It is possible to stick to a tight budget and make a few simple, yet big impact changes that will turn an ugly duckling kitchen into a swan.
Think about using a piece of furniture, which might already exist in the house or find a hutch or case piece at a flea market or antique shop. By using an actual piece of furniture, you have an opportunity to set a specific style for your kitchen. Whether it’s French country, Asian-inspired or Italian farmhouse, chances are a great piece can be found on almost any budget.
In addition to furniture, lighting can make or break the look of your kitchen. ThIt is possible to stick to a tight budget and make a few simple, yet big impact changes that will turn an ugly duckling kitchen into a swan.
Think about using a piece of furniture, which might already exist in the house or find a hutch or case piece at a flea market or antique shop. By using an actual piece of furniture, you have an opportunity to set a specific style for your kitchen. Whether it’s French country, Asian-inspired or Italian farmhouse, chances are a great piece can be found on almost any budget.
In addition to furniture, lighting can make or break the look of your kitchen. The secret to making a lighting statement in your kitchen is to use task, ambient and accent. Most people do well with ambient lighting, which is usually a large overhead fixture, but to get task and accent lighting on a budget, you can place under-cabinet lighting in the front and bottom of wall cabinets, or over islands or peninsulas by using pendants. Both types of lighting are easily available and affordable at a local home center. Accent lighting can be achieved by using rope lighting above wall cabinets or using small lamps on freestanding furniture, islands or peninsulas.
Super easy tricks for updating and improving the look of any kitchen with any budget, small or large, it’s important to stay realistic. On a really tight budget, you usually can’t move plumbing or necessarily buy new appliances. Instead, educate yourself by heading to your local kitchen and bath showroom, and finding out what’s possible for the money you have. If you don’t have a lot of countertop, maybe you can afford a new laminate one. Laminates have come a long way in terms of mimicking the look of more expensive materials, and their cost is still very affordable.
Last but not least, consider consulting with a professional kitchen designer. Though it may seem out of reach on a budget, many designers are willing to work with a client for a small design retainer that is credited toward their project. They can offer advice on color, lighting or effective use of space. Designers are professionals, and are trained to find design solutions, even on a small budget.