Remodeling With Purpose: Your Dream Kitchen Is Closer Than You Think

Kitchens are no longer the overlooked cooking space in your home. It’s where you lovingly prepare meals and host social gatherings for family and friends. The kitchen can also show off your design style, but a stylish kitchen that fits your personality often requires a remodel.

The average price of a kitchen remodel is upwards of $21,000. So before you begin remodeling, take time to reflect. What statement do you want your kitchen to make? What do you want your kitchen to do for you? How much are you willing to spend on the remodel?

You want your kitchen to be beautiful, but you also want it to be more efficient. Before you shell out the big bucks, consider these affordable and functional design hacks that will transform your kitchen at a much lower price.

Use Open Shelving

Kitchen organization is no easy feat. With dishes, appliances, and food in one area, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by limited space. If you opt for open shelving in the kitchen, you’ll discover a new beauty in your dishes as it becomes part of your home décor.

Open shelves might seem like a bad idea if you’re a bit messy. But an open layout can lead to a cleaner kitchen because things are always in sight and easy to locate. A mix of open shelving and cabinetry is another practical solution if you don’t want all your items on display. To cut expenses with an open shelf model, some DIYers remove the cabinet doors to give their kitchen a more modern and airy feel.

Change The Lights

We all experience the power of lighting when entering a room. Lights set the mood and can make a room appear more spacious. There are many lighting variations and fixtures in an array of sizes and styles.

Creative lighting will change your kitchen (and your entire home). The most popular lighting styles include:

• Dimmers – These lights are adjustable for various scenarios. Whether you need bright study lights or dim lighting for a quiet, romantic dinner, dimmers are the way to go.

• Track lights – Track lights can turn in the direction of your choice at varying angles. Use these lights if you tend to have focused lighting needs.

• Under Cabinet Lighting – Under cabinet lights are a chic addition that saves money and time. You won’t always need to turn on your main lights. Also, you’ll immediately see what you need instead of sifting through dim areas in the cabinets.

Pair your updated lighting arrangements with LED lights to save energy as well.

Conveniently Hide Things

The distraction of clutter takes away from any kitchen design. Store things out of sight for cleaner countertops and more space in the drawers and cabinets. With corkboards and hooks, extra wall space and the insides of cabinet doors can be used to hold cooking items.

If your kitchen has the additional space, bring in a pantry cabinet to store miscellaneous appliances and cookware. If you don’t have enough room for a pantry, reorganize. Dedicate your most spacious cabinets to large items to clear smaller cabinets. Then move countertop items into the cabinets as you see fit.

Get Creative With Colors

No kitchen remodel is complete without an updated and defined color scheme. Have fun painting the entire kitchen if time permits. If painting isn’t an option, there are other innovative ways to add new color to the kitchen.

The harmony of a single color creates a clean and contemporary feel. An easy way to achieve this unified look is by changing the dishes and appliances to match your countertops.

If you prefer a bolder approach, mix and match your favorite hues using colorful dishes and appliances that contrast with the backsplash.

… And Don’t Forget About That Backsplash

Kitchen backsplashes are available in unique materials and textures to cater to your style preferences. DIY enthusiasts often create backsplashes from scratch or with backsplash kits. An added benefit is that backsplashes can also be self-installed.

Backsplashes add color and character, but they have additional functions that are regularly overlooked. Depending on the type you buy, a backsplash can be stain-resistant and capture odors in the kitchen. A backsplash further aids in protecting your kitchen from bugs by closing off gaps in the drywall.

To sum things up, asking the right questions will help you create your kitchen’s theme. With proper planning, you'll save money by avoiding unnecessary changes that won't align with your vision.

As you work on remodeling your kitchen, always remember that the small tweaks can make a big difference!