The kitchen is usually the hub of any home. One of the busier rooms where the family will cook, eat and clean and it can also act as a gathering place at parties.
When selling your house or showing around prospective tenants, it can be the kitchen that will ultimately seal the deal. Below are seven low-cost ways in which you can improve the look and feel of the heart of your home.
Tile Backsplashes
A tile backsplash is a great low cost way to improve the look, feel and possibly value of your kitchen. Gone are the days when the backsplash had to match the worktops. Nowadays, it seems much more fashionable to have contrasting colours or something a little more contemporary.
Kitchen Cabinet Reface or Refinish
If your cabinets are looking old and worn then a simple coat of varnish could breath life back into them. Again, if you are looking for colour then a lick of paint is all that could be required to get your kitchen buzzing again.
Painting, Stenciling or Wallpapering
The walls in your kitchen are what could greatly affect the ambiance of the kitchen. Painting is the low-cost way to change the mood of the kitchen. A light blue could make it a calming place, whilst a shocking orange could have the opposite effect. Why not add to your walls with some DIY stencilling. A fairly low-cost idea that can add that artistic touch to your walls and can be a great talking point to.
Lighting Fixture Replacement
Another great way to set the mood of the kitchen whether you are in the room or not. Try changing the lighting fixtures and why not add a bit of colour.
If like so many kitchens you only have the one main light, it may be worth investing a little extra to add spotlights under the top cupboards that make it look extra inviting at night.
Kitchen Island
Installing a kitchen island can be expensive and at the same time intrusive to your kitchen. A more cost effective way would be to opt for a cheaper model with wheels that can be hidden away when not needed and pulled out when convenient.
Hardware
It is the finer details of your kitchen that can really improve your kitchen's appeal. You can opt for new handles and pulls of any design; stainless steel is always a good choice and looks classy. Alternatively, if your budget is less than that you can opt for a bit of glaze to accentuate the existing features.
Accessorize and Update
If your budget allows it, purchase new and improved accessories, especially if your current ones are looking a little worse for wear. Again, stainless steel is always a good choice when opting for toasters, coffee makers, microwaves etc. Also look at accessories that not only improve the look of your kitchen but also its function; for example spice racks and wine racks.
This guest post was written by Stefan Mustieles of moneysupermarket.com
I found another cool article on the HGTV site called "Kitchens On A Budget:Our 10 Favorites From Rate My Space" and I had to share it with you. It has a great assortment and ranges of kitchen remodeling projects from very minor cosmetic improvements to budget-conscious larger projects.
Check it out and let me know what you think of it by leaving a comment below.
I found an article today on the DIY networks site that fits perfectly into this site's theme of helping you get the most bang for your kitchen remodeling buck. It's called Cost-Cutting Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and it's definitely worth a look. There are a few ideas that are a little "out there" but some others you may not have considered that could save you a chunk of change. Check it out and let me know what you think.
One of the most rewarding yet daunting projects for your home can be remodeling your kitchen. Sure, you've heard how you can recoup all or most of your investment and that it can also speed up the potential sale of your home as well. But not everybody is living in a 3.5 million dollar home with a $500,000.00 kitchen renovation budget.
The good news is that everybody can make their kitchen their own dream kitchen space without breaking the bank or causing a divorce. Here are some great suggestions to do kitchen remodeling on a budget.
Kitchen Remodeling On A Budget Checklist
- Add a fresh coat of paint
- Cover your appliances with stainless steel contact paper
- Order new doors or fronts for your appliances
- Install a faux granite counter for a fraction of the cost
- Refacing your cabinets or replacing the doors
- Replace the cabinet hardware with high end hardware
- Replace an old floor with a vinyl floor which is much less expensive than tile
- Replace your sink or just the faucet
YouTube Kitchen Remodeling Video
I found a quick YouTube video which highlights each of these steps and puts it all together in a video for those of you who are more visually oriented.
