Last Updated on December 2, 2021 by Kimberly Crawford
If a total kitchen design is not in the budget, a few quick kitchen updates can help. From backsplash tile to kitchen cabinet hardware, quick fixes can mean big impact.
A total kitchen renovation can be a time consuming and expensive undertaking. That does not mean however, that a homeowner needs to live with a tired and outdated kitchen. Making just a few, cosmetic updates to the existing kitchen can give the old space a whole new look.
25+ Best Kitchen Design Ideas
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Paint Kitchen Cabinets
If the old kitchen cabinets are in good shape, but look dingy, old or out of date, giving them a coat of paint can brighten the entire room. Painting kitchen cabinets is a fairly simple process most homeowners can undertake themselves. Simply remove the cabinet doors and any hardware, sand down old paint or varnish to give the new paint a better bond and paint the cabinets in the matte finish color of choice.
Some tips and design ideas for painting kitchen cabinets include:
- Paint the lower cabinets a deeper color than the upper cabinets
- Paint the kitchen island a different color than the perimeter
- Remove and paint one cabinet door and move it around the kitchen to see the color in all lights before painting all the cabinets
- Paint the cabinets a contrasting color to the kitchen wall color
- Replace kitchen cabinet hardware at the same time by filling the old holes with wood putty before painting and drilling new holes for hardware once the paint is dry
Paint Laminate Kitchen Counters
Laminate is an inexpensive and fairly durable kitchen counter. It can also scratch, stain and look dingy over time. If a new counter is out of reach, consider either painting or completely refinishing the old counter.
Laminate counter refinishing kits are available that can help give an old counter the look of polished granite. A base coat of paint is rolled on, followed by a layer of mica chips with a top coat of varnish to seal the counter and give it depth.
If this seems like too much work, or if even the cost of the kit is out of reach, a flat coat of paint and some varnish can brighten up an old counter as well.
Install Some Backsplash Tile
A new kitchen backsplash is a great way to add some color and detail to the kitchen design. If the current kitchen only has a 4-inch backsplash, adding some tile above it can be accomplished with little time.
If there is old tile on the backsplash, a hammer and chisel can remove the tile fairly easily, provided that the homeowner is willing to patch any areas where the wall behind may be damaged.
Kitchen backsplash tile can be any material, design, color or size and is a great way of giving some personality to the kitchen. Glass tiles can brighten and give a modern look to a kitchen, while tumbled stone tiles can help bring depth and rustic beauty to the space. Adding tile, with or without other kitchen updates is an easy way to change the overall look and feel of the entire kitchen design.
Whether making kitchen updates one at a time or all at once, be sure to consider the parts of the kitchen design that are remaining the same and incorporate elements to provide a cohesive design. Pull colors from adjacent rooms, wall art or pottery and keep the design flowing through the whole space.
Provide a quick, kitchen update to an old kitchen and get a new look in days instead of weeks.
Related: 40+ Best Kitchen Backsplash Ideas and Designs For White Cabinets (Photos)