Spring is the perfect time to refresh your kitchen, as it is the season of new beginnings and flourishing nature. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be challenging, but doing it will help you feel better and welcome a new month with an organised, efficient kitchen.
But besides cleaning, you might want to change the room here and there, which could lead to a remodelling project. Whether you need to fix appliances or repaint the walls, small improvements around the kitchen can have a big impact on your well-being. However, it may seem daunting to redesign the kitchen amid these rising prices. Are there ways to remodel the kitchen on a budget? Let’s find out.
Declutter the Kitchen of Things That Don’t Belong in It
Clutter is one of the main reasons some kitchens feel simply unwelcoming. Having too many items, utensils, and still keeping broken appliances will get in the way of organising the kitchen, no matter how many times you clean it. Cheap kitchens can look amazing if well-organised, so here’s what you should check out for a purge session:
- Coffee mugs that are stacked one on top of another;
- Items from take-out dinners, such as eating utensils and condiments;
- Cookbooks you haven’t used in a while, or you received as gifts;
- Kitchen towels that are past their prime;
- Anything that has expired, even if it’s stored in unopened bags;
Many of these things can be donated or sold if they’re in good condition, so place them in a special box for later sorting. Sometimes, less is more, and having fewer cookware items or cookbooks won’t affect your ability to cook (trust us). Anything in excess will just pile up in the drawers or surfaces and will remain there, untouched.
Paint the Walls and Cabinets in a Nice-Looking Colour Scheme
The power of colour is often underestimated in a room like the kitchen, but you can transform it entirely by choosing an appropriate colour scheme. This technique can emphasize certain parts of the room while making it more interesting, since one single tone can tire the eye (especially in all-white kitchens).
Those who want a brighter and sunnier kitchen can try:
- Pink cabinets and warm white on the walls;
- Burnt orange for the backsplash and cream cabinetry;
- Yellow walls with blue cabinets (both in less electrifying tones);
On the other hand, a bolder kitchen would look like:
- Green cabinetry, brown wallets, and white accents;
- Grey walls, purple cabinetry, and white decorations;
- Blue units, green accents (backsplash), and warm wood tones from the cabinetry;
Upgrade the Lighting Fixtures With Vintage Findings
The lighting fixtures may seem like a detail you can overlook, but they can blend into the design and enhance it when paired with vintage items you can find on online or offline marketplaces. Don’t be afraid of materials like brass; you can polish them properly and incorporate them into the kitchen with a few YouTube tutorials and a lot of will.
Along with new fixtures, you may consider improving lighting, which will make the kitchen feel more welcoming while highlighting certain areas. This technique is called layered lighting and includes three different use cases:
- Task lighting is leveraged on work areas, such as the countertop, the sink, and the stovetop, where you can install under-cabinet or pendant lights;
- Ambient lighting provides the general illumination, but to make it comfortable, you could install chandeliers or ceiling-mounted fixtures;
- Accent lighting is used for enhancing features that add visual interest in the kitchen, such as artwork or a flower vase;
Add Artworks From Where You Can Find Them
While the kitchen may not seem like the best place to display artwork, it’s actually a great room for showcasing your friend’s art or a piece you found at a thrift store. That’s because the room might look dull with only cooking utensils, but hanging some obscure art or a portrait of a cat can definitely spark some interesting conversations.
The trick is to avoid overcrowding the walls or surfaces with pieces, since this can make the kitchen look cluttered, which is exactly what you don’t want from a newly improved kitchen. Still, there are many things you can use as decorations, from cookbooks to framed recipe cards.
Avoid cluttering the counters with decorations or items; leaving some space can create a sense of cleanliness. However, you can add a bit of greenery to make the kitchen look more natural and improve air quality and humidity in the room.
Opt for Closed Storage Rather Than Open Shelving
The decision between open shelving and closed storage can be controversial, but when you want to make the kitchen less visually busy, preferring closed storage is always best. On the other hand, open shelving is great for showcasing decorations, plants, or special silverware, but it shouldn’t cover every wall. One or two shelves can be enough for placing artwork.
Closed storage can be more efficient for better organisation, but if you’re easily forgetful, installing opaque glass doors for the cabinets can be helpful. There’s a wide range of kitchen replacement doors available if you want to upgrade your cabinets, so you’ll have no issue finding the right ones for your kitchen. However, make sure you don’t use closed shelving as a way to throw everything in and just close the door, as this goes against any tip on kitchen organisation.
The idea is to make the kitchen look cleaner when you enter, but when you use things, put them back right away to avoid clutter. This is one habit you can work on if you’re struggling to keep things organised, as it will help you clean the kitchen with less effort in the long term.
What Do You Think About These Tips?
Remodelling the kitchen on a budget may seem difficult, but it breaks down into simple tasks: keep the kitchen organised and change the scenery. With a bit of paint, you can choose a colour scheme that’s welcoming and not tiring to the eye, and link it with new lighting fixtures. Adding decorations and plants can definitely spruce up the room, but keeping it neat at all times is the best advice for a nice kitchen.
