Upgrading the Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank

Upgrading the Kitchen

…without breaking the bank

By: Rochelle Bonitto

Akitchen is a very dynamic space. It’s more than where we cook, it’s the heart and soul of the home. This is particularly evident with modern home designs where the kitchen opens into the dining and living room areas.

While a drab kitchen doesn’t necessarily affect the taste of the food (a good cook can prepare a great meal in any space) but it’s a great environment to motivate you to spread your culinary wings. A kitchen that’s lacking style and function can feel burdensome and can put a serious damper on your creativity.

A basic kitchen renovation adds value to your home. However, even basic renovations can be expensive, or so you may think.

If your kitchen is looking a little monotonous and uninteresting, there are many budget-friendly ideas that will reinstate your kitchen as the “heart of the home”. Let’s explore some great ideas that can be used to upgrade your kitchen on a budget.

11. Paint Kitchen Cabinets This is a great go-to DIY idea. Get some paint, use colours to lift the energy in the space. Gather some of your family and friends and paint those cupboards.

22. Replace doors and drawer fronts If you don’t think painting is enough to lift the image of your kitchen space, then perhaps you could try changing the doors and drawer fronts. This is more affordable in comparison to gutting all the cupboards. The inner cupboards will be re-used, and the focus is placed on the outside. The possibilities are endless when it comes to this approach, especially with the steady evolution of kitchen designs.

33. Change cabinet handles It’s easy to be creative with your handles. Finishes like leather, silver, black, and brass are very nice and will give your kitchen a fresh, chic look.

44. Laminate worktop Replacing worktops may not be expensive in comparison to replacing your cupboards, but laminate is the least expensive material to use when replacing your worktop.

55. Re-tile the kitchen floor This is a good way to lift your kitchen. The beauty about this approach is that you don’t have to lift the existing tile. The new tiles can simply be installed over the existing ones. Even more encouraging is the fact that you can use peel and stick tiles. These tiles have become very popular and many people are using these very cost-effective tiles to upgrade their spaces.

66. Improve storage Open shelves in kitchens are now “a thing”. These open shelves are great for storing and organising your herbs and spice bottles. They’re also great in a decorative sense - you can place flowers or vases on them.

77. Purchase a few accessories Display selected items on open shelves. Use your worktop to host a show of your favourite decorative items.

88. Install extra lighting Task lights aren’t simply decorative. They add functionality and create a nice workspace.

99. Add new backsplash One of the easiest ways to improve the look of your kitchen is to change or add some backsplash. How about protecting your wall with style? Again, there are some great backsplash tiles available in peel-andstick options.

It can be daunting when you think about renovating any space in your home. It’s important that you know what you want to do, and the options available to you. Do extensive research and consult with experts in the field to find the most affordable ways to achieve the outcome that you want.