The kitchen is often called the “heart of the home,” and it truly is where we spend much of our time and shared experiences. With real estate booming, many are looking to add value to their kitchen, and thus their home.
While many obvious (and often costly!) approaches come to mind readily; appliance updates, cabinet replacement, flooring replacement, etc., there are also multiple inexpensive strategies and upgrades for adding value to your kitchen.
Some personal assessment may be required to determine how much time and effort you have available for some projects, but all of the following ten strategies will absolutely add value to your home at a reasonable ticket price!
- Uniformity and Simplicity - Unless your kitchen is a one-of-a-kind art piece and highly curated space (which 95% of kitchens aren’t), make the effort to minimize differences in finishes, styles, colors, and clutter. Even if everything in the room isn’t necessarily “high-end”, having a clear style and streamlined space makes a world of difference. Choose a palette or theme, and stick to it. Simplify.
- Paint - Are your walls dirty, covered with outdated wallpaper, or sun faded? Cabinets chipped or outdated? For the cost of materials, you could save 5 figures on a cabinet replacement simply by painting your existing ones! Take the time to fully clean and prep your surfaces, and it will be a whole new room, guaranteed!
- Hardware - There are always expensive options for hardware, but most of the time, hardware and paint are the true stars of kitchen upgrades. Do some research and see what others have done (there’s so much great inspiration out there!), and choose new hardware for your cabinets that matches your fixtures and works with your theme and palette. Alternatively, for an ultra inexpensive solution to add value to your kitchen, simply spray paint your existing hardware and reinstall! Paint is a beautiful thing.
- Backsplash - Coming back to uniformity and simplicity, what’s the theme of your kitchen, and is there a way to add or update your backsplash? Many kitchens just have painted drywall with no backsplash between their upper and lower cabinets. One trending option for a very affordable and modern DIY backsplash is concrete. Henry Feather Finish is just $18 a box at Home Depot, and really updates and modernizes a space with one day’s work! Home Depot and Lowes also sell multiple easy-tile options for quick install and ROI.
- Trash Can - Often forgotten as an easy solution, take a moment to assess your trash can situation. Is it on the floor, bag hanging over the edge, picking up grime throughout the day? If it is, does it match the finishes of your appliances or the theme and palette of your kitchen? Updating to a stainless steel version with an internal can will greatly elevate the feel of the room. Even better, consider installing a slide-out tray in a lower cabinet! The hardware and materials to build yourself are less than $40 from any hardware store, and it gets the can out of the way, making the room feel more open and adding convenience.
- Fixtures - This is one you have probably heard before, but it bears repeating. Trends don’t change all that quickly, and there are products hitting the market all the time for all styles and budgets. Use sites like wayfair, overstock, build.com, and even Costco in addition to shopping your local sales when they pop up. Know what you’re looking for ahead of time, and be ready to jump when you find the right price! Updating your lighting, faucet, hood, sink, etc. to all match in color and finish is a game changer.
- Plants - Plants go hand in hand with open shelving, and there are countless lists advising which plants are best for kitchens. Plants add color and comfort, help keep the air fresh, and if you like, they also provide a free and endless supply of fresh herbs for your meals! Aloe Vera, String of Pearls, and Snake Plants are all popular, low maintenance non-food plants that thrive in kitchens and add a great aesthetic.
- Art - Along with using plants to soften the edges and make the space more welcoming, consider adding a few pieces of art that complement your theme. Kitchens often have unused wall space, so thoughtfully select a piece or two that speaks to you and matches the color palette of your space. You could also choose art that reflects the geographical area of the home to tie together the inside and outside: desert, forest, coastline, city, etc.
- Windows - If you are lucky to have a window or two in your kitchen, consider an update. Are there curtains or blinds? Are they in good condition, or food splattered and damaged? Is there a sill or just painted drywall? Consider adding a sill if there isn’t one, and perhaps a small succulent or two. Replace the blinds if they are old or damaged, and wash your curtains and update the hanging hardware to match the rest of the fixtures in the room. Always keep your kitchen windows clean from water splatters by using vinegar and newspaper. Sparkling clean light coming into the space will highlight your hard work and make the room feel inviting and ready to prepare a delicious meal!
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