Is your kitchen more like a scullery from the Addams Family than an uber-cool dining experience from Grand Designs? According to the 2017 Kitchen Trends Survey from Houzz, we spend an average of £10,000 to £25,000 on kitchen renovations, with nearly one in ten households spending more than £75,000. As home renovations go, fitting a new kitchen is not only costly but also very disruptive and stressful. If you’re desperate to give your ageing kitchen a facelift, but haven’t the funds, time or energy for a complete refit, then there are some changes you can implement that will immediately make a dramatic difference.
Here’s our top 10 list to help you keep your kitchen on trend:
- Replace the worktops
Old, marked and stained worktops really bring a kitchen down. So for an instant facelift, consider replacing your worktops. There are a number of options available depending on your budget – from relatively inexpensive laminate to more premium quartz worktops that contain a natural iridescence and will instantly lift and brighten a kitchen.
- Paint the cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are simply closed-in shelving for storage, yet they are one of the most expensive items to replace. So rather than go through the hassle and expense of removing old units and replacing them with units of the exact same size, why not strip and repaint your old cabinet doors? Not only is this cost-effective, but it will also allow you to always remain on-trend in the fickle world of house design.
- Renew your handles
This is one of the most straightforward and easy updates to implement. New handles are not only cheap but will help to transform and update tired cabinets. Try not to get too personal or gimmicky with your choices – go for classic designs that will appeal to all and suit the style you’re going for.
- Open up cupboards
Replacing cabinet doors with glass-panelled ones will instantly make it look like you’ve done a lot of work. Choose frosted glass if your cupboards aren’t display-worthy. Another option if new doors aren’t available to you is to take the doors off and create open shelving. You can also remove tired and damaged cabinets and replace them with shelving, painting them to match – or contrast with – the existing colour scheme.
- Revise your lighting
Lighting and colour tones can completely transform a room. To update a tired ceiling light, consider replacing it with a pendant light. These are on-trend and give the room a more homely feel. To help zone the lighting in your room, install under cabinet lights, using cool or warm tones to instantly change the feel of the space. Installing lighting underneath counters and breakfast bars is another fantastic way to add a beautiful feature to your kitchen. This needn’t involve any rewiring; you can easily install strips of colour-changing LEDs, providing mood lighting in an otherwise simply functional area.
- Paint a feature wall
This trend sees no signs of abating and is a really quick and easy way to refresh an old, tired colour scheme. Paint the accent wall a couple of shades darker than the rest of the kitchen to create an interesting focal point.
- Refresh window dressings
Rip out those old chintz blinds and let some light in. If you do need window coverings for privacy, update old curtains with roman blinds, or wooden blinds and shutters that can easily be wiped down with soapy water. There are also blinds that can be raised up from the bottom, allowing you to not only be screened from prying eyes but also control the amount of natural light entering the room.
- Update your accessories
Look at your counter tops and shelving – could your accessories and storage do with updating? This is a simple, straightforward and inexpensive fix and will spur you on to finally have that sort out you’ve been planning but not got around to!
- Think about your colour scheme.
While a bright red fridge may be too much for most kitchens, if you want to add a pop of colour, then go for bright, matching appliances. Instead of that cherry red fridge, think about purchasing a matching kettle, toaster and food mixer.
- Upgrade your sink
Sinks are a central focal point in a kitchen but over time can become dull and stained as well as make the kitchen look dated. So a neat way to give your kitchen a fresh feel is to simply replace your sink. To be on trend why not update your stainless steel one for a bright, white ceramic sink? If your sink area could do with some TLC, but you’re not prepared to replace the whole sink, then consider just replacing the taps. Depending on the type of tap you want to install, you can generally do this work without the help of the plumber.
So if you’re looking at your kitchen with despondency rather than adoration, don’t despair. Whether it’s time or the budget that’s constrained, hopefully these ideas will help inspire you to start that upgrade.