Completely replacing your kitchen from scratch is expensive, and you end up living off sandwiches and takeaways for months. It is easier to try a few basic tricks to make it look refreshed without breaking your budget.
Give it a clean
The first step of your kitchen refurb is not adding anything new. It is just making sure you can fully appreciate what is already there. Rather than just wiping the worktops, ensure every appliance, fixture and fitting is given a scrub. Do not use corrosive cleaners.
Repaint
A quick coat of paint is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to refresh a space. This goes for the walls and ceiling, but could also apply to cupboard doors as part of a kitchen refurb of your units. The right colour can make the kitchen appear lighter, or be a striking statement.
Add some soft furnishings
Cushions, rugs and curtains may not be associated with kitchens like they are with living rooms, but they can still create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in your space. Curtains can also help cover any mess or ugly units.
Add something quirky
Keep a lookout in charity shops and similar for unusual ornaments, distinctive artwork and anything else that could add character to a room. Different colours, textures and periods of history can all be represented.
Update your lighting
Lighting has a big impact on how your kitchen is perceived, regardless of its design. From big overhead lights to spotlights over your worktops, you can combine practicality and style. Lighting choices also impact your energy bills.
Open it up
Replacing cupboards with shelves or just removing the doors can make your kitchen feel more spacious and give you the opportunity to show off your cookbooks and best crockery. The only downside is that it is harder to hide any clutter and mess.
There are lots of ways you can update your kitchen whilst still keeping the basic structure. Some changes to the colour and lighting, a few additional accessories, even just a deep clean, can all make it look almost new.
