The kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s the place where everyone tends to gather for a cup of coffee, laughter, and just good conversation. If you’ve lived in your home for any length of time, it’s easy for this most important room to feel like it’s lost its luster. It could be time to renew your kitchen. Builder’s grade cabinets can weaken over time, and years of cooking can cause stains that no cleaner can remove. How are your countertops holding up? Are they covered in outdated laminate counters that have lost their sheen or are damaged?
What about your kitchen sink? Even stainless steel sinks can start to look aged after years of use. New countertops and backsplash can help give your old kitchen new life.
A kitchen remodel seems very daunting; and it is. But it is worth the time and money to update this very important room. You can renew your kitchen without having to break the bank. Here are a few ways to update the space and, in turn, make your home better.
Upgrade your kitchen cabinets
The biggest task you can undertake is replacing old kitchen cabinets. Don’t enter into this lightly. If your cabinets are all wood and in good shape, it’s possible that simply painting them and adding new knobs and pulls can transform your kitchen. You don’t have to hire a professional to paint your cabinets. But, before you attempt it, do a lot of research and check several instructional videos to see the best way to tackle that job.
If your cabinets are beyond saving, then replacing them is the way to go. You can absolutely do this yourself. We did it a number of years ago on the house my girls grew up in. Our builder’s grade cabinets had seen their better days so we demoed those cabinets and started over. First I decided what style I was going for. Then, I worked with a ready-to-assemble cabinet company who drew up a design based on my measurements. Be sure this measurement is correct!
Measuring your cabinet sizes is a good start but it’s not enough. You may want to change things up and not just replace your existing cabinets with some that are exactly the same. We changed cabinet and drawer combos with a cabinet that was all drawers. We moved things around a bit, still using our existing floorplan. You can go from standard 30 inch cabinets up to 36 inches tall. There are cabinets that can be pulled out for spices or even your trash cans. Take advantage of every inch of space you have. It will truly become a brand new kitchen when you install new cabinets.
Change your countertop
If your worktop (or countertop) is showing it’s age a bit, you have a couple of choices on updating it. The most expensive choice is to replace the countertop altogether. Cost varies depending on the type of surface you want. Quartz seems to be the most popular these days. There are paint kits available that are expressly made to rejuvenate your countertops and give them the look and feel of a more upgraded surface.
Another innovative and much less expensive way to upgrade your countertops is to use a vinyl wrap. The wraps come in a variety of colors and styles and are surprisingly easy to install. You are actually just cover your existing counters and even backsplash with an adhesive vinyl wrap. The results are amazing.
Change you light fixtures
Adding new lighting can give your kitchen an incredible new look and change its overall aesthetic. Adding a few can lights in the ceiling can give the room a brighter glow. You’ll be amazed at how much clearer your workspace can be with the right amount of light. Pendant lighting over your island or bar can add flare as well as function. A dimmer switch is a great addition to give yourself real control over the amount of light that is allowed into the room.
Under cabinet lighting gives an incredible dramatic look to the entire kitchen. It’s like the icing on the cake. These lights aren’t necessarily for function but for their aesthetic appeal. They are a snap to install and are not expensive.
These are just a few simple ways that you can renew your kitchen. Take your time to look through kitchen Pinterest boards and interior design sites to get an idea of the look and feel that appeals to you. Use some of the ideas above to give your kitchen a brand new life.