Your kitchen can significantly affect the value of your home. An old, outdated kitchen can really drag down the price of your home; however, a new kitchen does cost a lot of money many can’t afford. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to help to transform your kitchen on a budget. Updating your home doesn’t always have to be costly. All you really need is some free time, some creativity and a little bit of know-how. So, let’s get into it.
The Flooring
Installing an entirely new flooring is obviously not budget-friendly, but this doesn’t mean that there are not things that you can do to revamp it a little. Firstly, depending on the floor that you already have down and whether or not it would be feasible, you could choose to stick down some vinyl flooring or tile stickers. This can often give the effect of a new floor for a fraction of the price. If you already have tiles, then you could use tile paint to change the colour of the tiles, which again changes their look. Within a similar vein, you could also choose to lay down a new rug in the kitchen. If you choose to do this, make sure to keep the rug away from your prep space because it is going to be harder to clean.
The Cupboards
Your kitchen cupboards provide you with a number of decorative opportunities that can help you to transform your kitchen, without spending much money. Open shelving has become trendy in the last few years, and this look can be achieved simply by choosing to remove the door from one of your cupboards. However, if you do this, bear in mind that there is nowhere for the mess to hide. If you would prefer to keep the doors on, then you could choose to paint them a new colour; you should look for cupboard paint and remember to prep them by sanding them down beforehand.
You could also choose to pay special attention to the handles on your cupboards. If you like the style but just want something a little different, then you could always take them off and spray paint them a new colour. Obviously, you will need to do this in a well-ventilated area and wait for them to dry completely before you replace them. You could also opt to replace the handles completely; there are a lot of decorative options which can really help to transform the look of your kitchen.
The Lighting
Next up is the lighting. Changing out the lighting fixtures can really help to create an atmosphere and the right vibe in the kitchen. Again, you could choose to swap out the fixture to change the main light source. You will need to consider your aesthetic and practicality too; for example, if an ornate chandelier in the kitchen doesn’t really make sense, simple pendant lighting can be incredibly effective. You might also want to consider adding in some under-cabinet lighting like the options found at Simple Lighting. It is both practical and effective in creating the right ambience.
The Walls
The walls give you a prime opportunity to decorate and express yourself. There are a number of things that you can do. First and foremost is painting; this then means that the entire colour scheme of the kitchen is going to change, which goes a long way in overhauling it. You could also choose to include art in the form of prints, textiles and photographs to create more visual interest. You again could use tile stickers on your kitchen walls if you have a tiled splashback. You could also create a new splashback using repurposed wood or other materials.
Finally, you could also choose to use the walls in a more practical manner by installing storage in the form of shelves, baskets, or even hanging racks for your pots and pans. Some people like to create wall-mounted spice racks which are both practical and decorative. You will need to consider your budget, but for the most part, these things can be done relatively cheaply, especially if you can find the materials second-hand or repurpose things you already own. Think about the aesthetic in your kitchen to work out which materials will work best in terms of wood versus metal, et cetera.
The Fixtures & Fittings
The fixtures and fittings within your kitchen encompasses all hardware. If you want to give your kitchen a facelift, then refitting all of this hardware is a great way to do it, and it doesn’t necessarily have to cost that much money. Installing a new tap or door handles or cupboard handles, as mentioned above, can be really effective. You could also argue that your appliances also count as fixtures in the kitchen in that they are rather immovable. These appliances, like your fridge, can often be an eyesore in the kitchen, but you can help to revamp them by covering them with Fablon or wallpaper.
Money Saving Tips
Realistically, the cheapest way to make any sort of effort to redecorate your home, regardless of the room, is simply to repurpose and upcycle things that you already own, like leftover paint or old furniture or other materials like wood. Clearing out the clutter can also help to give your home a little refresh. The styling of the room also makes a difference, decorative touches like trinkets and fake plants can all also help without requiring you to spend much money.
To Sum Up
Before you begin your kitchen makeover efforts, you should first come up with a budget; you do not want to overspend, especially if your budget is smaller. Then you should assess your kitchen to work out what differences will make the most effort or are a priority for you. After this, you can start to plan to decide whether you want to tackle the floors, cupboards, fixtures, walls or all of the above if you can get it to come in under budget. DIY and decorative inspiration is going to become your new best friend, as will budget shops where you can find your materials for a more affordable price. There is also no rule that says that you have to commit to the project all at once; you can make incremental changes when you can afford to. Obviously, this way will take a lot longer, but you will still achieve the results that you want.
