If you went through the winter holidays cursing your kitchen, maybe it’s time to decide, once and for all, to do something about it. Especially if you don’t plan on selling anytime soon, at least make it more pleasant to work in.
Don’t worry about this costing a fortune, because we’ve tried to stick to changes that will be impressive, yet cost little and you can do them yourself.
What color is your kitchen?
A fresh coat of paint works wonders in every room of the house, but in the kitchen, it can make even the appliances feel newer than they are.
If you think you’ll be selling the home this year or next, use a neutral shade and work with the natural lighting in your home.
For example, light colors with cool tones work best when there isn’t a lot of light coming in through the windows. You can get away with warmer tones when there is more natural light.
To get a better handle on warm and cool paint tones, check out the guide at paintzen.com.
Still not sure about the color you want? Take a look at this tool from Sherwin-Williams. This “color visualizer” will make the choice more fun and allow you to visualize your finished work.
Kitchen cabinets
You can easily update the style of your kitchen with new drawer pulls and knobs. The selection of kitchen cabinet hardware you’ll find online and in brick and mortar home improvement stores is amazing. To get you started, check out:
If you have a little more money to spend, consider new cabinet facings. This allows you to transform the appearance of your cabinets without replacing the entire cabinet.
Get kitchen cabinet refacing project tips at This Old House.
Finally, consider repainting your kitchen cabinets. Although it’s a time-consuming project (unless you have help), it’s not difficult and it will freshen up your kitchen.
You’ll find walkthroughs online at:
Prefer a video tutorial? Check out this list at YouTube.com.
Kitchen countertops
Hate your Formica (laminate) countertops but not blessed with the money it will cost to install new granite or quartz?
Resurface them. It’s one of the most popular DIY kitchen projects and, yes, it’s time consuming, but an easy job for the DIYer.
Several companies manufacture countertop refinishing kits in a number of finishes, from faux granite to cement to merely painted. Take a look at what’s on offer at:
- HandyLandlord shows you how to paint Formica countertops
- Fix-it Home Improvement Channel walks you through using paint with flecks in it.
- Daich Coatings Corporation offers an entire kit of everything you need to resurface a laminate countertop to resemble granite and other stone surfaces.
- Rust-Oleum offers a similar product, CountertopTransformation
Kitchen lighting
Light fixtures often don’t get the attention they deserve. But new lights can make an extreme difference in your kitchen.
If you have the budget to replace your fixtures, aim to do all of them at once. If not, a single fixture will work. If the kitchen lacks task lighting, such as over the counters or stove, start there.
Never underestimate the power of your finishing touches. Splurge on new kitchen rugs, curtains and linens. A little imagination is all that’s needed to revamp your kitchen on a budget.
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