Your kitchen is likely to be one of the most used rooms in your home. Yes, you might spend more time in your bedroom, but you’ll be asleep for most of that time, and the kitchen is where you’re going to be for a few hours a day. Those hours might be split up into very short segments of a few minutes each as you go into the room to make a drink or get a snack, for example, but it does all add up. 

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to find that using your kitchen so much leads to quite a bit of wear and tear, and eventually, this might mean a brand-new kitchen. Now, there’s nothing wrong with having a new kitchen, but it’s an expensive option if you’re on a budget. So, if you’re not yet on the market for a completely new kitchen, here are some ideas as to how you can make an old and tired kitchen look new.

Start With A Deep Clean

Did you know that a lot of the time, you can make something look brand new again just by giving it a deep clean? We’re not joking! You’ll have to take your time because this really does need to be done properly without missing any elements and really getting down in the nitty-gritty of your kitchen, including the cabinets, behind drawers, and every corner of the floor, for example. For a thorough deep clean, it’s worth scheduling a whole day to do it so you don’t have to rush or run out of time. 

Scrub away all the years of grease and grime that have built up (it happens in every kitchen, so don’t worry), and you’ll be amazed at the result. It might be that you don’t feel you need to do anything else after you’ve cleaned, but if you do, there are some more ideas you can put in place. 

Repaint Or Refinish Your Cabinets

If you want to update your kitchen and make it look new, you don’t actually need to replace your cabinets completely. Assuming the carcasses of the cabinets are in good condition, you can just repaint or refinish the doors, with a coat of wood stain or varnish.

It’s often a good idea to go for a light colour as that will open up the space and make the entire room feel very airy – and if the cabinets were dark before, it’s going to make a massive difference. This simple job can make the entire kitchen look new, and if you add a new door to the room as well – one that matches the new cabinets – the whole thing will come together beautifully. You can find kitchen and bedroom replacement doors online to create a cohesive look. 

Upgrade Your Lighting Fixtures

Old and outdated lighting can make a kitchen look old too, not to mention dark. Look objectively at your kitchen lighting, and you’ll soon know if that’s the problem – if it is, replace the old fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options that give you loads of light and ensure the room can be used properly (you need light in a kitchen to help you cook and prepare food safely, at the very least). 

One good idea is to include task lighting as well as a main light. You could have lights over the sink, for example, or under cabinets. Think about where you need lighting and install it in the right places. 

By claire.