Remodel Your Kitchen on a Budget

Kitchen is the heart of every home. This is also the place where you spend most of your time actively interacting with your surroundings. You come home from work and head straight to the kitchen to unpack grocery bags. You feed the dog; grab some snacks; create a mess, and clean it; charge your phone; You hunt for that garlic press which you left God knows where. Eventually, everything turns into one fine dinner with your family or friends. Just imagine how many stories get told every day in this small room. That’s why it is so important to keep it functional and appealing to the eye.

Perhaps your kitchen is looking a bit outdated or in need of a complete makeover. You don’t have to spend a fortune to spruce it up a bit. What you need is a little time, good will and a bit of a DIY spirit. Here are some smart ways to remodel your kitchen on a budget:

Accent walls

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders. This especially applies to kitchens. Grease stains tend to pop up everywhere. There is no amount of vinegar, cinnamon sticks and air freshener to get rid of lingering cooking smells. The best option is to go for bright white to avoid extra costs. Also, you can create an accent wall with citrus-hued paint, unusual wallpaper or some fun wall art.

Lovely handles

You can also give your tired cabinetry a fresh look with a few coats of fresh paint. Opt for better-quality products to ensure durability. Just don’t overdo it with experimenting. Traditional bare wood or pastel-colored kitchen cabinets are the best option. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, try updating cabinetry handles. It can make all the difference.

New worktops

This is especially convenient if you’re the happy owner of old kitchen furniture. Scratched and stained, old kitchen surface tops are no good to anyone. Luckily for you there are some very nice and cheap laminate substitutes. Choose any with a granite-patterned or dark-colored finish and breathe in new life to your old cabinetry.

Backsplash

Your kitchen’s backsplash shouldn’t only serve to protect your walls from heat and staining. You can make a bold statement with glass and ceramic panels or play with colors and patterns by adding great tiles. The small amount of money you invest here can change the complete look of your kitchen.

Kitchen floor

It is about time you re-surfaced your old kitchen floor. Just like with walls, altering bigger surfaces doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Again, laminate is the most versatile material, and it gives you a lot of options. Also, you can turn your hardwood floor into a showpiece. Some light sanding and a protective coat of lacquer will remove any scuff and deep scratch marks.

Small appliances and details

If you are not ready to invest in big remodeling, you can always pep up your lovely kitchen with accessories. These could be small kitchen appliances in unusual colors, like an orange toaster for example. Always opt for energy-efficient gadgets to save your money in the long run.

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Lights

Another clever change you can make in your kitchen is update your lighting. This could be an oversized pendant light above the dining table with a dimmer function to ensure cozy atmosphere. Cost- and energy-efficiency shouldn´t worry you. Efficient Commercial LED lighting uses LEDs instead of your regular light bulbs to cut the electricity costs. Another plus, its LED drivers adapt the amount of power to the fluctuating needs of LED lights. That’s another couple of dollars cut from your bill. Ideally, you should also invest in spot lights above your worktops to make preparing your meals even more enjoyable.

New fabrics

Be it new curtains above the sink, fresh upholstery or simply nicely-patterned kitchen cloths – you can always liven up things around your kitchen with some good fabric. Another plus, you can put your sewing machine to use and show serious DIY skills.

Vintage furniture

When it comes to adding a personal touch to your home, another great idea is vintage furniture. You can find great pieces at yard sales or in charity shops. Go for industrial chic with some tall bar stools or nostalgic style with a rustic dining table.

*This article is a guest post by Molly Milson.

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Author Bio: Molly is a student of Interior Design. Drawing, photography and especially urban design are her passions. Aside from studying, she enjoys watching documentary movies about the history of art and interior design.