While the committed cook in you might yearn for a brand new kitchen with every new appliance under the sun, installing one that has been professionally supplied is an expensive undertaking, not to mention time consuming and quite disruptive to the household. Instead, why not stick to your budget and get creative about ways to refresh rather than replace what you already have. Here are a few ideas to help you do just that.
Countertops and Cabinets
Remember that you can simply replace cupboard doors and drawer fronts, rather than building completely new cabinets. Having done this it’s then quite easy to recover your worktops to match. Specialist stores can usually offer a good deal and you can opt to recover or repaint doors if you don’t want to replace them. Since most kitchen units come in standard sizes, it won’t be too difficult to match up new doors and drawer fronts with your existing ones.
Make the Most of Your Windows
You already know that windows and natural daylight are important for your family’s health and wellbeing, however sometimes gloomy kitchens are deprived of sunlight due to fussy blinds or drapes. Just by changing your window treatments, you can make a big difference to the impact of your kitchen design. Try using window shutters instead: they have clean, elegant lines plus the range and variety of materials is great. This means you can easily find the right shape and style to complement your décor without spending a fortune.
Create the Appearance of More Space
If one of your design issues is that worktop space is a bit limited, you can tackle this by adding a kitchen island. There are plenty of inexpensive ones available or if you are a DIY enthusiast, you might want to create one yourself. If your island has wheels, you can move it around to fit exactly where you want it depending on the job you are doing. Adding a kitchen island can also provide additional storage, and this can be invaluable if, for example, you’re preparing for an important dinner party, or your existing kitchen is a little overcrowded.
Splash Out on Your Colour Scheme
Don’t forget that a great way to give your kitchen a budget makeover is simply to change the colour of the walls and ceiling. Whether or not you also decide to alter the flooring is up to you, however sometimes simply redecorating works like magic and you can leave your kitchen floor exactly as it is.
Deep Clean
Finally, remember that sometimes a kitchen that looks ‘tired’ may not even need a coat of paint, just a deep clean to bring out all the shine and sparkle that was there when it was brand new. If there are nooks and crannies that you have not visited for months on end, then now is the time to get into ‘spring cleaning’ mode, whatever the weather, and to finally clean and clear out those dark cupboards and murky corners.
