Making The Kitchen An Inviting Space
Most people agree, the kitchen is the heart of any home and it is where everyone ends up. Having a kitchen that invites and welcomes your family and guests is a high priority for most and can be achieved. Sometimes it just takes a few changes to make your kitchen the space you want it to be.
Evaluating Your Kitchen
If you find yourself dissatisfied with your kitchen, take a few minutes to evaluate what is the problem. Is the lay-out to cramped, or are the kitchen cabinets outdated? Do the counters tops make you want to cry-or is it the fact that there is now drawer space? Write down your thoughts about the space and decide what it is about your kitchen that isn't working.
Now that you know what it is that seems to be the problem, be realistic about the solution. If the kitchen is too small, is there a way to open it up? Maybe the layout is the problem and by removing some cabinets the space will naturally have a more open feel to it. Or, it could be that the kitchen is too small, in which case can you expand and always remember you can probably remove walls or build out, but there is a cost to everything.
Quick Kitchen Fixes
Maybe the cabinets are out of date and the counter top is showing its age. These are two things that can be replaced. Cabinets can either be painted, re-surfaced or even re-placed. If you're going to keep the layout the same, you might consider painting or re-facing the cabinets.
Take a trip to the local home improvement store for ideas and suggestions on how to paint or re-face your cabinets. By either painting or re-facing, you can make an updated look at a fraction of the cost of completely re-placing.
There are cost effective ways to replace cabinetry, including buying unfinished cabinets and finishing them yourself. If this is your solution, make sure to measure your current cabinets, and get the right sized cabinetry.
Replacing current counter tops is another way to update a kitchen. There are many top of the line products that can be purchased at discounts if you know where to look. Companies that install counter tops will sometimes have left-over pieces that they sell at a discount. You can even have them install the counter tops for you too. Some counter tops can be placed right over the existing counters, making for an easy installation.
Backsplash tile can also be added to really enhance a kitchen. This can be easily done, and a homeowner can even do it themselves. By visiting nearby home improvement stores, a homeowner can take classes and learn about available products.
The kitchen is the center of most homes, and by updating this space a home can feel new.
