But you don’t need to shell out big bucks to make a big impact in an outdated kitchen. Whether you’ve lived in your house for years or you just got the keys, here are some easy ways to add accents to your kitchen.
Get new handles and pulls.
Changing out cabinetry hardware is one of the easiest and quickest updates. But resist the temptation to get something too personal or cutesy. I’ve seen people use hardware that looks like forks and spoons or mini chickens. Those options are fun, but they get old fast.
Consider painting your cabinets.
A complete overhaul wasn’t in the cards, so instead, she gave the cabinetry a fresh coat of paint. Citrus-like colors — orange, yellow and green — look great in a kitchen.
Swap out (or even remove) cabinet doors.Replacing existing doors with glass-paneled ones looks like a major upgrade. Use frosted glass, if you feel like your shelves aren’t display-worthy. Or, ditch the doors altogether to create the effect of open shelving.
Paint an accent wall.
Not game to spend hours painting cabinets? Quickly do a single wall instead. Go darker than you usually would. Hang a pendant light.
If you’re irked by your kitchen’s decades-old light fixture, replace it with a colorful pedant. Since lighting is so important in any room, this one change can totally transform the entire space.
Think of small appliances as decorative accessories.
An orange fridge might be too bold (and too expensive) for most homeowners. But go nuts with everything else — like a cobalt toaster, or a cherry red mixer. These things are like jewelry for your kitchen.
Hang window treatments.
New drapes can really spruce up a space but think twice about the type of treatment you hang on the window above your sink. You don’t want something with too much fabric that could get ruined from splashing. Use a roman shade that you can easily pull up while you’re washing dishes.Place a rug in front of the sink.It does double-duty by making your workstation more comfortable on your feet and adding a splash of color. (Triple duty, if you count covering any ugly flooring!).