Renovating your shabby kitchen doesn’t necessarily require breaking the bank or going all out. In fact, you can give a breath of fresh air to your rundown space while still being on a budget. There are several micro home improvement projects that you can undertake to make your kitchen look more sleek and polished. So, here’s our pick of 7 minor updates that can make your kitchen look more professional.
1. Update table tops with glass
Your tabletops and counters are two of the most used elements in your kitchen. They’re often subject to a lot of wear and tear despite your attempts at keeping everything clean and organized. This means that their appearance deteriorates faster than say your cabinetry or your shelves. This issue can easily be fixed if you install glass over your tabletops and even counters.
Glass is a very sophisticated and elegant material, it also adds a more contemporary flair to your space. Even if modern is not what you’re after, the combination of rustic materials like wood with glass is absolutely stunning. The beauty of glass tabletops and countertops is the versatility in design schemes and options. You can get frosted glass in white for an ultra-urban sleek look. Or you can opt for colors to match your shabby chic or mid-century modern aesthetic.
Glass incorporates very nicely with other elements and materials. So, you will have no issue whatsoever matching it to the dominant design flair of your kitchen. Besides the aesthetic value, glass table tops and countertops are so easy to clean and maintain. You won’t have to worry about problems like staining, spotting, or flaking off. You could use glass as a protective layer to preserve the state of wood and marble.
2. Enhance functionality with glass shelves
Sometimes you just can’t afford to tear down your old tattered cabinets and install brand new ones. However, that doesn’t mean you have to live with ancient furniture that’s slowly becoming sore for the eyes. You can revamp your entire cabinetry without spending all of your savings. How you ask? Glass Kitchen Shelves!
No need to take out all of your cabinets at once or at all. Just remove one or two to make room for a couple of glass shelves. If you’re into the shabby chic or farmhouse design scheme, you will love this home improvement project. You can sand down part of the paint from your existing cabinets, to give them that more vintage/antique look. Then install glass shelves in the space left between the cabinets. This is a great way to create a design contrast element without blocking the natural flow of light.
You can even add some more earthy tones to bring the outdoors indoors with a few potted plants or cacti. Glass kitchen shelves seem like a minor update but they carry with them a refreshing wind of change. Not only that but they also add more room for storage and enhance functionality. With glass shelves, you have everything you need within sight and within reach, so no more misplaced utensils and cookware.
3. Add beauty with pendant lights
Lighting is incredibly important in a kitchen, especially if it’s open to a dining area. Switching out your old light fixtures for elegant pendant lights can make all the difference. Make your sleek pendant lights the focal point of your space. In fact, double or even triple up on Scandinavian inspired pendant lights to make a bold statement. You can also add a LED kitchen light fixture as well.
You can install extra clear glass fixtures with metal geometric patterns for an industrial effect. Or go for matte black pendant lights with gold accents for an urban modern finish. Copper pendant lighting fixtures can also add some drama and a splash of mid-century modern extravaganza.
4. Remove unnecessary things
Granted, not everyone can let go of a good chunk of his or her belongings and embrace a minimalist lifestyle. However, everyone can benefit from a ‘less is more’ approach to cleaning and organizing one’s surroundings. It’s never fun to live in a cramped and cluttered space, much less a messy kitchen. The first and most essential step into revamping your kitchen starts with thorough and deep cleansing. Think of it as detoxification for your home.
Emptying your cabinets, drawers, and pantry all at once to sort through can take days if not weeks. You can even get discouraged looking at the endless piles of cutlery, utensils, dishes, and pans. So, your best strategy here is ‘divide and conquer’. Dedicate one or two hours of each day towards a specific, targeted area of your kitchen and start from there. Then proceed to remove unnecessary items and reorganize whatever you decide to keep based on a system. Also make sure you have the best kitchen faucet under $100 which can make an impact.
Accordingly, store the items you use most closest to the area where you actually use them. So, if you bake often, you should keep all your baking tools and utensils near the stove for easier access. You’ll soon find that cooking in a polished and organized kitchen makes the experience much more enjoyable.
5. Add glass writing boards
Glass writing boards have the power to enhance the appearance of your kitchen and make it look more professional. Not only that, but they also have a huge impact on your kids’ artistic creativity, visual thinking, and mental development. They’re a great way to personalize your kitchen and add some charm and character to your living space.
6. Custom cut glass backsplash
A custom cut glass backsplash is an exciting addition to any kitchen. It not only protects your walls from food splatter, oil buildup, and dust, but it also adds an inspiring touch. First, you can easily clean it with a damp cloth and it will look as good as new. Second, it’s highly resistant to mold and mildew thanks to the glass’s impermeability, unlike wood and metal. Third, it’s eco-friendly and can be recycled. Finally, it brightens up space and makes it look more open since it reflects light.Alternatively, you can also choose good tile backsplashes as well. Once you have the new backsplash in you may realize that the cabinets are no longer a good fit. There are many resources for kitchen cabinets online to browse to get ideas for colors and to find an excellent deal on ready to assemble cabinets.
7. Make your Kitchen look wider
Glass is the perfect material to open up your kitchen and make it appear much larger than it actually is. Unlike wood, metal and other dense materials, glass allows light to pass through and flow more easily. So when you add glass shelves or mirrors or glass writing boards, you don’t obstruct natural light from coming in. On the other hand, bulky material and darker colors tend to absorb sunlight. This can end up making your kitchen look cramped and bulky.
You can start by repainting your cabinets white and adding the occasional splash of color. Bright yellow is highly recommended and gives a country house feel even if you’re in the middle of the city. Adding one or two mirrors can help create the illusion of spaciousness as well. Open shelving, reflective surfaces, integrated appliances, and cabinet lighting are all great tips to incorporate for a wider kitchen.