When you’ve been using and living with a kitchen for a while you become familiar with all the things you’d like to change about it from the layout to décor to the built-in microwave with that one piece that keeps falling off.
There are many cost-effective tweaks that can make your kitchen more functional and appealing for everyone who enters and put it back at the heart of your home, where it should be:
- Touch, touchless faucets – If you have a few hundred bucks to invest in just one thing, consider putting in one of these modernized faucets, which are convenient, hygienic and also save water with auto-shutoff features. They respond to either a light touch or a wave in front of a sensor. Touch faucets are a bit less expensive and are preferred by some because there’s less of a chance they can be accidentally activated.
- Shelving – If you don’t have enough cabinets for storage you can add a few simple DIY shelves to whatever wall space you can find — picking up shelves and metal brackets at any hardware store — or you can get a little more creative by mounting trays, baskets, boxes or other containers. Search Pinterest for some dandy kitchen shelving ideas.
- Paint the floor — If the floor is looking worn but you don’t want to redo it yet, consider whether painting it might give it the refresh you’re looking for. It can work on almost any kind of surface, but you’ll have to consider its texture and how it will look underneath the new paint. White floors are dazzling at first but will show dirt and spills quickly, so consider pale gray, blue or maybe a cool green shade.
- Farmhouse touches — If the overall look of your kitchen is too bland or sterile, adding a few rustic elements will instantly make it more welcoming for everyone. Add a sliding barn door to the entrance or pantry if you can, hang your oldest pots on the walls, bring in sturdy but weathered stools and use reclaimed wood for those shelves!
