Kitchen makeovers really don’t need to be expensive, in fact there are loads of different things that you can do to update your kitchen, even if you are on a budget. From adding a pop of colour to updating your appliances, there’s plenty of options when it comes to giving a room a new look.
No matter if you want to make your kitchen look like a new room, or simply give it a bit of a refresh without spending too much money, these 10 easy and cheap ways to update your kitchen are sure to give you some inspiration.
1. Bring colour to your kitchen cabinets
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If your kitchen has started to look a bit dull over the years and needs a little bit of life breathed back into it, one of the most effective things to do is to bring some colour to your kitchen cabinets. If you have a number of cabinets around your kitchen, you will be amazed at how changing the doors can make the room look completely different, especially if you choose a bold colour.
Alternatively, you might like to remove your kitchen cabinet doors completely and create open shelving units instead. Painting the inside of your cupboards in this instance is great for adding a pop of colour, and adding patterned wallpaper instead of paint can look great too!
If you aren’t keen on showing off what is inside your cupboards at all times, perhaps just remove the doors off of some of them and show off your favourite crockery and pretty recipe books while everything else sits behind closed doors!
2. Or just add something extra
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Should the idea of completely revamping your kitchen cabinets be a little more work than you were planning to put in, you can also make a difference to your kitchen by simply changing the cabinet knobs to something a little more stylish, or out of the ordinary.
Although a vibrant or fun choice is always tempting, make sure that you choose something that won’t age quickly, unless you fancy changing them up quite often which can be done on a small budget.
We think that metallic options, such as silver and copper, work well in kitchens depending on your colour scheme, and these tones tend to be timeless. Plus, as long as you maintain them, they will continue to look great over time. When you decide on a metal option, you will also find that there are plenty of different shapes and sizes to choose from too!
3. Create an accent wall
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Decorating a whole room takes up a lot of time and can be quite expensive, but creating an accent wall will bring character to your kitchen without breaking the bank or using up a lot of your precious free time.
There are a number of different ways to make one wall stand out from the rest, and the simplest option is by painting it. We suggest choosing a colour that is darker or more vibrant than you would usually go for, try not to stick to a tone that it similar to the rest of the room or it won’t have the impact that you are looking for. Be brave!
Alternatively, go for wallpaper instead. A patterned design will certainly stand out, or just go for a block colour and follow the same rules about choosing a tone as you would if you were painting it. We also like the idea of a blackboard paint wall where you can write your to-do-lists or favourite recipes, or let the kids decorate it to make it truly unique!
4. Personalise the walls
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If decorating a whole wall seems like a big change, you can personalise a wall, or all of the walls, instead. A giant clock is not only practical but also looks eye-catching, or a large mirror will reflect light around the room making it appear larger and brighter, especially when it is hung opposite a window.
For an artier feel, hang a painting or print that you love on the wall, or a collection of them to really make a statement. The same can also be done with your favourite photos, and these look particularly stylish when they are hung in block frames of varying sizes.
5. Let there be light
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Nothing gives a room a new lease of life like good lighting, and making sure that you have plenty of light in your kitchen will make it a warm and welcoming place to spend time in. Not only do you want to make sure that you can see what you’re doing when preparing food, but you can also use light fixtures as decorations which will update the look of your kitchen.
Pendant lights are particularly popular, especially when hung over a dining table, and adding strip lights under your cupboards will provide extra light where you need it but won’t clutter your work surfaces. You might also like to change your light switches and plug sockets to modern chrome or classic copper if they aren’t currently adding anything special to your kitchen.
6. Colourful appliances
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Small kitchen appliances, such as kettles, toasters, and microwaves, can be purchased in almost any colour these days, so updating yours so that they brighten up your kitchen is a great way to make the whole room feel different.
We still believe in function over fashion though, so make sure that when you do buy new small appliances that they have good reviews. It doesn’t matter how pretty your kettle looks if it takes forever to boil – no-one wants to be waiting ages for their morning cuppa!
7. Make your fridge funky
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Just like with small appliances, your larger appliances can be bought in a whole range of colours now too, although these can be expensive. If you don’t have the cash to splash out on a new fridge, you can update and personalise yours to make it a feature in your kitchen.
Magnets are the most obvious place to start, and although they might have a bad reputation there are some nice designs out there that will add something different to the room. You can even have them printed with your own images so that you can have some of your favourite memories to look at every time you go to get the milk.
Alternatively, magnetic to-do-lists can be handy as you’ll never lose them, or perhaps just attach your notes and reminders using tiny coloured magnets that you can barely see. This way you can just remove them from the fridge when the task has been completed.
8. Update your windows
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Nothing finishes off a room like a new pair of drapes or a new blind, so updating your windows by purchasing a new window dressing is a great way to make your whole kitchen look different. If your window is by the sink, make sure that you choose material that will survive the odd splashing, or select a blind that can simply be rolled up when it’s time to wash-up.
Should a new blind or drapes be a bit over budget, update your window by adding a herb garden instead. Not only will this look lovely, it will be handy when you’re cooking too, and may even encourage you to try something new!
9. Add a backsplash
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Adding a backsplash behind your oven will not only bring a new colour into your kitchen, but will help you to keep the wall clean too! Tiles are the best option for a backsplash as you can get lots of different shapes and colours, and they wipe clean very easily. Don’t fancy trying your hand at grouting? You can get sticky tiles where you just peel off the backs which are far simpler to use.
Alternatively, glossy paint can work well as a backsplash if you want something a bit different to tiles, just make sure that you choose one that is suitable before you start flicking your cooking at it!
10. Refresh your dining table
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If you have a dining table in your kitchen, refreshing this can help to overhaul the whole room, and buying one if you don’t already have one can certainly do the same thing!
For an existing kitchen dining table, try changing the chair cushions to add some colour, lay down a new tablecloth or table runner to add a bit of texture, or set out placemats in a design or colour that complements the rest of your kitchen.
We suggest finishing the look with a small vase of flowers in the centre of the table, as these are guaranteed to make your kitchen look fresh and welcoming.
We hope that these 10 easy and cheap ways to update your kitchen have helped to inspire your own kitchen makeovers, and be confident that you can make great changes to the rooms in your home no matter how much money you have to spend, or how little DIY experience you have!
Professional repairs you can rely on
A kitchen upgrade can transform your lifestyle, but the process might not always be plain sailing. Our professional team of Home Experts are here to help you should you need any repairs to items in your kitchen such as pipes, drains, sinks and more.