4 ways to revamp your kitchen without spending a fortune
Looking to spruce up your kitchen without splashing out on a full-scale renovation? Here are 4 easy ways to transform your space without breaking the bank.
Often the heart of the home, kitchens are where households come together to cook, eat, socialise, entertain and relax. One way or another, we spend a lot of time in them, so you want yours to be a space you enjoy being in.
If your Pinterest boards are full of visions for your dream kitchen but your budget doesn’t quite match up, fear not. From rethinking colour schemes and creating additional storage to investing in stylish accents and appliances, here are five easy ways to give your kitchen a stylish makeover, without the hassle and expense of a complete remodel.
If your Pinterest boards are full of visions for your dream kitchen but your budget doesn’t quite match up, fear not. From rethinking colour schemes and creating additional storage to investing in stylish accents and appliances, here are five easy ways to give your kitchen a stylish makeover, without the hassle and expense of a complete remodel.
A lick of paint
A fresh coat of paint on the walls can really transform a space, breathing new life into tired decor and making a room feel instantly more inviting.
There are no rules when it comes to choosing paint shades for your walls, as long as they complement your cabinets. White walls are timeless and will make even small spaces feel light and airy, while deep hues like blue-black bring a cosy warmth and can look very elegant. Teaming a neutral base colour on the walls with doors, woodwork or a feature wall painted in a different shade creates contrast and adds a bit of personality to a space.
If you’re happy with the room’s layout and your existing cabinetry is in good working order, repainting it is one of the most impactful ways you can update your kitchen’s look. You don’t even need to stick to the same colour throughout. A two-tone kitchen with dark units under the worktop and lighter wall cabinetry helps give the illusion of space, while using a bolder shade as an accent colour on a short run of cabinets or island will create focal points. You can also buy specialist paint to use on tiles as a temporary fix- so there’s really no need to endure dated decor any longer.
There are no rules when it comes to choosing paint shades for your walls, as long as they complement your cabinets. White walls are timeless and will make even small spaces feel light and airy, while deep hues like blue-black bring a cosy warmth and can look very elegant. Teaming a neutral base colour on the walls with doors, woodwork or a feature wall painted in a different shade creates contrast and adds a bit of personality to a space.
If you’re happy with the room’s layout and your existing cabinetry is in good working order, repainting it is one of the most impactful ways you can update your kitchen’s look. You don’t even need to stick to the same colour throughout. A two-tone kitchen with dark units under the worktop and lighter wall cabinetry helps give the illusion of space, while using a bolder shade as an accent colour on a short run of cabinets or island will create focal points. You can also buy specialist paint to use on tiles as a temporary fix- so there’s really no need to endure dated decor any longer.
Adding storage
Solving any storage woes will transform how you use your kitchen, and how well the space works for you. Even small kitchens can become clutter-free when you think creatively about how to maximise your existing storage options.
Adding drawer dividers, shelf risers and tiered plate racks will instantly create extra space, while using baskets and caddies on your worktop or underneath your sink will ensure everything has its place. A butcher’s block is another really useful, multifunctional bit of kit. Giving you an additional worktop with either drawers, cupboard or shelf space underneath- sometimes even a wine rack, they are often mounted on wheels so you can move them around to where they’re needed, and then tuck them out of the way when they’re not in use.
And don’t forget about using your walls. Open shelving, hanging rails and hooks don't just turn blank walls into extra storage; by using them to display your favourite accessories, utensils and cookbooks they can become a design focal point, too.
Statement appliances
Well-designed, stylish kitchen appliances that you are proud to display on your worktop can revitalise your kitchen, coordinating with other elements and themes or adding dramatic pops of colour and points of interest.
