the hardware or eliminating the doors is easy for DIY job, if you do want to spend money, this is where I’d put the majority of the investment. New cabinets from places like Modern Cabinetry can make a huge impact on the entire design of your kitchen, even if you do everything else on your own.
Give Your Floor a Vintage Look
Change up your floor to give your kitchen some oomph. An old-school material like linoleum is a popular option, as it is one of the least expensive types of flooring available. Linoleum is also a great option because it comes in a variety of shades, is naturally antimicrobial, and is easy to clean.
Update the Dishwasher Panel
If your dishwasher still works just fine but looks rough on the exterior, changing the front panel can both brighten the space and save you money. Hardware stores or online merchants can provide you numerous options at a much lower price than installing an entire unit replacement.
Add a Coat of Paint
Spruce up the walls and cabinetry of your kitchen with a fresh coat of paint. This is relatively inexpensive if you choose to hire a painting professional, but you can save additional funds if you do the work yourself. If you have a small kitchen, a light colored paint can make the space appear larger.
Add Sconces
Installing sconces above shelving can provide ambient light that offers significantly more personality than standard track or recessed lighting. In most cases, an electrician will need to install them so that the cords are hidden, but plug-in versions can also be used if you invest in cord covers.
Upgrading your kitchen doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. By completing a few simple enhancements, you can make your kitchen a room that you are proud to show off.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
