The kitchen is referred to as the “heart of the home,” and the “gathering place” for good reason. It’s one of the rooms in your home that sees the most activity. If you’re looking around your kitchen and feel like it needs something to bring it back to life, you’re not alone. The kitchen is an oft-remodeled room, and with good reason. According to Realty Times, the condition of the kitchen impacts the overall appearance of your home, and can be the make-it or break-it feature when it comes to selling. In fact, US News and World Report says approximately 66 percent of the money put into updating your kitchen will be recouped if you do ever decide to sell.
Even if you have no intention of selling, updating your kitchen is the fastest way to change the vibe of your home. Remodeling on a budget is possible. It’s all about putting your money into the right features.
Paint is the most cost-effective way of making a dramatic change to any room. If you want a color that stimulates hunger, think red. You can paint the entire kitchen a more soothing tone and use red accents if you’d like, or simply paint the entire room red. According to ThinkQuest, the color red triggers the pituitary and adrenal glands, and may stimulate the sense of smell and appetite.
No matter what color you choose, make sure you purchase a scrubbable paint finish, so messes can easily be washed off the walls.
Hardware
Another inexpensive way to update the look of your kitchen is to add new hardware to the cabinets and drawers. You’ll be surprised by how much this little change helps set the tone of the room. For example, if your old hardware was ornate, new clean lines can modernize the room.
Window Treatments
Think of window treatments as the personality of the room. It’s easy to spot a country kitchen by a set of gingham curtains, whereas a simple blind can accentuate an industrial kitchen. The roller shades at justblinds.com have incorporated the many different styles of kitchen decor into their shades and blinds, making it easy for you to choose one that speaks to the overall mood of your kitchen.
While curtains were once a nice, flouncy touch, many people found they collected dust and had to be frequently laundered. A roller shade or blind not only addresses the decorative elements of your kitchen, but can also be wiped down when needed for ease of cleaning.
Lighting
Switching out old tired kitchen lights for something new and exciting will give your kitchen an automatic face lift, suggests Better Homes and Gardens. You may be surprised by the options available online and at your local home improvement store. Unless you’re installing something complicated, replacing a light fixture is normally a task you can take on yourself.
Countertops
If stone countertops are not in your immediate future, take note. Tiles of all types make for a beautiful countertop surface, and you can easily learn to install them yourself. Call your local home improvement store to ask about their classes on tile installation. All that’s left to do is choose a style that works with your overall design scheme.
Floors
Flooring options have never been so wide open or so reasonably priced. If you’ve always wanted tile or hardwood floors but couldn’t afford them, consider one of the new laminates that mimic the look with surprising detail.
