Buying a home is exciting and overwhelming. It’s nice to finally have a space of your own, but as Spiderman says, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” What does that mean for a homeowner? Usually that you are stuck with your golden oak, 1990’s cabinets, chipped sink and dated tiled countertops because you have to make sure you can make your monthly mortgage payments and your bi-annual property taxes! Home updates can take years to plan, save for and execute, and in the meantime, you can get a little sad like me. I absolutely hate my kitchen and thinking about when we can actually afford to upgrade anything is daunting. Not to mention that kitchens are one of the most costly rooms to update! Even though it may be years before I can get the granite countertops I really want, it turns out there are some easy and inexpensive cosmetic changes you can make to your kitchen that will make it livable. And who knows, maybe you’ll love it so much you won’t need to rip out those cabinets after all!
Source: IHeartNaptime.net
1. Reface, Paint or Stain Cabinets
Every contractor in the world will tell you that kitchen cabinetry is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel. There is a lot of time, energy and fine craftsmanship that goes into them, and you will be charged a pretty penny. Cabinets are also a defining feature in your kitchen, and if they’re ugly, there’s no denying it. With a little (ok, maybe a lot) of grunt work, you can transform your existing cabinets for a few hundred dollars, instead of $10,000. There are many kits and tutorials that tell you exactly how to sand, paint or stain your cabinets and you can do it without spending weeks under renovation. If you have a little to spend, you can also reface your cabinets and simply purchase new cabinet doors to update your look.
Head over to IHeartNaptime.net to see an amazing kitchen transformation and other great nap time crafts and DIY’s!
Source: RestorationHardware.com
2. Updated Hardware
Swapping out ugly brass hardware with fresh nickel or brushed pieces can change the look of your kitchen in a heartbeat. It can also add some texture if you previously didn’t have any hardware, which is the case if you live in a 90’s era home (no creativity I tell ya!). This is an easy and inexpensive update, and pretty fun when you can wander the hardware aisle til your heart’s content. It’s easy to find the exact pieces you want, and can be installed in just a few hours. This is also a good time to update your kitchen faucet. For about $120 you can pick out a brand new faucet that will instantly improve the look of your kitchen.
Source: RemodelAndolaCasa.com
3. Add Molding
You never knew what you were missing until you see new molding go up on on your walls, tops of cabinets and cabinet doors. Adding this detailed trim will give your ceilings more height and make your cabinets look custom designed. They will also provide a finished look to your flooring and cabinet doors. Since you are only adding molding, the cost is minimal because you are buying only trim pieces- not entire cabinets. Your cabinets will look brand new, and only you will know its just your plain ole cabinets in disguise!
If you’re handy with a saw, then head over to RemodelAndolaCasa.com to get tutorial on your old molding!