A kitchen make-over can cost a small fortune. If you want to upgrade, but you’re not ready to blow your child’s college fund replicating a high-end restaurant kitchen, I found some very affordable kitchen decorating ideas and trends. See what you think and let us know about small changes that have made a big difference in your kitchen.
Instead of replacing the cabinets, refinish them. DIY has some great kitchen design ideas to help you do that yourself. Get tips for painting your cabinets or glazing them.
Add some sparkle to your “new” cabinets. Replace the old knobs and pulls. This is one of the cheapest kitchen decorating ideas and it can really make a huge difference. Kind of like accessorizing that little black dress. There are literally millions of choices out there. Here are a few of my favorites, including absolutely free recycled champagne corks (a great excuse to drink champagne…if you need an excuse). Find these and other creative drawer knobs and pulls here.
If your counters are looking shabby but you’re not ready to pop for granite, take a look at Rust-oleum® Countertop Transformations®. It’s available in kits that cover up to 30 or up to 50 square feet. There’s a calculator online to help you figure out which you’ll need, a video and downloadable instruction manual to help you do the job, a virtual tool so you can visualize the completed job in your kitchen and a before-and-after photo gallery. They also make a Cabinet Transformations® product. Both come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The countertop product starts around $200. The cabinet product starts under $100.
Faucets.com has every kitchen sink under the sun. Prices range from reasonable, like this Krause 32” 60/40 16-gauge double bowl for $249.95, to OMG who’d pay that for a kitchen sink?!
If you haven’t blown the budget yet, complete your new sink with a trendy new faucet. Starting at around $280, the Kohler Carafe Filtration Faucet caught my eye. For that price you get cold-filtered drinking water on demand and a pretty spiffy looking Euro-style faucet. It’s solid brass available in two finishes: polished chrome and vibrant stainless.
Make big splash with the latest in kitchen backsplash ideas. Standard 4-inch backsplashes that match the countertop are out. Homeowners are opting for 7- to 9-inch high backsplashes. Larger glass tiles are very popular in contemporary kitchen designs. They range from 3×6 inches to 12×24 inches and start in the $9 a piece range. And believe it or not, wallpaper is making a comeback. Since it’s available in so many styles and finishes, it can be a creative, inexpensive solution.
New flooring can make a world of difference. Costs and materials run the gamut from really inexpensive sheet vinyl to big-bucks ceramic tile and hardwood. One of the hottest trends is durable bamboo, a sustainable, earth-friendly product that starts at under $2.00 a square foot. For a run-down on what’s hot, check out the Home Improvement Zone blog on choosing the right kitchen flooring.
Ditch your clunky old range hood for a sleeker, more efficient one. This glass and stainless steel version from SPAGNA VETRO is around $230. It features remote controlled, adjustable air flow settings and a filter-change indicator.
Complete your budget kitchen make-over with new lighting. LED is the biggest trend and track lights are back in a huge way. Since lighting tends to enjoy a longer cycle that other interior design trends, the investment in quality lights is a good one. Besides, LEDs last practically forever and use a lot less energy, which adds up to money savings. I found LED pendants starting in the $300 range.
Of course, if you’re just not into DIY, why not take a look all the finishes and upgrades available at our Design Studio when you buy a new Taylor Morrison home. It’s the fun, easy way to create a home that is uniquely yours.
