The kitchen is probably the most important room in any home—it’s where everyone gathers for meals and conversation. It should be no surprise then that upgrades to the kitchen add the most value to a home.
A full kitchen remodeling job can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Luckily, there are some easy ways to spruce up or makeover a kitchen without spending much money. Spending small amounts in key places can make significant improvements to any kitchen, and today’s post covers a few of our favorite affordable upgrades here at K&A Appliance.
Declutter & Organize Your Kitchen
The first step to upgrading your kitchen is getting rid of clutter. Empty counters of all items or appliances that don’t get used. If a smaller appliance—like a countertop microwave or toaster oven—does get used occasionally, find space in a cabinet or pantry to store it out of view.
To create storage space, start by clearing cabinets, drawers, and pantries of food, dishes, mugs, and other items that have expired or are never used. Donate any items that are still edible or useable to charity and toss the rest.
Organize cabinets and drawers with clear containers, lazy Susan turntables, and drawer dividers. Make sure that items used most frequently are the easiest to reach.
Adding a kitchen island is another way to increase both counter and storage space in a kitchen without breaking the bank. These can be surprisingly affordable to purchase or build.
Change a Kitchen’s Color
Changing the color of your kitchen can have a dramatic impact without breaking the budget. This is particularly true of kitchens that have a somewhat dated color scheme or style. Certain colors can also make small kitchens look larger. A little paint can make a substantial difference!
It doesn’t matter how much gets painted—one accent wall or the entire kitchen. Keep in mind that painting cabinetry is also the most inexpensive way to upgrade it, far cheaper than replacing it. Add new hardware to cabinets and drawers as a finishing touch.
Simple Kitchen Decoration
Most people don’t think about decorating their kitchen. However, hanging artwork or ornamental plates on the walls and placing decorative bowls on the counter or a pretty tea kettle on the stove adds splashes of color and style to the room. Another way to update your kitchen’s style is by changing the window treatment. Consider hanging a colorful valence or new blinds for a better and bolder view.
If kitchen floors need to be improved, but the budget can’t be stretched for new flooring, try using area rugs. Rugs can hide flaws, provide accent color, and add dimension to the room.
Light Up a Kitchen
Good lighting in a kitchen is essential for seeing clearly when preparing and eating meals. But lighting is so much more than utilitarian—it also impacts the mood and style of the kitchen. For surprisingly little money, lighting can be added or upgraded. In some cases, adding lights to the kitchen can even be done without hiring an electrician.
Think About the Sink
The sink is the most essential element of the kitchen followed closely by the refrigerator and stove. A great way to upgrade a sink without replacing it is simply to switch out the faucet. Modern faucets come in a variety of styles that are both affordable and easy to install without a plumber.
Least Costly Kitchen Upgrades
Sometimes simple changes can have the biggest impact on updating your kitchen. When budget or time is limited, making a few inexpensive, quick fixes can be a great option.
- Consider changing the outlet and switch covers.
- Instead of painting the cabinets, just change all the hardware and drawer pulls.
Hang floating shelves on the walls and use them to store and display dishes, cookbooks, or other interesting items. These shelves are also great for holding houseplants, which not only add color but also clean the air.
When to Upgrade Appliances
When remodeling or upgrading your kitchen on a budget, replacing all the appliances at once may not be feasible. Instead, take time to rate existing appliances based on their age, energy efficiency, appearance, and reliability to create a phased approach to upgrading. Make a kitchen upgrade plan that identifies the order in which appliances will need to be replaced.
Instead of shopping for new appliances at big box stores, consider shopping scratch and dent stores like ours here at K&A Appliance and shopping during the season when the desired appliance is usually on sale. New models of appliances get released at certain times of the year, and that is when last year’s models go on sale. Shopping during those times will ensure the best prices.
When upgrading your kitchen on a budget, remember that the entire kitchen doesn’t have to be remodeled all at once, as we talked about in our last blog post. Changes can happen over time. Small upgrades in color scheme, decoration, and organization can be transformative.
Start Your Kitchen Upgrade Project with Us and Save
When the time is right to shop for new kitchen appliances, visit K & A Appliances for the best selection of new, scratch and dent appliances to fit every budget.