A popular room to remodel today is the kitchen, yet an average remodels costs homeowners around $18,000 – with the highest ones costing more than $50,000. The good news is that you don’t have to hand over the big bucks to make a noticeable improvement in an outdated kitchen. Whether you just got the keys to your house or have lived there for years, take a look at these six simple ways to refresh your kitchen without breaking the bank.
Change out the hardware.
One of the simplest updates you can do in your kitchen is changing out cabinetry hardware. It’s a quick and inexpensive way to make your kitchen look fun. Check out the colorful options, or stick with something timeless like a brushed nickel finish.
Paint the cabinets.
If you don’t love your kitchen, but a cabinet overhaul isn’t a possibility, consider a fresh coat of paint. Today, nearly any color goes in the kitchen. People rave over the grey and white cabinet trend, and citrus colors like orange and yellow look good in the kitchen, too.
Install a backsplash.
Backsplashes are really limited in square footage, so this area is one that is easy to update that won’t hurt the bank account. Usually it costs just a couple hundred dollars in tiles. If you don’t have the skills to install it yourself, a handyman or handywoman can help.
Another option is simply painting the area instead. Use a semi-gloss paint so it resists moisture and you can wipe it clean once you are finished cooking dinner.
Change out or remove some cabinet doors.
Change existing cabinet doors out for ones with glass panels to give your kitchen the appearance of a major upgrade. Frosted glass is ideal if you don’t feel like your shelves are nice enough to be on display.
The open shelving look is an option that creates a lighter space in kitchens. Put your favorite bowls and dishes on display to add interest to the room.
Use your small appliances as decoration.
While you may not want to choose a bright color for a refrigerator, you can go bold with everything else. A cherry red mixer or a cobalt-colored toaster essentially act as accessories for your kitchen. The good thing is, you can always move them around and put them in a cabinet when you don’t want them on display.
Hang window treatments.
Drapes can cheer up the kitchen, but think before you decide what to hang on the window above your kitchen sink. Remember that too much fabric can get wet from splashing, and you don’t want to ruin your drapes. Think of options that fit within the window, such as a roman shade that you can pull up and out of the way when doing the dishes.
It’s very possible to give your kitchen a new look without gutting the space – and your bank account. There are a lot of little changes you can make that don’t take a lot of time or cost a lot of cash and ones that will enhance the appearance of your kitchen and give it that cheerful, updated look.
Use a certified handyman professional to help spruce up your kitchen.
The Association of Certified Handyman Professionals is a non-profit handyman trade association. Membership requires qualification.