Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of a home. As such, making your kitchen beautiful needs to be a top priority. Believe it or not, this does not need to be an expensive or difficult proposition. Take a look at the following tips that can change your kitchen from dreary to dreamy!
1. Be bold and use more than one stain on kitchen cabinets. When you look at designer kitchens in magazines, you will often see a lighter stain on top cabinets and a much darker stain on the lower ones. You can also add a third stain between the two for drawers.
2. Completely change the cabinet doors. Most people consider paint or stain, but what about fabric or tin? Cut out the center of some of your cabinet doors, leaving a frame. Inside the frame you can staple any fabric to add pizzazz to your kitchen. If you want an old timey country look, you can replace the fabric with tin. To really jazz up this look, punch holes in the tin in a simple Pennsylvania Dutch pattern. The best thing about this update is that you can change the centers easily. In fact, some people have different inserts for the seasons and holidays!
3. Another way to change the cabinet door is incorporate glass etchings as the center panel. Although a bit more expensive than fabric, this simple change can lighten up a kitchen and give it a whole new look.
4. Eliminate the doors altogether. A great way to create some storage space in your kitchen is to take off the cabinet doors and put in glass shelving. This now becomes the spot to display your china, glassware, or other items.
5. Change the hardware. Creating a whole new look can be as easy as changing the knobs and pulls on your cabinets. Nowadays, knobs and handles come in every size, shape, and color imaginable.
6. Paint the room, but not with a paint roller! Try one of the newer techniques like sponging or stenciling to give your room an added flair.
7. Add a border, but don’t be conservative about it. Instead of adding a border at the ceiling, try adding a border at your waist level, at chair level, or even at eye level!
8. If the walls need a change, consider adding wallpaper instead of paint. Lively wallpaper can make a bold statement in a kitchen.
9. Update the backsplash. This can be done with a bit of tile, a new coat of paint, wallpaper, or even beadboard.
10. Don’t forget the windows! Something as simple as changing the window treatments can make your kitchen look completely different. Be sure to create window treatments that go with your style. For instance, ruffles and pull back ties look great with a country kitchen, while a sleek valiance will look better with a modern one.
11. Add a pot rack over an island. This is a great way to save space in a small kitchen while adding an interesting focal point.
12. Add a few new accessories. Try a new breadbox or towel rack. Consider adding a collection of something like jars, plates, plants, or even books. All of these add color and spice to your kitchen. You might even consider buying unfinished pieces and painting them yourself to add just the right color or theme.
13. Update your appliances without buying new ones. You can do this by updating the panels to your dishwasher, stove, or refrigerator to match your new color scheme or even your cabinet door color.
14. Change the countertop! Laminate countertops are the cheapest way to make a change. And with laminate tops, you can find every color under the sun. If you have a bit more to spend, you might want to consider solid surface tops, quartz, or granite. Although more expensive, they do last longer and are less likely to be damaged during regular use.
15. Another inexpensive way to make a countertop change is with tile. Tile is especially useful on secondary surfaces and can be used to add spots of color.
Redecorating your kitchen does not have to be difficult, nor does it have to be expensive. Consider any of these ideas or use them as a jumpstart to one of your own. Why accept dreary when you can have dreamy?
Teri B Clark is a professional writer and published author. Her most recent book, 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home NOW and For More Money Than You Thought, explains these tips in more detail and offers many, many others. To learn more about Teri's latest book, visit http://staging-your-home.blogspot.com or sign up for a free newsletter
15 Ways To Update Your Kitchen Cheaply And Easily
