20 Ways To Spruce Up Your Kitchen
Add Value To Your
Home -
Even On A Budget!
The kitchen is one of the rooms that traditionally
sells houses. Most experts agree that it's not always
practical to remodel a kitchen, but you can benefit in
the long run if you spend time on minor improvements and
general sprucing up.
1. Consider painting your cabinets if they are in
need of a full overhaul. Nothing changes the look of a
kitchen faster!
2. If you don�t want the hard work that goes into
total repainting, consider removing a cupboard door to
make a display cabinet. Or, you can cut out the middle
of the doors, leaving a two-inch space all around.
Staple fabric panels to the backs of the doors. Cover
the staples with fabric trim glued with a hot glue gun.
3. To give your cabinets a special flair, use three
different stains. Use one lighter stain on the upper
cabinets, one slightly darker on the drawers and an even
darker one on the bottom cabinets.
4. Update your cabinets with special memories. Attach
frames painted or stained to match the cabinets to the
front of each door. Fill the frames with family photos
or your children�s artwork. Add mountain themed d�cor to
the kitchen, a popular option in Big Bear real
estate.
5. One of the simplest ways to add flavor to your
kitchen is to install new cabinet hardware. A popular
shape is long and rectangular rather than simply round
and traditional.
6. Let molding add some flair. Panel or picture
molding redefines the flat doors and drawers while
elaborate crown molding, placed where cabinets meet the
ceiling, creates a classic look, sure to draw attention.
7. Expand space with drawer organizers.
8. Take out a few drawers and insert low baskets in
their place.
9. Use a bead-board to update your backsplash. Have
your local home improvement store cut it to length and
attach with nails or adhesives.
10. Pick up inexpensive plate hangers from the
hardware store and hang the saucers from your good china
around the backsplash, or as a border.
11. Dress up your windows. Terry cloth tea towel caf�
curtains are quick and easy to make and they will help
to give your kitchen a new look. Also consider wood
blinds and Roman shades to add style.
12. Just adding one or two accessories or
reorganization of some you already have will make a
change in your kitchen.
13. Add a fireplace...yep, a fireplace. With so many
great vent-free, freestanding
wood fireplaces available, adding one to your
kitchen can be a great way to brighten it up. When you
move, you can take your fireplace with you.
14. Get rid of old appliances. Many people are going
for the heavy-duty, modern, efficient look of stainless
steel.
15. Get a double-basin sink to make separating and
cleaning dishes and pots quick and easy.
16. Pullout sink faucets are easy to use; provide
greater flexibility when cleaning large pots, and make
sink cleaning a breeze.
17. Use bottom basin racks, wire rinse baskets,
cutting boards and colanders to keep everything you need
at your fingertips.
18. Consider changing the tiles of your kitchen floor
and walls.
19. The proper lighting in your kitchen can make it
or break it. A popular choice is track lighting.
20. Grow plants from seed on your windowsills. Even
grass seed has become very vogue.
Adam O'Connor is a writer/web
programmer who likes to remodel homes on the side.
He lives, writes, programs and remodels in the
stunning environment of the San Bernardino National
Forest in Southern California. Visit his site for
more tips on remodeling
your kitchen.
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