How to bring life back into an old kitchen

Whether you’ve just moved into a new property or are wondering how you can spruce up a kitchen you’ve had for a while, there are many ways to bring life back into the proverbial heart of the home. It may seem daunting at first – a kitchen is quite a big project to take on – but with our simple tips, you could have a brand-new look in no time!

We’ve combined both low-budget and slightly higher cost changes, so that you can decide what would work best for you.

Give it a lick of paint

Changing up the colours of a room can instantly give it a new lease of life, bringing vibrancy back into a darkened space, or giving a pop of colour into an otherwise neutral area. Whether you choose to add a feature wall, or revitalise all the walls with a new shade, adding colour can be a cheap and easy way to make a change.

If you’re looking for a different way to use paint in your kitchen, if your cabinet doors are made of wood, it may be an option to paint them instead with a complementary or clashing colour to make them stand out. Make sure to strip them of any varnish and current staining with sanding tools and coat them with a varnish once they’re painted.

Replace the worktop

Worktops, especially older or outdated ones, can often show quite a lot of wear and tear which instantly add years to a kitchen. If you’re working on a budget, a laminate kitchen worktop may be the best choice since they are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install. Otherwise, if you’re aiming for a complete kitchen makeover, a more sturdy worktop such as granite or quartz will give you a long-lasting and beautiful finish that will stand the test of time for much longer.

If you’re looking to add a completely new worktop to your kitchen, why not check out our Kitchen Worktops to find out more about the granite, quartz and other worktops we offer, to suit your revitalised kitchen.

Update your cabinets

If simply painting cabinet doors doesn’t update them as much as you would like, there are other options to make a change to the cupboards in your kitchen.

If your cabinet structure is in a good condition, there is the option to replace your cabinet doors completely. That way, you can go for a completely different style of door to the original ones, while still retaining the structure of your kitchen’s layout.

For a quick and simple change, and if you’re happy with the doors but just need a slight change, you could swap out the door handles for something new. A different style or shape can add a brand-new feature to an otherwise familiar furniture item.

Replace your floor

Completely replacing the floor of your kitchen may seem like a big, and expensive, task but it can be simpler than you may think.

Instead of going to all the hassle of pulling the old floors up, many kitchen designers agree that you can often just lay the new flooring on top. If you’re going all out on your kitchen renovation, then a feature flooring such as wooden planks or a stylish tile may add that element of sophistication and style that your kitchen could have been missing.

A less expensive alternative that looks just as good is vinyl. It can be laid on top of old flooring and will instantly transform the look of your room. If you don’t need to remove the floor completely, carpet tiles or a fancy rug are also inexpensive ways to simply disguise aspects of it that you don’t like.

Accessorise

Whether you’ve chosen an accent colour for a feature wall or a monochrome colour scheme, there’s no reason why you can’t add some bright accessories to your kitchen. Pops of colour in a monochrome space, such as through a brightly coloured clock on the wall, some nice pieces of art, or even a few patterned dish towels, can bring life and vitality back into a room.

For a kitchen with an accent or feature wall, sticking with that colour for all your accessories might be a temptation but it’s sometimes good to push out the boat a bit and choose colours that complement it nicely. For example, a blue kitchen would look good with some hints of yellow and green.

If you’re really looking to make a statement with your new kitchen, colour clashes can really brighten up a space. Just be aware not to use too much, since it could be overwhelming.

However you’re planning to update your kitchen space and bring life back into one of the most important rooms in the home, we hope this tips will help you on your way and give you the inspiration to create something beautiful!