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Save money — and a headache — with Romana King’s fun ideas.
Anew kitchen is amazing. It’s clean. It’s new. It’s shiny. And it’s costly. Plus, getting a newly renovated kitchen often requires a lot of upheaval — both physically and financially.
Instead of undertaking a massive kitchen reno project — and the $20,000-plus price tag that comes with it — consider these relatively simple updates.
Cue the hue: One of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to update your kitchen is to paint the walls. In large kitchens or kitchens with brighter cabinets and countertops, choose bold, darker colours to help create an eye-popping contrast. Or, go with light, bright colours such as soft whites or yellows to liven up even the smallest kitchen.
Remember, you don’t have to paint the entire room to achieve a remodelled look. Painting one accent wall to revamp the space can create a distinctive look at a significantly lower cost than painting the entire kitchen.
Reorganize your space: One of the cheapest and best ways to renew the look of your kitchen is to reorganize the space. Start by reclassifying what you own and
use. Group like items — tableware, saucepans, small kitchen appliances. Then look at how each group is stored. Are these items accessible?
Chances are you’ll notice a hodgepodge kitchen storage system is at work. Install shelves (cheaper option) or custom cabinet inserts (more expensive option) to sort out the mess and make the space more practical.
Shelves are ideal for housing items that clutter up your countertops, plus they can be used as attractive ways to display your kitchen gadgets, cookbooks and crockery.
For cabinets, consider ways to make the space more useful. For instance, after-market corner cabinet installation kits let you store more and access these items better. Just make sure you measure your cabinets carefully before purchasing a cabinet or drawer system.
Update the countertop: If you want to change the entire tone of your kitchen without spending too much, consider replacing your countertops. Whether you swap out the same material for a different colour or upgrade to more sought after materials, such as granite or quartz, a new countertop can change the look and feel of the room. If you have darker cabinets, consider a lighter counter to add contrast and brighten up the room. If your kitchen is on the smaller side, keep both cabinets and counter light and add contrast with hardware and accessories.
For more expensive materials, such as marble, expect to pay $125 to $250 per square foot, while granite or quartz can be installed at $65 to $185 a square foot, if you shop aggressively. Although out of favour, laminate starting at $15 per square foot
is the most cost-effective.
Spice up your view: Refresh your space by bringing in pattern and/ or colour using new window treatments. For example, a red Roman blind offers a bright, colourful contrast to a beige and white kitchen palette.
If you’re worried about grease and dust, hardier materials such as venetian blinds or roller blinds are made from wipe-clean materials.
Also, don’t limit yourself to fabric-window treatments. You can incorporate plants, recycled metal screens, even old wooden shutters into your window design to create unique, one-of-a-kind views.
Add some pull with new hardware:
For a few hundred (or a few thousand) you can turn drab cabinets into unique statement pieces just by adding new cabinet hardware. To prevent disappointment, remember to examine the old handles to determine what marks, if any, will be left on the cabinets once they are removed. Then find a new hardware selection that will cover the old marks.
For best results, tie in the hardware with a new backsplash. It will give this style of remodel a planned, purposeful look and pull together all the elements of your kitchen.