Small Projects To Upgrade Your Kitchen

You’ve probably heard that the kitchen is considered the heart of a home right? As a homeowner, you spend a lot of time in your kitchen both preparing meals and spending quality time with loved ones, and can understand why the kitchen is such a special place in a home. 

You dream of having an updated kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances and fresh features throughout the room that both brighten up the space and provide functionality. But you also know as a homeowner that gutting an entire kitchen comes with a very steep price tag. 

This is where small projects over time are an excellent option to provide the upgrades you are hoping for without completely draining your hard-earned savings. Focus on a few small projects at a time, and eventually, you will end up with the kitchen you have been dreaming about. 

Update the Backsplash First 

The beauty about updating the backsplash as your first project in your kitchen is that it will feel as if you accomplished a lot simply by how different the kitchen will appear once you finish the project. There are a variety of beautiful backsplash options available for materials and designs, so take some time to find the style and pattern you enjoy looking at the most. 

Designers have gotten creative over the years with backsplash options and some now use the backsplash to tile an entire wall in the kitchen as an accent wall. Another route is that instead of using the standard backsplash installation between the bottom of the cabinets and the top of the counter, many homeowners are branching out to try new options. One popular option is to do two different rows of backsplash and add floating shelves in between the rows. 

Updating your backsplash can add both color and style to your kitchen to give it a new, crisp look. Although it is possible to install the backsplash yourself, it is worth investing in a kitchen renovation professional to ensure it will be installed correctly. The contractor can also help you decide where to install the backsplash around the kitchen and the different materials and options available on the market. 

New Appliances Bring Updated Style and Functionality 

If you love to cook, you know how much of a difference an appliance can make in the success of the food you are preparing. An old and finicky oven can make the cooking that you love to do feel like more of a hassle as you work to find the just-right temperature with your outdated stove. Having new appliances installed can be a game-changer for a minor yet impactful kitchen upgrade.

There are a lot of excellent kitchen appliance upgrades available. The pros recommend trying and stick with one brand throughout the kitchen as that tends to help resale value when the time comes to sell. It is also worth investing in a contractor to come to install the appliance as they can ensure that the electrical wiring is done safely and correctly. 

Paint the Cabinets and Change the Hardware

If your kitchen came with builder-grade cabinets and you have been hesitant to change them, fear no more, painting cabinets is not as hard as it may seem. Many homeowners hesitate to take on the project of cabinet painting. But there is no reason to hesitate, as all you need is a drill, some paint, and some time to get the project done. 

Depending on your style, the first step is to choose a paint color. It is worth taking the time to purchase a few samples and test out the colors you like. Paint colors can look different at different times of the day, so take a few days to make sure you like the color before purchasing your first gallon.  

White has become a popular option for cabinets as it makes the kitchen feel brighter and fresh, but remember to choose the color you like the most since you will be the one seeing it every day. 

Once you have chosen the color, selecting the hardware comes next. Your local hardware store will have a variety of options to choose from. Again, it is worth taking a few options home to see how they look in your kitchen. 

After choosing the color and hardware, the time-consuming part begins. You need to draw a map of your kitchen and label the cabinets to make sure they are placed back in the correct spot. Only take a few cabinets off at a time unless you have a large area to let them dry. Remember to sand the cabinets before painting. 

On average, it takes a week to finish painting kitchen cabinets and install new hardware. But it will be worth the time and energy once your kitchen feels fresh and new thanks to a few coats of paint and some elbow grease. 

Brighten Up the Room by Switching Out Light Fixtures 

When it comes to kitchen updates, light fixtures sometimes are overlooked for bigger changes like cabinets and countertops. But changing the lighting in your kitchen can change the entire ambiance of the room. 

Not only can the actual lighting itself change the room by installing a fixture with more lightbulb outlets or updating an outdated fluorescent light, but the style of the new fixture helps set the tone for the feel of the kitchen. 

Your Updated Kitchen

Although the kitchen is only one of many rooms in a home, it tends to be one of the most important simply because of the time spent eating meals together and making memories. A room's colors and textures can increase your mood as you spend time in it. 

It is important to have the colors and textures that make you feel calm and relaxed as you cook and spend time with family and friends. Tackling a few small projects over time will lead to an upgraded kitchen that you will be able to share with those you love.