During this period of lockdown, I am sure that a lot of us are spending our time planning – whether for our businesses or in our personal lives. Maybe you are planning a project for your home? The kitchen has one of the most important rooms in the home, a lot of us want our kitchen to be the heart of the home, so I thought this week I would share some ideas for kitchen updates.
Paint the Doors
Painting the doors of your kitchen units is a very easy thing to do and can dramatically change how your kitchen looks and feels. It is also a cheaper option than replacing the doors. As long as the doors and carcasses are in good condition then it is a very good choice. Either do it yourself or employ a professional to spray paint them. As with most tasks the key is in the preparation.
- Remove the handles or knobs
- Clean the surfaces with sugar soap
- Sand the surfaces and fill any holes
- Depending on the surface and your choice of paint you may need to apply a primer
Change The Door Handles
This ties in neatly with painting the doors but it can be done even if you aren’t changing the doors and it is a simple way to refresh your kitchen. One aspect to consider is the type of handle – knob or bar. A knob will most likely have one fixing point a handle two, changing one for the other will involve repositioning and potentially filling. The other important factor is ease of use, how easy are they to get hold of and how sturdy are they. If a particular cupboard or drawer is used frequently then you want it to be sturdy. Bear in mind that you don’t have to use the same handle throughout, you can combine different styles although I would restrict it to two. If doing this you have a choice of coordinating the styles or combining contrasting ones.
Replace Wall Cupboards With Shelves
One modern kitchen trend is for shelves instead of wall cupboards. Shelving creates a more open feel and gives an opportunity to display things such as glassware, crockery and cook books. The drawbacks are of course storage and the need to keep shelves uncluttered and clean. For storage the starting point is to declutter all your cupboards, this enforced period of staying at home is the perfect opportunity to have that clear out. Take one cupboard at a time, remove the contents and carefully consider each item before you put it back – how often do you use it, if it’s things like glassware or crockery can you reduce the quantity of that particular item. Once you have decluttered each cupboard do you now have space to redistribute things into the floor cupboards leaving wall units, or some of them, empty and thus dispensable? Can things such as crockery be rehoused elsewhere such as a sideboard in the dining area?
Change The Splashback
Splashbacks serve a practical function, protecting walls from dirt and grease However, they are also decorative and as, generally, they tend to be relatively small areas, they are an easy and cost effective way to effect change in a kitchen. Tiles are an obvious choice but panels are a good alternative. They come in a variety of materials including glass, laminate, acrylic or quartz and can be cut to size. Being a single piece they are very easy to clean avoiding the need for grout. They are very easy to fit if you are nervous about the prospect of tiling.
New Flooring
Changing your flooring is another idea for updating your kitchen. The kitchen is a high traffic area so whatever type of flooring you choose it needs to be hard wearing and easy to keep clean. Choices include stone, porcelain, laminate and vinyl. If you have, or are planning to install, underfloor heating then your flooring material needs to be compatible. Think about adjoining spaces. If your space is open plan such as a kitchen diner then you may want the same flooring in both areas particularly if the space is small to ensure a sense of flow. Even if the space isn’t open plan still consider adjoining spaces. For example, if your hallway leads straight in to the kitchen and the door is usually open then using the same flooring creates a seamless transition.
I hope this blog has given you some ideas and if you are planning any interiors project and would like some help then do get in touch, I am still working remotely or visit my interior design service page. Call 07745 876182 or e mail me on judith@homestyle4u.com