Less is More
This is a good mantra for everything! It’s all too easy to get caught up when driving renovation projects. But sometimes you can find the greatest renovations from taking items away, rather than adding more.
Simply eliminating clutter can make any room seem larger and easier to move around. It’ll feel like you have a whole new kitchen! Take some time and rummage through your kitchen and figure what is used daily, and what hasn’t been used in 15 years.
Estate Sales
Stores too expensive? Try your luck at an estate sale! They’re similar to garage sales but often sell much higher quality items. From wooden cookware to whole complete sets, you can usually find everything you need at estate sales. You can even find some cheap artwork that will truly let your home kitchen snap.
Various apps and websites contain rosters of when and where an estate sale is taking place in your area. The items will be slightly used, but that isn’t anything a little dish soap won’t take care of. Use your best discretion and start saving!
Open Space Shelving
These are basically cabinets without doors. Sounds goofy, but these shelves are not only stylish, but very affordable. More shelving means more workspace, which is incredibly valuable in any effective kitchen.
They allow you to customize your kitchen a unique and unorthodox fashion without devastating your bank account.
Upgrade Pre-existing Items
Before you go tearing your kitchen apart and ripping the cabinets from the wall, you might want to consider working with what you already have.
Want new cabinets? Well you don’t have to replace the entire unit. Cabinets are often perfectly fine, it’s usually the cabinet doors that require replacement. Even if you are purchasing new items, you can buy cheaper products and upgrade them yourself at half the costs.
Attend a Home Improvement Lesson
If you’re not confident in your renovation skills, don’t hire a contractor quite yet! Various businesses offer quick classes that teach people how to perform simple renovations on their own. Places like Home Depot and Farm & Fleet offer handy work shops that will give you the knowledge necessary for lite renovations.
What’s better than learning handy tips! Once you’ve acquired new skills, you’ll be able to renovate and maintain without hiring pricy contractors.
Paint and Wallpaper
Sometimes a simple paint job will make you feel like you have an entirely new kitchen! Paint is usually cheap and easy to apply by yourself. Depending on the colors you choose, creative schemes can actually make your kitchen appear larger.
Don’t like painting? Try laying wallpaper! It’s just as affordable as paint and provides the same results. Experimenting with accent colors and shades can provide you with some pretty innovative results.
Purchase “Basic” Brands
You don’t need to purchase the top-quality brands to receive top quality use from your kitchenware and accessories. If you’re feeling handy you can always purchase cheaper products (cabinets, kitchen island, etc.) and upgrade them yourself with new doors and paint jobs.
“Garnish” Your Kitchen
Leaving a bowl of fruit on the countertop is a pretty typical practice. But when you “garnish” your kitchen, it gives you a creative opportunity. Do you store a lot of dry produce like onions, garlic, and avocados? Try hanging baskets that will suspend room temp produce off of the counter space. It’s handy, saves space, and looks cool.
Creating a Focal Point
This classic tip is straight out of the artists handbook. Creating a focal point directs the eye to where you want. It gives your kitchen a symmetrical appeal that allows you to literally construct what you want your guests to see. It also gives the illusion of a larger workspace.
Don’t Buy Too Cheap
We’re all about saving money, but the concept defeats it’s own purposes if you spend money on low quality products which won’t last long anyways. Sometimes it’s okay to splurge and drop some cash on something you really need, whether that be a new refrigerator, oven, or even cooking pans/utensils. You will save both time and money.
