If you are looking to update your home but don’t have a huge budget to work with, there are still ways to move forward and transform your living space. The kitchen is a great place to start, as it is the heart of the home and family life center. Replacing a kitchen can be costly, so we have created a list of ways to update your kitchen while on a budget.
- Update your Lighting.
- Introduce Patterns.
- Open up your walls.
- Add in some Pops of Color.
- Add or Change your Backsplash.
- Change out your hardware.
- Paint your cabinets.
- Paint the floor.
- Upgrade your dishes.
- Reinvigorate your Fridge.
- Update your Kitchen Island.
- Increase Natural light.
- Increase your Storage with Shelving.
- Set up a Snack Station.
- Change up your Accessories.
1. Update your Lighting
Changing the way your kitchen is illuminated can alter the look and feel of the space. Lighting fixtures can be found for any budget, and there are a variety of options to choose from.
If you have a kitchen island or a table in your room, then look into adding a pendant light over it to make it more of a focal point. Add some lighting underneath your cabinets to brighten up dark spaces and create a designer look for a small cost.
2. Introduce Pattern
If your kitchen is rather plain and you want to spice it up a little, adding in a bold pattern could be the answer. This could be in the form of a rug or a framed print. If you want to make a slightly more significant change, choose a bright patterned wallpaper to put on a statement wall.
3. Open up your walls
One problem that is common with a lot of kitchens is that they can feel cramped and crowded. A way to fix this would be to remove some of your upper cabinets, reducing the amount that is on the wall, giving a sense of airiness.
Instead of large cabinets, replace them with open shelving. Alternatively, if you want to keep the cabinets, replace the doors’ fronts with glass doors to increase brightness. Just make sure that your cupboards are organized enough inside to keep the area looking neat and tidy.
If you have a kitchen island or a table in your room, then look into adding a pendant light over it to make it more of a focal point. Add some lighting underneath your cabinets to brighten up dark spaces and create a designer look for a small cost.
4. Add in some Pops of Color
Like adding a pattern, another way to instantly improve a plain kitchen is to add some color. Colorful accents could include kitchen utensils or fabrics. Bright metal stools can be cheap to source and are durable for a busy environment.
5. Add or Change your Backsplash
A backsplash is not only a practical solution to messy cooking, but it also adds some texture and a modern look to your kitchen. Backsplashes can be made from a variety of materials and can fit into any budget. From sleek subway tiles to patterned rustic tiles to clean tempered glass.
Backsplashes can be placed between all the upper and lower cabinets or just above cooking appliances like the hob and sink.
6. Change out your hardware.
One thing that is cheap to do but can make a massive difference to your kitchen’s look is changing the small details such as the hardware. Replacing cupboard handles and perhaps the sink faucet can completely change the look of your kitchen. Choose between sleek chrome for a modern look, matte black for a minimalist, monochromatic look, or brass to make your cupboards look even more expensive and luxurious. Handles can be bought in bulk or from wholesale, reducing the costs even further.
7. Paint your Cabinets
As well as changing out the hardware, some kitchen cabinets can be easily painted, which can freshen up the room. Wooden cabinets are sturdy and an outstanding shell to work with, so why waste them and buy new ones when you can just rejuvenate them? You can try this yourself or pay professionals to do this to a high standard for a fair price. Choosing light colors like white or light grey can brighten the room and fit many different shades of existing flooring and kitchen accessories.
8. Paint the Floor
In addition to painting kitchen cabinets, painting the kitchen floor can also rejuvenate a room. Wooden floors can be sanded down and varnished, showing their natural color, or they can be painted and then varnished if you are looking for a particular shade.
White is bright and chic, but it will show marks and crumbs easily. Instead, opt for a grey or neutral blue. Floor tiles can also be painted with tile paint, and stencils can add a unique pattern or design.
9. Upgrade your dishes
If you have open shelving already or cabinets with glass doors, upgrading your crockery can make a huge difference.
Choose dishes with straightforward or minimalist designs as these will not go out of fashion. Instead, look for unique shapes or materials that can make your dinnerware stand out from the crowd.
10. Reinvigorate your Fridge
A fridge is the center of the kitchen, and we access it every single day. So if your fridge is out of date, looking shabby, or is a color that is now out of style, we have a fun idea for you. If you have a family, a great idea would be painting it with chalkboard paint.
Covering it in this surface can keep the kids amused while you are busy preparing meals, and it is a place where you can keep track of your busy family schedules. Here you can write your weekly menu, inspiring quotes to cheer you up, or a grocery list. What a fun way to improve your kitchen.
11. Update your Kitchen Island
If you have a large kitchen with an existing island or peninsula, you can upgrade this by painting the sides or adding shiplap or tiles to create an entirely new look. Extending your island is possible, too, so that you can add seating underneath. You can do this by purchasing a new worktop and replacing what is there already but keeping the shell and cabinet part of the island. This will mean that you now have a new space for your family to gather, and it can change the design of your kitchen as a whole.
12. Increase Natural Light
Small or dark kitchens make the whole room look gloomy and can date a room quickly. As well as painting cabinets or the walls a lighter color, another way to increase natural light would be to maximize the amount of it that reaches into the room. Choose lighter blinds or curtains, and then pick accessories that will reflect or bounce the light.
Look for clear glass vases or large mirrors to make the room look more spacious and ethereal.
13. Increase your Storage with Shelving
If storage is an issue in your kitchen, shelving can quickly solve this. If you lack cupboard space, shelving on metal brackets is affordable and can be easily screwed into the wall. These shelves can store baskets, pilled up dishes, or jars with dry foods such as pasta and rice. Using natural wood makes the room feel more earthy, or you can choose to paint them to fit in with the color scheme of your cabinets.
14. Set up a snack station
If you have a family, you will understand how much food kids can make their way through. A nice touch to update your kitchen would be making a snack station easily accessible by anyone who needs it. Think of fruit baskets, containers with pre-packaged healthy foods, and the odd treat.
Choose glass containers and vinyl labels for an organized and classy look or wicker baskets for a more natural appearance.
15. Change up your accessories.
If you are on a very small budget, then the most significant change you can make is not in the appliances or cabinets but in the accessories. Replace worn or dated items with new ones that can be found on almost any budget from various stores.
Go for a minimalist look, with clean lines and simple colors to add some style into the room. Adding plants and herbs and add some brightness with their fresh green color while keeping the room looking simple.
Conclusion
If you are looking for more ideas on rejuvenating your home, then keep an eye on our website’s blog section. Here at My Favourite Painters, we are here to help and are here to answer any questions you have – we love to hear from you. We hope these ideas have helped you develop ways of updating your kitchen on a budget – the possibilities are endless if you look at it creatively.