Mouprise.com

Budget Conscious Kitchen Updates

You’ve probably heard over and over again that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. This is mainly because they are the most expensive rooms to renovate due to their more permanent features such as countertops, floors, cabinets, etc. It takes more than a coat of paint to bring an outdated kitchen or bathroom into the present.

But, if your cooking is mediocre, don’t despair; there are a number of things you can do to fix it that won’t leave your cupboards empty!

1. PAINT

I know I said it takes more than a coat of paint to take your kitchen out of the past, but painting isn’t something you can stop doing either. You spend so much time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning that in the end you don’t even notice the walls anymore. Any other changes you make will only draw attention to the surrounding walls, so make them shine again with a new color or even a clean coat of the existing color.

2. CABINET HARDWARE

You’d be surprised how hardware can date a kitchen. Aside from painting, changing cabinet hardware and drawer pulls is the least expensive change you can make, and it packs a punch. Your old cabinets will thank you!

3. CABINET DOORS

If you can’t afford all the new cabinets, you can choose to replace the doors, or even stain or paint the existing ones. This will be one of the most drastic changes you can make and it will be well worth the effort. If you choose to paint, be sure to clean the doors thoroughly and apply a good, high-quality primer before painting.

4. FLOORS

It’s a great project to update your floors if you already have a hard tile floor, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. With pottery as low as $1.25 sq. pie and china for as little as $2.50, there are plenty of options to choose from that won’t break the bank. You just need to get through the work of ripping out the old tiles. If you have sheet vinyl or tile on your floor, you have it a little easier. You can put a new floor right on top of the one you have. For a sleek, contemporary look, consider laminate flooring. It can be cost-effective, requires much less labor than laying tile, and offers a variety of finishes. You can choose a traditional wood look or a natural stone look as shown, such as Hampton Bay Ivory Porcelain (available at Home Depot).

5. COUNTERTOPS

Another permanent fixture in the kitchen, countertops can put the brakes on a money-conscious upgrade. But, you don’t necessarily have to replace them; If you update your cabinets and hardware, redo your flooring, and choose colors and finishes to complement your counter, you can often leave it as it is. If you’re crying out for a makeover, you don’t have to go overboard with granite or natural stone. There are laminate manufacturers that offer some really compelling granite and stone color options. I like them with a gloss finish because it has that authentic polished look. If laminate isn’t quite in your budget, then you can be brave and purchase a finishing kit, such as the Beauti-Tone Countertop Finishing Kit (available from Home Hardware) or the Beauti-Tone Granite Paint Finishing Kit. Gianni (Available online and at various retailers. Giani’s kit is very reasonably priced but does require some artistic skill, so if you choose this option be sure to use the provided practice sheet to ensure you get the look you want. But, if done right, this kit is quite nice.

Applying all or even some of these changes will transform your kitchen enough to make it a selling feature of your home rather than an inconvenience. And, if you’re not planning to sell your home, you can enjoy it alone!