Old Kitchen, New Look: Sprucing it up on a Budget
The kitchen is such an important room in the home, and it’s certainly the most expensive to renovate. If you’ve moved into a property but have inherited a shabby old kitchen, you might worry that you’re going to be stuck with it until you can invest thousands into something new. However, this might not be the case- many old fashioned kitchens can be brought back up to scratch (providing you’re not suffering with issues like rot or pests). In many cases, older kitchens are made from solid wood so are actually much better quality than modern flimsy MDF, and so upcycling can actually be a much better way to go. Here’s how you can go about it without spending a fortune.
Paint the cupboards
Solid wooden cupboards are perfect for painting, however you can also paint mdf or even laminated cupboards if you use the right paint. Sometimes the laminate covers can be removed by melting the glue on the insides of the doors, and removed revealing a plain mdf door underneath. Do your research and buy based on the material you’re working with, and always do the prep. This could involve washing with sugar soap, sanding down and removing all doors off their hinges first. Once you’re finished, replace the handles with some new ones and you can completely transform the look of your kitchen just for the cost of the paint.
Change or wrap the worktop
Changing the worktops might feel like a big job, but this is something that most DIYers can do themselves. If you keep an eye out for sales then you might be able to snag something for a good price, and a fresh new worktop will look great against your newly painted cupboards and really will make it look like a new kitchen.
Replace the flooring
Are old floor tiles or dusty old floorboards bringing down the look of your kitchen? Vinyl flooring can be fitted over what’s already down and is an inexpensive and effective way to make your kitchen look clean and new.
Paint the walls
A simple coat of paint on the walls can make all the difference, go with a stain resistant and wipe clean variety which is perfect for splashes and spills. If you go with a light, neutral shade you’ll make the space look bigger and brighter.
Replace tiles with a splashback
Replacing tiles can be expensive, and you don’t always get the best finish with tile paint- its not an option at all if you have cracked or missing tiles. Instead, one option would be to take them all down and have a splashback fitted instead. These are cheap to buy and install and look great, you can find them in all kinds of colours and designs.
Declutter
One your kitchen makeover is complete, it’s so worth spending some time decluttering and getting rid of what you no longer use. Throw away burned pots and pans and old appliances you have stashed away that you don’t use. Find good storage for everything you keep, that way you don’t need to rummage, you know exactly where everything is when you need it.
