Your kitchen may look outdated but not retro. Spending over $30,000.00 on a full kitchen renovation may not fit into your budget. You can modernize your kitchen incrementally with small inexpensive upgrades. Here are some things that make your kitchen look outdated and improvements you can make.
Hanging Pots and Pans
Not only is this design feature outdated, but it can also be an ugly dust collector that some people can’t reach. Some of the equipment is not even used very often. Remove the rack, patch a few holes in the drywall, keep well-used pans and pots handy, and store the rest.
Outdated Light Fixtures
Lighting designs change constantly. Some like sunshine ceilings, fluorescent ceiling fixtures, and hanging can lights are all well past their best-before dates. Recessed LED ceiling lights and under-cabinet strip lights provide more focused light and softer light where it is required.
Installing under-cabinet lights is a simple DIY project that costs less than $200.00 for the average kitchen. You may need an electrician to install recessed lighting.
Outdated Colors
Avocado, harvest gold, and burnt orange are 40 years outdated, and gray kitchens are well on the way to joining them. Pine and oak cabinets were popular in the 70s, 80s, and 90s but look dated now.
You can revitalize your entire kitchen for under $500.00 worth of paint and supplies. A weekend of DIY effort painting walls and ceiling one or more bright colors that reflect your personality and sanding and painting the cabinets changes your kitchen completely. Complete the job by replacing all of the outdated gold and brass drawer and door handles and knobs. Replace faucets at the same time with modern designs that include a vegetable spray.
Wood Panelling and Wallpaper
Wood-covered walls or paneling–especially dark colors–are very old-fashioned. Paint them lighter colors to make the kitchen feel brighter and more inviting. Or change the look and feel with wainscotting.
Wallpaper designs change constantly. Floral designs that remind visitors of their grandmother’s chesterfield may be retro. They may also just be outdated. Replacing wallpaper is an inexpensive weekend DIY project that modernizes your kitchen.
Inspirational Wall Words
Large letter signs like “Love”, “Dream”, “Breathe”, “Eat”, etc. are still inspirational and true, but very dated. They fade into the background and just become stuff on the wall. Replace them with pictures or paintings that can be easily changed to suit your mood.
White Appliances
White appliances have been standard in most homes for decades. They look outdated in many kitchens. Modern stainless steel and black appliances usually fit in any kitchen decor. Glass-top ranges are more popular than units with exposed burners. Appliance replacement is one of the more expensive upgrades but cheaper than a full kitchen upgrade. Some new appliances are “panel-ready” to accept panels that match kitchen cabinet decors.
Cluttered Countertops and Range Hood Microwaves
Microwaves, toasters, mixers, etc. cluttering up countertops make kitchens look dated. Modern designs tend to clear uncluttered countertops. Built-in microwaves–often with doors– or appliance garages to store things until they are needed are popular in newer kitchen designs.
Not only do range hood microwaves date your kitchen, but they are also difficult to use, inefficient, and ugly.
Granite and Ceramic Tile Countertops
Speckled granite countertops are outdated and have fallen out of favor. Designers are replacing them with quartz and marble for a timeless feel that should not go out of style.
Ceramic tile looks dated and is often cracked and the grout is stained or discolored–making it look uncared for and unsanitary.
Built In Wine Racks
Diamond-shaped built-in wine racks are no longer viewed as a symbol of luxury. Instead, they are out of date, often empty, and dusty. Replace your rack with an under-counter wine fridge to modernize the look of your kitchen.
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