If you have noticed that your kitchen has been lacking something or is just totally out-of-date, there are several inexpensive ways that you can update the look of your kitchen and still be able to afford groceries for the month. Although, you may be stuck with your floor plan of your kitchen, unless you have thousands of dollars to completely re-do the whole kitchen, there are ways to accentuate the positive and spruce up the kitchen that you do have.
Add New Cabinet Hardware
Desks With Hutch
It may sound really simple, but it can have a large effect on the scheme of your room. Taking off the old cabinet hardware (if you even add any) and adding new cabinet handles and pulls can turn an ordinary cabinet into something more stylish. If you want a contemporary look for the kitchen, try silver or brushed nickel handles.
Cabinet pulls and handles can greatly vary in price from around $.50 for a pull to upwards of a pull. Be sure that you set your budget and account for all the hardware pieces that you will need.
A Fresh Coat of Paint in the Kitchen
Paint is inexpensive, especially if you have a small kitchen or not that much exposed wall area, but it can instantly change the look of the room. If you have wallpaper in your kitchen painting can be an instant facelift, but it will take you a little more time then if you didn't have to tear down wallpaper.
Choose a color that is updated and fresh but still goes well with the look and color of your cabinets. If you really can't stand the color of your cabinets, you can undertake that process as well of repainting or staining the cabinets. Another option is to repaint the ceiling especially if you have yellow grease marks on it.
Freshen Up Your Kitchen: Add Some Green
Simply adding a plant or arrangement of flowers to your kitchen can really add some freshness to the space. Be sure to not clutter the plants or flowers, but one on top of a cabinet or in the corner of the room will be enough to change the look of the space. If you choose to do a real plant and flowers, just be sure that you take care of them on a daily basis or it will be a waste of your money.
New Light Fixture
Bring some new light to the kitchen for an instant update. Light fixtures can vary greatly in price, but you can most likely find a great light fixture for your kitchen for under 0.
If you have recessed fluorescent lighting, that is definitely something that you want to change. Try something totally different such as a chandelier in the middle of the kitchen or track lighting to give you the light that you need on the areas of the kitchen like the stove were you need the most light. A new light fixture will not only add new light to the space and be functional, but it can also add a new design element to the room.
Put Your China on Display
If you have beautiful china that is hidden away in your cabinets or hutch, then why not put it to good use and put it on display. You can take one of your cabinet doors off the hinge and replace it with a glass cabinet door. Arrange the china in the cabinet to show it off and you have an instant attention getter. Or you can put up a shelf on one of the walls and display your china that way, but be sure to fasten the china to the wall so it doesn't fall.
Updating your kitchen doesn't take a lot of money. Use your creativity and the resources you have to add instant style to the kitchen.