You can always do a kitchen upgrade if you don’t have the budget for a complete kitchen remodel or don’t want to go through the mess of one. According to the National Association of Realtor’s (NAR) 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, kitchen upgrades are popular among homeowners, receiving a high 9.2 Joy Score from the professionally upgraded. The recovery rate % is 67 for a kitchen renovation, but it goes up if the renovation is minor (think kitchen upgrade). So whether you will live in the house for a long time or want to sell it, a kitchen upgrade is a wise option to create your dream kitchen and add value to your home.
How can You do a Kitchen Upgrade?
That’s easy. You choose one major element in the kitchen to change. That should make a big difference in the look of the kitchen. Many people go with replacing the kitchen countertop with granite or engineered stone, which usually means changing the sink and fixtures. Some take the opportunity to switch out the kitchen cabinets. But either choice comes out at almost the same cost.
If you change your kitchen cabinets, make sure you make the most of them by choosing the right ones. Kitchen cabinets take up much real estate and are quite visible, so they greatly impact the look of your kitchen. If you have an open layout, it will greatly affect the look of your house. Here are some great ideas for choosing kitchen cabinets.
1. Bold and Beautiful
Most people choose neutral or natural colors for their kitchen cabinets, most commonly stained wood. This is the safe choice, as they are popular. However, you may want to think about cranking it up a notch. Choosing bold colors such as bright green or burnt orange, especially if you have a mostly neutral kitchen, will bring joy to your kitchen and turn them into a gathering place. Bold and bright colors will make your cabinets stand out, so you want to keep the tone down for the rest of the kitchen to avoid making it look overwhelming. You can also choose a smooth finish to make the cabinets look sleek.
2. White Space
A small kitchen is fine as long as you have a high ceiling. Choosing white kitchen cabinets is a great way to make your small kitchen with a low ceiling look larger. Most people think white creates the illusion of space. However, to create the illusion of height, you want tall white cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling flanking regular wall cabinets. If you already have white cabinets, you can replace one or two with tall cabinets. If your cabinets are not white but still in good condition, you can paint them white and add tall cabinets. You should fill any space above existing cabinets with MDF board and crown molding. If the space is considerable, you may be able to add some closed storage.
3. Open and Closed
Glass inset cabinets are a great way to make your kitchen look bigger and display some nice things without keeping them out in the open. You may have necessary kitchen tools that are not exactly display-worthy, or you may not have the time to keep all your cabinet interiors in pristine condition. You can even add some lighting in these cabinets to make them pop. The light can also highlight special things, like crystals and heirlooms. The others can have regular solid cabinet doors where you keep the workhorses in your kitchen.
4. Finishing Touches
If you want warmth and comfort, you can do a kitchen upgrade with wood cabinets, which are common and tend to date. Upstyle it by choosing a less traditional finish. Instead of a simple wood stain, go for wood veneers with a smooth finish. Combining it with glass shelves and gleaming engineered stone will create a modern look. Reclaimed wood is a good look for today’s kitchen cabinets. The great thing about using a wood veneer is choosing less expensive wood species without compromising the luxurious feel.
5. Shelving
Open shelves are a great alternative to glass cabinets to bring in some color into the kitchen without committing to anything permanent. Choose neutral or white closed base cabinets and drawers to set off your open shelves that take the place of wall cabinets. Put your colorful cutlery, pitchers, glasses and cookware on display to liven up your kitchen. You can also put up your kitchen garden to make a fantastic backdrop for your cooking mastery. It is a great way to combine function and form without skipping a beat or spending money on mere decorations and accents.
Conclusion for Kitchen Upgrade
Upgrading your kitchen with new kitchen cabinets is a practical idea. You can make big changes in the look of your kitchen without putting out big money by choosing the right storage solutions for the space. These five tips should help you get out of the box and start thinking about style with kitchen cabinets. It would be wise to get your kitchen cabinets from an established cabinet supplier to ensure you get what you want. You can get a wide range of options across established brands, such as Schrock, Fabuwood, J & K Cabinets, Forevermark, and Wolf Cabinets in one place and get consultation services.
