Creating the perfect home is something that takes a lot of time, much trial and error, and inspiration. When looking to make lasting changes to your home it might take you a long time to figure out what you want to achieve, and this is why renovation can be a time consuming and costly affair.
But not all renovation needs to cost the earth – and we have some helpful ideas for you to transform your kitchen this year if you are on a bit of a budget. When we built our own home, the kitchen was one thing we did ourselves – flat pack for our sins. It was something we actually enjoyed doing and highlighted what can be achieved without having to break the bank!
1. Install New Taps
One of the biggest features in your kitchen is your taps as well as your sink and drainer. If you have an old musty looking tap and drainer it is time to make a change and upgrade to a stunning chrome look. This will instantly lift the space without spending a huge ton of money and it can be a useful trick to try this year.
The sink and taps were one of the first things we settled on for our new kitchen, opting for a Belfast sink with modern chrome taps. We went for a split sink which has been really useful.
2. Consider French Doors
We know that French doors won’t be the cheapest way to change your kitchen, however when you come to design and build your ideal home – bringing light into the back of the house is always a plus and French doors achieve this perfectly.
As well as bringing extra light into the home they will also connect your kitchen to your garden and this will be a bonus for summer when you host parties and other events. Try installing a set of French doors and you’ll soon see a big difference in your kitchen.
We took inspiration from French doors when adding our patio doors to achieve the indoor outdoor living experience we desired. The PVC patio setup was considerably cheaper than other options we had considered, including tri-fold and bi-fold doors.
3. Create Vertical Storage
To create a kitchen that looks classy and not overstuffed with items – one thing you have to consider is your storage. There are many smaller kitchens out there that give you a mountain to climb when it comes to storage – and as a result many of our kitchens can look cluttered and full of items.
However, today why not start thinking about vertical storage for your room? Vertical storage can either be a set of drawers hung onto your wall, or some floating shelves which will be ideal for simple storage of spices and small items such as cups and glasses.
As well as building up in our kitchen, we also availed of the island and built storage in here as well. The vertical cupboards and island setup ensure we have plenty of storage space to try and keep the kitchen looking clean, and spacious at all times. You never know who could pop in for a cuppa!
4. A Fresh Coat of Paint
One instant way to lift the look of your kitchen without spending loads of money is to refresh the space with a new lock of paint. Whether you change the colour scheme of your kitchen completely, or you simply change one feature wall – this will lift the room and make it look classier in no time.
One thing to consider is painting the kitchen cupboards a matte shade which will look more modern and will also be easier when cleaning.
5. Use Metallics
Metallic embellishments can be a great way to add pizazz to your kitchen in an elegant way. The simple change from wooden door handles to metallic ones can elevate the kitchen and make it look more expensive than it is.
But you don’t have to buy new doorknobs if you are on a budget! Simply find a metallic nail polish such as rose gold or gold and paint a few coats on your handles… voila! It won’t take long to achieve and you’ll end up with doorknobs that look the part.
We’ve opted for metallic ornaments and picture frames to help add certain features in our kitchen and living space, as we have an open plan layout – kitchen, living and dining room.
Got Something to Add?
What have you done to create your dream kitchen on a budget? Let us know your secrets to success in the comments section below.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Helen, Nial and Lewis.
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
