5 Quick Ways To Spruce Up A Kitchen Without A Major Makeover Cost

Posted on Mar 5 2014 - 9:55am by Chris Polvari

Kitchen

When it comes to renovating a kitchen, it tends to be an expensive exercise.  It’s not just the paint, splashbacks, cupboards and benchtops but all the appliances that have high price tags!  The best news though, is that it doesn’t need to be!  

When the basics are sound and you are simply looking to give your kitchen a makeover, and an injection of new life, there are lots of options that you can introduce without breaking the budget. 

Looking for ideas? Here are 5 quick ways to spruce up your kitchen without the cost. 

Update the hardware: Sometimes it is the little things that count.  Making changes to your cupboard handles or knobs can make all the difference.  Transform the look of your cabinets with a more modern look or give your kitchen a new theme or shot of color with hardware that looks the goods.   It need not be expensive; shop around.  You’ll find you are spoilt for choice. 

Lighting: A dull kitchen is not the happiest of places to create family meals or entertain friends for coffee.  Altering the lighting can definitely make a huge difference and depending on your choice, a feature in itself.   If you have simple hanging lights you can jazz it up a little with something more elaborate.  The addition of low voltage accent lighting can brighten up dark corners, put the spotlight on a particular area or just make the area feel fresh and new. 

Floor: The kitchen floor needs to not only be safe but easy to keep clean.  There are bound to be a myriad of food spillages over time so sometimes all the kitchen floor needs is a good clean. And by that we mean whitening the grout of tiles, polishing your floorboards or replacing your rug. 

Painting: Kitchen walls may appear clean but it is not until you add a fresh coat of paint that you realize just how much they have absorbed from years of cooking. A pot of paint can give your kitchen a whole new look. If you stick to neutral colors, you can accessorise with your hardware, artwork or furniture.  Alternatively choosing a striking color can give your area a brand new looks altogether. 

Cabinets: Kitchen cupboards and cabinets can actually be given new life easier than you may have thought.  Painting or staining doors can freshen up their look particularly if they are solid and in good condition. Alternatively consider removing the doors altogether on some of the cabinets to open them up.  They take on a new look and give your kitchen a completely different feel.  You may want to line the cupboards with some nice paper or give them paint now that they are open for viewing and add some hooks or accessories to ensure their contents can be displayed safely and neatly. 

Depending on your budget, you could always change the benchtop, replace or install a splashback or seek the assistance of a cabinetmaker to create a whole new look for you to suit your personal tastes and needs.  Once you have made your little touch ups, consider adding something small as a special gift for yourself and your new room – add a vase of flowers, buy a new tea towel and pull out an old favorite cookbook or recipe and get creative.  You have given your kitchen new life, now time to enjoy!

About the Author

Chris Polvari has been a cabinetmaker for over 20 years and his company Urban Accent has been beautifying homes for more than eight years.