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If you’re anything like the average homeowner, you spend an awful lot of time in your kitchen. Kitchen renovations are without a doubt one of the most popular home improvement projects today and the fact that they typically yield a positive return on investment for the homeowner doesn’t hurt one bit. But for the average homeowner a huge kitchen renovation or remodel just isn’t in the books since spending tens of thousands of dollars is no longer in the budget of many households. For those homeowners who would still like give their kitchen a modest makeover without breaking the bank we offer the following suggestions.
Repair or Refinish
One of the easiest things for a homeowner to do to update/ change the look of a kitchen is to pick up a paint brush and change the color of paint on the walls. The great thing about painting is that it’s can virtually be done by any homeowner even if they don’t have a ton of experience in the home improvement do-it-yourself category. If you do decide to change the paint on your kitchen walls, remember to keep the leftover paint, mark it with paint on the outside of the can and store it. This way whenever you have to do a minor repair on your walls you won’t have to run to the nearest home improvement store and custom-match your paint.
Another great idea for a kitchen makeover on a budget is to refinish the cabinetry in your kitchen. Replacing your kitchen cabinetry will run in the thousands but simply sanding and refinishing or staining your existing cabinetry will produce nearly the same result at only a fraction of the cost. For more details and instructions on how on how to reface your kitchen cabinets check out this video on YouTube. For best results you’ll want to sand down your existing cabinetry before applying the new coat of paint or stain.
Along with refacing your kitchen cabinets, it’s also a good idea to consider adding or changing out the existing hardware. Your local home improvement store has a ton of choices when it comes to choosing drawer pulls and cabinet hardware. New hardware/pulls can really change the look of your kitchen and you can also choose hardware that matches your existing appliances. In addition to hardware, if you have any drawers or doors that aren’t operating properly you should also be able to find suitable replacements at your local home improvement store.
One last option in this category that most homeowners don’t think about is painting their appliances. New appliances will cost a small fortune but painting your existing appliances will give them a completely new look and, again, at a fraction of the cost. For an extra cool look, coordinate the new color of your appliances with the new colors on your walls, cabinetry and hardware.
Maximize Your Space
Before you start doing anything in your kitchen, it’s a good idea to “de-clutter” your kitchen. What does that mean? Basically it means get rid of anything that you don’t need because a cluttered kitchen is a stressful kitchen. Once you’ve de-cluttered your kitchen you’re ready to maximize your kitchens storage capacity.
While you’re at the home improvement store you’ll also want to check out what options they have for kitchen storage and organization. You’ll be amazed at how many different widgets they have that hang inside your doors or inside your cabinets and how effective they are at increasing your storage capacity. How will this make your kitchen look better? You’ll have less clutter on your countertops and it will be tucked away in your cabinets where it belongs making you stress less and improving the look of your kitchen.
And finally let’s talk about flooring. Today there are numerous vinyl flooring options that are inexpensive yet look like they would cost a bundle! The great thing about “press-and-stick” vinyl tiles is that they’re easy to install and vinyl is actually a great material to use as flooring in your kitchen. If you haven’t looked at vinyl flooring options recently, you’ll definitely want to see what’s available today as the look is high-end but without the high-end cost. If your budget won’t permit a new floor, you might want to consider having your existing floors professionally cleaned to bring some new if to your old floors.
Kitchen remodeling projects can be a ton of fun but unfortunately they can also be quite costly. The tips above offer some great suggestions on how you can change the look of your kitchen on a shoestring budget. If you’re considering a kitchen makeover or renovation, check out the following article: Kitchen Renovation Considerations.
Picture – Nola Clutter Busters
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