The kitchen is a multi-utility space. As the busiest room in the house, it must feature a functional design. At the same time, the kitchen is also a social area, so it should be pleasant to the eyes.
The perfect kitchen welcomes guests and lets them stroll around the kitchen counter and chat with each other.
It should be aesthetically pleasing because every family member will visit the kitchen several times daily, maybe more. If your kitchen does not check all these boxes, perhaps it needs a facelift. However, a complete kitchen renovation can be an expensive undertaking. But that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing small, inexpensive improvements to your kitchen.
Small affordable upgrades don’t cost anywhere close to the average kitchen remodel cost. These upgrades work like a cherry on top – they make a big difference. If you are looking for small upgrades with big impact, you have come to the right place. Here is what the experts have for you.
Upgrade #1: Welcome Nature Inside
Add a splash of green to your kitchen with potted plants. They liven up your kitchen and also benefit you with fresh air. You can go with aloe, spider plants, Ficus, philodendron, and other plants with unique benefits.
Fresh herbs make great kitchen plants. You can get small pots of popular herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, mint, cilantro, and more. Every time a recipe asks for a spice, you can pluck a few fresh leaves and add them to the pot. It saves you a trip to the store for herbs and lends your kitchen an aromatic quality.
You can place the planters in any way that works best for your kitchen space. In fact, this is the perfect upgrade for a small kitchen remodel. You can get yourself a hanging garden, countertop garden, vertical herb garden, planters on the window ledge, macrame hanging planters, and so on.
Even if you have greys and browns dominating your kitchen, you can opt for a pop of color with beautiful and useful plants in your kitchen.
Upgrade #2: Paint the Cabinets
Painting the walls of the kitchen might be a time-consuming undertaking. However, you can get a transformative change by painting the cabinetry in your kitchen. Painting the existing cabinets will be cheaper as well.
Paint the cabinets in colors and designs that align with the vibe you are aiming for. For instance, if you want the kitchen to look more spacious, go for light-colored cabinets. If you want a more welcoming and warmer kitchen, opt for wooden cabinets.
Irrespective of how you refresh your cabinets, make sure that the cabinets get a clean and professional finish. For a smooth look, your contractor must take the time to strip the cabinets, sand off the previous color, and cover them with a new coat of paint.
If you have any painting experience, go for a DIY upgrade. Otherwise, it would be smarter to discuss your small kitchen remodel project with kitchen remodel contractors and get a quote.
Upgrade#3: Change the Light Fixtures
If you are planning to change the placement of light fixtures, you will need the help of an electrician. However, if you only need to switch to different light fixtures, you can comfortably do it yourself too.
Many lighting options are available to you – island lighting, pendant lighting, ceiling lighting, chandeliers, under-cabinet lighting, track lighting, recessed lighting, and more. These lighting options come in various colors, styles, and finishes.
Extra light fixtures will brighten dark corners and add a new dimension to your kitchen. Lighting plays a vital role in a small kitchen remodel. The right lighting creates an illusion of openness and space.
Upgrade#4: Change the Faucets
Upgrading your kitchen’s faucet can instantly transform your kitchen. When redesigning a kitchen, you must pay attention to the humble faucet. And there is so much you can do with faucets today.
Pull-down faucets are an all-time favorite. Their arched design is a hit among homeowners, and their extendable spray ensures that you can get a stream of water to every part of the sink. Wall-mounted faucets are also making a comeback. Then there are smart faucets. Smart faucets help you monitor water usage, set the water temperature, and operate with voice commands. You can start and stop a faucet without ever touching it. If smart faucets are blowing up your kitchen remodel cost, you can enjoy similar benefits with touchless faucets. You can open and close the faucet with just a hand wave.
Depending on your taste and kitchen renovation budget constraints, you can pick from the trending polished copper faucets, fixtures with mixed metal finish, or ultra-modern matte faucets. Each faucet finish will add to the appeal of your kitchen and give it an interesting character.
Upgrade#5: Include a Prep Area
When transforming your kitchen, divide your kitchen into different zones, such as prepping, cooking, and cleaning zones, with small, nifty ideas. The prepping zone typically needs the most counter space. You can have this zone right next to the kitchen sink.
If your kitchen space allows it, get yourself an island for prepping food. You can invest in building an island for your kitchen. However, you can always find islands with wheels if you intend to save some money. You can also use these islands to store your knives, cutlery, pots, and other kitchen equipment. You can use the sides to hang towels.
You can also assign some space for a trash can to go with the prep space. Since the prep area will generate a lot of trash, like vegetable cuttings, peels, meat trimmings, and so on, it makes sense to have a trash can right next to the prep zone.
Ensure that your prep zone complements the design aesthetics of the rest of the kitchen. Hire professional kitchen remodel contractors to help you build the prep area. You will be impressed to learn how easily you can organize your kitchen with such a small upgrade.
Ready For a Small Upgrade with a Big Impact?
If your kitchen feels a tad too dull, then it’s time to put your thinking hat on. You can take your kitchen to the next level even with a small kitchen remodel budget. All you need is a twist of creativity in your approach. Throw a rug, install a painting, or put up a valance – there is so much you can do with so little that it’s almost unreal.
So, stop overthinking, and take these small upgrade ideas to revitalize your kitchen.
