Budget-Friendly Ways to Enhance Your Kitchen

 

Updating a kitchen has always been one of the best methods to add value to a home and help attract potential buyers. But it doesn't have to cost a fortune! There are many easy, affordable home improvements that can breathe new life into this space. Our real estate agents provide the following ideas that will help you refresh your kitchen even on a strict budget.

 

Instead of replacing your old wood floors, just refinish them using polyurethane-based porch and floor enamel. If your kitchen has a layer of old vinyl flooring, it could be worth pulling it up to see what's underneath. Sometimes, buried under old vinyl are good hardwood floors that only need to be refinished.

 

Wall paint is an easy way to make a huge, sweeping change to the kitchen without breaking the bank. Giving the walls, ceiling, and trim a couple of coats of bright, neutral tones or white can instantly reinvigorate even the most tired of spaces.

 

New cabinets are one of the biggest expenses in any kitchen renovation. In most cases, however, it's only the fronts that need updating. If your cabinets are in good shape but just dated, consider repainting or replacing the drawer fronts and doors for a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire cabinetry.

 

In the same way, jewelry can change the look of an outfit, and updated metal finishes can transform a kitchen. Replace items like handles, knobs, drawer pulls, faucets, and range hoods with updated finishes. Good examples are stainless steel or copper. There's also the option of painting over what you have for a dramatically different look.

 

The backsplash is a style leader, but replacing an old backsplash can get expensive, especially if it's covering one entire wall. To free up some serious room in your budget, you can paint the backsplash and create pretty much any design with paint. Use a stenciled pattern, a bright solid color to make stripes, or tape to make "grout lines." You can also get the look you love with thermoplastic panels or peel-and-stick wallpapers that are available in a wide variety of colors and styles, including 'stone lookalike' finishes.

 

If you feel strongly about changing the countertops, there are a variety of countertop surface options that are more affordable and better looking. Whether you choose concrete, laminate, butcher block, solid surface, resin, and polymers that mimic natural stone, you can choose a finish that suits your style and budget.

 

Changing your kitchen layout is one sure way to dramatically improve the appearance and functionality of your kitchen. But it's also one sure way to drive up the budget. Moving cupboards and appliances like a dishwasher, gas stove, sink, refrigerator, and so on will get into big money. Try to keep the same kitchen layout or add a kitchen island for more storage.

 

A kitchen update can make a big difference and help get the right buyers in the door when you add your home to our listings of Chattanooga homes for sale. Please Contact us for more ideas on how to refresh your home.