The kitchen really is the heart of the home.  And let’s face it, an outdated kitchen can not only bring down the value of your home, it can also bring down your morale.  But major kitchen renovations can be very pricey.  So what can be done if fixing up your kitchen is not in the budget?

A lot actually.

Here are a few inexpensive ideas that can bring new life to your kitchen.

1. Paint your cabinetry.  Admittedly, painting cabinetry is labor intensive, and time consuming.  But the results are dramatic and can go a long way toward updating a kitchen.  Just make sure to be detail-oriented and use a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint to help with easy clean-up.
2. Switch out hardware.  Even if you don’t want to paint your cabinetry, switching out hardware can go a long way toward creating a more updated feel for a minimal investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Remove cabinet doors.  Removing strategic cabinet doors to create display shelving can open up a kitchen and give it an entirely new feel.  Alternately,  upper cabinetry can be removed altogether and replaced with open shelving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Consider adding bead board or other trim.  This is especially effective for exposed sides of cabinetry such as the sides of a kitchen island or a refrigerator surround.  It is an inexpensive fix that can give your entire kitchen a custom feel.

5. Want a creative way to spruce up an old refrigerator?  Consider painting it.  Yes, I did say painting it.  Chalkboard paint can be an especially clever way to makeover an outdated refrigerator that still works well, and it has the added bonus of creating a built-in family message board.

 

 

Try any or all of these ideas to give your kitchen an inexpensive update, and you may just end up creating a room you truly love without breaking the bank.