Are you planning to remodel your kitchen? The kitchen is the heart of your home, but sometimes there is not enough counter space, or the layout is not quite right for you, so it needs upgrading. If you are looking for ideas and inspiration for updating or remodelling your kitchen, we have put this list together for you.
Update Your Backsplash
One of the easiest ways to upgrade your kitchen is to update the backsplash. It is one of the most used parts of the kitchen, and it takes a lot of abuse. No kitchen remodel is complete without a new backsplash, so make sure you give it some attention. When you update your backsplash, you want to ensure that whatever you choose is easy to keep clean and will not be damaged by hot water, grease, or oil. It also needs to be able to handle being near heat in general since it will be behind your stove. You also want to find something that will not easily show spills on it. One excellent and affordable material for a kitchen backsplash is faux stone.
Upgrade Your Kitchen Flooring
The flooring is another part of your kitchen that takes a lot of abuse from you. When renovating your kitchen, replacing your flooring is a good idea. There is no shortage of flooring options out there for your kitchen, but make sure that whatever you choose is low maintenance and easy to keep clean.
Add More Storage
Every kitchen needs more storage space, so when remodelling, think about your current storage space and what more you would like. Consider giving specific spaces to your appliances, even creating little hidden areas behind cupboard doors, like a coffee bar. There are a lot of ways that you can maximize your storage space in the kitchen while keeping counter space clear.
Paint Old Cupboards
If you are not replacing your cupboards but want to change up their look, you can repaint them. You can go with a neutral tone or bright white to give the kitchen a more sophisticated and clean look, or you can give it a bright, cheery look. Have fun picking out your cabinet colors; this is an easy and affordable way to update the look of your kitchen.
Add a Coffee Bar
Coffee bars are becoming a really popular kitchen design option these days, with good reason ” they are convenient for coffee drinkers and can fill in an awkward space. The easiest way to do that is to choose a section of your kitchen that is near the sink and organize all of your coffee-drinking supplies around it.
Give the Kitchen a Focal Point
If your kitchen is long or shaped awkwardly, you can give it a focal point at one end to help keep the eye moving through it, which can help people not notice its flaws as easily. You can have a unique light fixture or window treatment since the light is going to draw the eye. Make sure that the light is in front of the person who is standing at the counter and not pointed straight down at the person's head. This will give them the best lighting and help eliminate shadows.
Add a Kitchen Island
A kitchen island can open up a lot more storage space and prep space, and it can make a kitchen feel more spacious and give it a good focal point. The island does not have to be huge; make sure it is not so oversized that it looks out of place, and try to keep between 36 and 48 inches of space open on all sides of it so that there is enough space for people to walk around it comfortably.
Upgrade Your Appliances
How old is your oven? How about your fridge? If you are unsure, or they have been there for as long as you have owned the house, it is probably time for you to upgrade them. When upgrading, look for more energy-efficient appliances that are ENERGY STAR certified. While this might be a little more expensive, it can be worth it for your energy bills. Plus, if you sell your house later on, it can help improve the resale value.
Brighten Up the Room
You want to be able to see what you are doing in your kitchen, so getting some new, bright lighting in it is a good idea. You can light up your island with a small chandelier or some pendant lights. You also should add lighting under your cabinets and above the sink and stove. If you use your kitchen for dining or entertaining, add recessed lights that are on a dimmer, so you can set the mood for whatever you are doing.
Warm Up the Color
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so giving it some bright or warm color can help foster that warmth and draw people in. You can give the entire kitchen a warm feeling with some cheerful paint colors or only paint a wall or two. Have fun with it.
Try Open Shelving
If you are tired of everything being hidden behind cupboard
doors, you can try to use some open shelving instead. It can make your space
feel a little bit bigger, too, if you have a smaller kitchen. You can also add
some hooks to the bottom shelves to hang up pots and pans, or mugs.
For some smaller open shelves, you can put them in between
windows or in corners to display some of your nicer pieces, like teacups and
pottery or the cookbooks you use a lot.
If you like the idea of open shelving but do not want to have everything out in the open like that, you can change out your cupboard doors for glass ones so you can see everything, but nothing is exposed to the open air.
Update Your Countertops
Another great way to remodel your kitchen is by updating your countertops. You can find a fun new pattern or design; just make sure whatever you choose is durable and easy to keep clean. If you want a modern look, go for stainless steel. A butcher block counter is a unique feature too, but you need to make sure you can maintain them. Quartz and granite are the most popular choices, but you can pick anything.
Upgrade Your Hardware
The hardware in your kitchen has probably been there since you moved in. A quick and easy upgrade for your kitchen is updating all of your hardware. This includes your cupboard and drawer handles, the sink faucet, and light fixtures. Have fun with it; something small like this can give the entire room a new look and feel.
Label Your Shelves
It seems like every time you organize your pantry, it gets messed back up again. When you organize your kitchen and pantry, try labeling your shelves. Both in the pantry and the kitchen itself, this will help you ensure that everything stays where it should be. Not everyone likes this style, but it can be a great organizational tool that gives your kitchen a small, headache-saving update.
Make Your Kitchen Island a Breakfast Bar
Adding a breakfast bar to your kitchen island can be a fun addition when remodeling. All you need to do is add a small overhang to the counter on the island, and you can add some bar stool seating to make it a breakfast bar. For a smaller kitchen, you can make it a swing-out counter, so it is only out when it is in use.
Remodel a Corner into a Breakfast Nook
If there is a corner of your kitchen that you do not really use, why not turn it into a little breakfast nook? You just need some bench seating and a small table to gather around. You can make it cozy by adding some cushions or fluffy pillows. The breakfast nook can also double as storage space by making the bench seating open up to give you more storage.
Add a Piece of Art
While you do not want your kitchen walls to be cluttered with art, picking one or two pieces to draw the eye can transform your space. However, a gallery wall can be a great addition to your kitchen, especially if you have a lot of cooking-related art.
Add a Pantry
Storage is always one of the most important parts of a
kitchen. When you remodel your kitchen, it is a good idea to make sure you have
some good pantry space. Customize it to make it meet your needs and hold all of
your spices and dried goods. You can give it a sliding door or look like a
cabinet. Have fun with it, and make it work with your kitchen's new look. While
you are at it, get matching sets of storage for your pantry so everything is
uniform and fits together well.
