Home Restoration Experts

A Kitchen Makeover On A Shoestring Budget

If your kitchen is showing its age and you want to have it redone, you probably realize that a project of this type is quite expensive. If your budget cannot handle that extra expense at this point, you can still give your kitchen a bright, updated look without breaking the bank.

Pick out and install new hardware for your kitchen cabinets. This small, seemingly insignificant change can do wonders to add a modern touch to your kitchen. Visit any home improvement store to find an endless array of choices from which to choose.

If you have a wooden floor in your kitchen and you can’t or don’t want to have it refinished, try painting it. A coat of paint can give your kitchen floor a clean, old fashioned look that is homey and cozy.

Revamp the look of your kitchen by changing the linens. New curtains, tablecloths and tea towels in a new and different theme can make your kitchen look brand new. Choose a theme you love and that has meaning for your family. Use a playful theme if you have young children, or try a sophisticated or country theme if your family members are older.

Chances are that your cabinets are still sturdy enough to hold your dishes and cookware, but the finish may appear shabby, worn and scratched. Changing your cabinets is a major undertaking and costs quite a bit of money, but as long as the cabinets are still in usable condition, you can spruce up the outsides by having them refinished or painted. You can even do the job yourself!

While you are working on those cabinets, consider removing one of the cabinet doors to create an area in which to display some of your decorative pieces. Pitchers, fancy platters and decorative bowls are a few items that you can display in this area.

If your kitchen sink is stained and scratched and the finish is gone, you might want to consider changing the sink. While you may need the services of a plumber, a sink carries a relatively inexpensive price tag and is fairly easy to change. While you are at it, treat yourself to a brand new faucet. Even if you decide not to change the sink, a new faucet can help spruce up your kitchen, especially if you have already changed the cabinet hardware.

Because so much cooking and eating takes place in the kitchen, the walls may show splatters and stains. A quick coat of paint can help cover those unsightly marks and give your kitchen and fresh, clean look.

If your kitchen tends to be dark, you may want to consider upgrading the lighting. New, overhead fluorescent lights can help illuminate your kitchen, and installing under counter lighting can provide light where you need it most when you are preparing food. A pretty light fixture hanging over your kitchen table adds the finishing touch to the lighting project.

As you can see, there is no need to spend a fortune to help your tired kitchen spring back to life. Simple, inexpensive upgrades can work to turn your kitchen from a dark, worn room that shows its age to a fresh, modern space in which you won’t mind spending time preparing meals and an area where your family can share many happy meals and memories.

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