5 ways to give your kitchen a new look

Give your kitchen a new look without the price tag of a full renovation

If you are like me, your kitchen is one of the areas in your home that you spend a lot of time. Cooking with your family, entertaining friends or enjoying that first cup of tea or coffee in the morning. It is a space that should be enjoyed and celebrated however all too often we let it date, and the only time we think about making improvements is when we go to sell. But this doesn’t always have to be the way. If your kitchen is feeling a bit tired, here are a few simple things you can change to bring new life to the space without spending a lot of money on a complete renovation.

1. New splash back

A kitchen splash back can add a pop of colour and texture to your kitchen bringing new life and personality to the space. Here are three common types of splash backs with a range of options to choose from to meet your style and your budget.

Tiled splash back

A tiled splash back can add value and elegance to a kitchen and can be as subtle or out-there as you dare! As the area is not that large, you can afford to use a more expensive tile such as a mosaic or textured, but remember the smaller the tile the more labour intensive so you will need to make sure you let your builder or tiler know so they can quote appropriately.

Glass or mirror splash back

Great for modern or simple kitchens, glass splash backs are available in a range of colours and are super easy to keep clean. If you have a cooktop on your bench below you will need to use toughened glass. Glass mirror splash backs are also a way to create more space and light in the kitchen.

Stainless steel splash back

Bring out your inner MasterChef with a stainless-steel splash back. This is a more subtle option and looks effective in white or black kitchens, it is also the most affordable option of all three. Remember, the best way to keep stainless looking great is with a soft cloth and baby oil!

2. Re-face kitchen cabinets

Replacing (or re-facing) your kitchen cabinet doors is a great way to get a new kitchen look without having to spend money demolishing and re-making the existing internal carcasses. After all, no-one is looking inside your kitchen cupboards and if it is in good nick, do you really need to replace that component if you are happy with the current layout? We find this is the most popular option when our clients choose to renovate their kitchens.

3. Replace or install new pendant lights

This is a very simple way to switch it up (no pun intended). Perhaps you’ve already got pendant lights but the style may be dated, or if you don’t, adding these will certainly give your kitchen a new look. Lighting can be like adding a piece of art to your home and can become a central feature of the kitchen. Look to style it in with other colours or features in the surrounding space.

4. Replace or re-cover existing benchtop with stone or granite

Stone and granite kitchen benchtops look fantastic! Did you know that you can have one made to go straight over the top of your existing laminate bench! This is a great way to integrate stone or granite into your kitchen without having to remove the existing top and can save you a bit of money.

Many people assume that granite is a more expensive option than stone, however this is not always the case. You may find a stone top that you like that is also available in a very similar style from another stone brand so be sure to shop around. Just because one brand is more common does not mean they are the most affordable.

5. New tap, stools and appliances

Looking to freshen up your space can be as simple as replacing your sink tap with a more current design or just replacing dated handles. Another way is to update your stools and even putting new appliances in can give your kitchen a fresh new feel.

We hope we have given you some inspiration and ideas on how you can rekindle your relationship with your kitchen.