Making small changes to an old kitchen
If you have an older home, chances are your kitchen could use a little remodeling. The kitchens of today are sleek and stylish and have more options than older appliances. Based on your family's needs and your personal style, you can remodel your kitchen for a small amount of money and make changes that will completely transform the look of your kitchen in your home.
An easy way to update an old kitchen is to rip down the wallpaper and apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls. If you are replacing the countertops, you want to select a paint color that will compliment it. If you are keeping your countertops, select a paint color that will match. One of the best ways to give a new look to the kitchen is to use a two-tone paint. Paint the bottom half of your kitchen a dark color and then sponge paint over it with two lighter colors. Sponge painting is an easy way to make a dramatic change to your kitchen. The upper half of your kitchen can be painted white to create a clean look. Painting the kitchen on your own will cost about $100, depending upon the size of your kitchen.
If you plan to install new appliances to your kitchen, choose appliances that compliment the new paint. For example, if you select black appliances, they often compliment a red paint color well. Typically, you should only paint one wall red instead of all 3 walls. The new appliances of today are designed to meet energy standards and there are several options to choose from instead of the brown, yellow, and white appliances of the past.
One area in the kitchen that is often overlooked is the kitchen countertop. Formica countertops were quite popular in the past and are prone to aging kitchens. Formica countertops often crack and chip over time and will eventually wear out. Depending upon the price you are willing to pay, you can replace your old Formica countertops with granite countertops or tile countertops. New granite countertops are pretty expensive and can cost upwards of $5000. Some people have chosen to install tile countertops themselves that can cost $300 or more. To install a tile countertop, you will need to purchase all the necessary supplies including a saw that can cut tile. It should take about 2-3 days to completely replace your old countertops with new tile countertops.
Another easy change you can make to an old kitchen is replacing the sink. Some older kitchens do not even have a disposal. The color of your sink should match the new appliances. Typically sinks come in white or black, but you can special order a different color if you wish. Installing a garbage disposal is also a good idea and isn't too difficult. If you do not wish to do this on your own, you can hire a professional to do the complete thing for around $300.
New lights can also add to the new look of your modern kitchen. The new wave of design is to have countertop lighting and recessed lighting in the ceiling. The lighting you install in the kitchen should be bright and compliment the new look you are going for. If you do not want to re-wire the kitchen with new lights, you can simply purchase new light fixtures and replace the older ones. Energy-efficient light bulbs will also help to cut down on the energy costs and provide you with cleaner, brighter lighting. If you have chosen a dark color for your paint, you defiantly want to install bright lighting so that the kitchen doesn't have a dark feeling to it.
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Tags: old kitchen remodel your kitchen kitchen appliances paint garbage disposal countertops