At Kenwood we are passionate about designing innovative products that allow you to cook and create at home everyday with ease - and that look every bit as good as they perform. With a powerful 1000w motor and extensive range of attachments designed to open up a whole world of new culinary possibilities, the kMix stand mixer is not just the perfect kitchen companion. Available in a range of colours and finishes from high luxe metallics to bold and bright red or goes-with-everything cream, it is guaranteed to become a worktop talking point too. There’s even the kMix editions colour collection, in natural tones inspired by the great outdoors that will bring a sense of calm to even the busiest of kitchens.
The Chef Baker stand mixer is another model designed to appeal to the passionate home baker who demands that their tools don’t just produce superior results but complement their kitchen as well. Available in either timeless white or elegant silver, all models in the range offer 1200w of power, soft start speed control, delicate fold function and integrated weighing, while you can change the top cover of the white model (available in either standard or XL sizes) to suit your style or coordinate with other accessories. With a range of different colour PopTops available and new limited edition colours released throughout the year, there has never been an easier way to switch up your kitchen’s look.
Investing in a matching kettle and toaster set is another easy, low-cost way to show your kitchen some love- and brighten up breakfast time. From the eye-catching Mesmerine collection to the classic sophistication of the Elegancy collection, we have a range of breakfast collections to suit every kitchen, whatever your style.
At Kenwood we are passionate about designing innovative products that allow you to cook and create at home everyday with ease - and that look every bit as good as they perform. With a powerful 1000w motor and extensive range of attachments designed to open up a whole world of new culinary possibilities, the kMix stand mixer is not just the perfect kitchen companion. Available in a range of colours and finishes from high luxe metallics to bold and bright red or goes-with-everything cream, it is guaranteed to become a worktop talking point too. There’s even the kMix editions colour collection, in natural tones inspired by the great outdoors that will bring a sense of calm to even the busiest of kitchens.
The Chef Baker stand mixer is another model designed to appeal to the passionate home baker who demands that their tools don’t just produce superior results but complement their kitchen as well. Available in either timeless white or elegant silver, all models in the range offer 1200w of power, soft start speed control, delicate fold function and integrated weighing, while you can change the top cover of the white model (available in either standard or XL sizes) to suit your style or coordinate with other accessories. With a range of different colour PopTops available and new limited edition colours released throughout the year, there has never been an easier way to switch up your kitchen’s look.
Investing in a matching kettle and toaster set is another easy, low-cost way to show your kitchen some love- and brighten up breakfast time. From the eye-catching Mesmerine collection to the classic sophistication of the Elegancy collection, we have a range of breakfast collections to suit every kitchen, whatever your style.
Decoration & lighting
From dotting potted herbs and plants around the room to creating a gallery wall with a mixture of art work and framed photos, use decorative accessories to inject colour, texture and your own sense of style into your kitchen.
Display coordinating accessories, rustic chopping boards, attractive utensils, bowls of lemons and glass jars of herbs or dried foods on worktops or open shelving, or add some complementary pops of colour throughout the room using seat cushions, tablecloths, tea towels and oven gloves.
As the hubs of our home, kitchens are multifunctional spaces where we not only cook and eat, but also entertain, relax and even work. That means your lighting has to fulfil a lot of different roles. Think about having more than one source, ideally running on different circuits to create zones within a room. This is especially important in open plan spaces. Use discreet spotlights or pendants to ensure areas such as worktops, the sink and the cooker are well-lit alongside more atmospheric light sources to help create mood and highlight any focal points like islands or dining tables.
Display coordinating accessories, rustic chopping boards, attractive utensils, bowls of lemons and glass jars of herbs or dried foods on worktops or open shelving, or add some complementary pops of colour throughout the room using seat cushions, tablecloths, tea towels and oven gloves.
As the hubs of our home, kitchens are multifunctional spaces where we not only cook and eat, but also entertain, relax and even work. That means your lighting has to fulfil a lot of different roles. Think about having more than one source, ideally running on different circuits to create zones within a room. This is especially important in open plan spaces. Use discreet spotlights or pendants to ensure areas such as worktops, the sink and the cooker are well-lit alongside more atmospheric light sources to help create mood and highlight any focal points like islands or dining tables.