Are you looking to update your kitchen, but aren’t quite sure where to begin?
The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, and for a good reason. This is where you spend your time cooking and enjoying meals and quality time with your loved ones.
Therefore, it’s very important to create a space that makes you happy.
If you’re looking to update your kitchen, but aren’t sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place.
Read on to discover 5 easy kitchen updates for a functional and modern space.
1. Throw on a Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the easiest things you can do to make your kitchen look more modern is to throw on a fresh coat of paint.
While white kitchen walls are the norm, consider expanding your color palette for a more modern look. If you’re really looking to give your kitchen a modern look, we suggest painting one wall black.
While black seems like it would make your space look gloomy in the dark, a swath of rich black paint can have a real visual impact on a room.
It can also help tie two areas of your kitchen together.
Other modern paint colors to consider for your walls include yellow, green, ivory, blue, or gray. If you’re not comfortable painting your entire kitchen a bold new color, start with an accent wall and go from there.
While painting your kitchen is definitely a project you can tackle on your own, make sure you appropriately prep the area first. This means cleaning and sanding down your kitchen walls, as well as laying down plastic before getting started.
Before you commit to a color, you may want to test out a small spot to get an idea of how it’ll look.
2. Add New Light Bulbs and Fixtures
You wouldn’t think that changing out a few light bulbs would make that big of a difference in your kitchen.
But trust us, once you do it, you’ll realize what a stark difference it can make. Dim, yellow light will only serve to illuminate grease stains and make your space look dingier than it actually is.
Brighter lights will help to make your space look inviting while highlighting the details of your kitchen and bringing an overall warmth to the space.
When it comes to selecting lightbulbs for your kitchen, we suggest going with lights with a temperature of 4100 Kelvin with 5,000 to 10,000 lumens, as this will help accomplish that bright, energetic feel. We also suggest going with LED bulbs, as these are more energy-efficient.
In terms of light fixtures, there are all kinds of creative ways you can implement these in your fixtures. Some types of light fixtures to consider include:
- Pendant lights
- Flush mount lights
- Under-cabinet lights
- Chandeliers
You could also install a skylight to allow more natural light to flow into your kitchen.
3. Switch Outdated Cabinet Hardware
Another simple thing you can do to give your kitchen a modern look is to switch out your outdated cabinet hardware.
This update only costs a few dollars, and it can make a world of a difference. Here’s what you need to do:
- Match the metal of your hardware to the faucet and pendant lights to create a cohesive look
- Install circular knobs to keep your kitchen looking pristine and functional
- If you’re going for a modern farmhouse look, add drawer pulls
- Give the hardware a good polish once it’s installed, and you’ll be good to go!
4. Bring Old Cabinets Back to Life
Bringing old cabinets back to life can give your kitchen the modern update it truly needs. In addition to switching out the hardware, we also suggest either painting your kitchen cabinets or rehabbing them.
While painting your kitchen cabinets can make a huge difference, it can be costly. However, if you do have the money for a new paint job, we suggest going with bright colors that can make your kitchen pop.
Some popular modern cabinet colors include yellow, blue, and grey. You could also just paint your kitchen cabinets white if you’looking to brighten up the space.
When selecting kitchen cabinet colors, try to pull from other accent colors in your kitchen. For example, if you have green dish towels, then consider green for your cabinets as well.
If you can’t afford to paint your cabinets, then we suggest rehabbing them. To rehab your cabinets you need to:
- Use hot water and a specialized oil soap (such as Murphy oil soap) to scrub down every nook and cranny
- To get dust and dirt out of crevices, use a toothbrush
- Polish the cabinets with a specially-formulated wax
- Tighten up the hinges
- After a thorough polish and clean, your cabinets should be in top shape. If they still don’t look fresh after doing this, you can give them a new coat of primer or gloss.
5. Upgrade Your Kitchen Sink
Although your sink may not be the focal point of your kitchen, upgrading it can still give your space a modern look. You might even want to consider getting a kitchen splashback. Simply Plastics offer a range of them.
While adding in a whole new sink is an option, this can be costly and a tough DIY project for some. We suggest sticking to simpler upgrades such as painting your sink a vibrant color, upgrading the hardware, or giving it a good polish and shine.
You may also want to consider adding a sediment water filter for fresher beverages.
Easy Kitchen Updates: Are You Ready to Upgrade Your Kitchen?
As you can see, there are a lot of easy kitchen updates that you can tackle. Put these update ideas to use, and your kitchen will be looking brand new in no time!
For more ideas on how to modernize your home, be sure to check back in with our blog.
