3 Kitchen Upgrades That Are Worth the Price Tag

stylish modern kitchen

When it comes to the most used rooms in your home, the kitchen is often top of the list. It’s the place you prepare and cook meals, eat as a family, entertain friends, and just hang out. With that said, it’s nice to have a kitchen that reflects your personal style and is, at the same time, functional.

If your kitchen isn’t quite hitting all the high notes, and isn’t that dream space you had envisioned, there are some upgrades that could change the way you feel about the space. Here’s a look at three upgrades you may want to consider in 2020 and are well worth the price you pay.

Add a Stylish Backsplash

Just because you may not have the budget to completely gut and renovate your kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t change up its look. By adding a stylish backsplash you will completely transform the look of the kitchen and modernize it. The best thing about this project is that it’s something you can do yourself in order to save money, and backsplash tiling is available in all different price points.

Energy Efficient Appliances

Then there are your kitchen appliances; the major ones, which are your oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher. You can go as sleek as you want, choose any finish, and get all the bells and whistles, but unless it is an energy efficient model you just won’t be getting your money’s worth. Energy efficient appliances use much less energy than traditional models, which means savings each and every month. Over time, the savings will pay for the appliance.

Of course, to keep your appliances working in tip top condition, and ensure they are truly energy efficient, you’ll want to make sure to keep them clean and well-maintained. This includes changing out filters on a regular basis, such as the refrigerator water filters that so many models have.

Upgraded Light Fixtures

Finally, we have the lighting fixtures. Lighting is something that people all too often overlook but it can have a huge impact on the room. You can change out old fixtures for modern and stylish new ones, plus you can install new types of lighting such as task lighting, under cabinet lighting, recessed lighting, and pendant lights.

As for the budget for this particular upgrade, that’s really up to you. If you are simply updating the existing fixtures, this is something you can do on your own and relatively cheap. If you will be adding all new fixtures where they didn’t exist before, then you’ll need to hire a licensed electrician so it will be a more costly project.

Small Changes with Big Impact

While each of these upgrades may not seem like much on their own, the fact is that each one will have an impact on the overall design, feel, and function of the kitchen. They can act as a great starting point for a general overall of the space, modernizing it to meet your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Upgrades

Renovating isn’t just expensive, but also time and energy-consuming. Should you not have the skills, patience, and the money for renovating your kitchen (or any other room in your home), you will end up failing your project thoroughly.

When it comes to kitchen renovation, there’s no such thing as knowing too much. Therefore, the FAQs down below are only going to ease out the process later on.

1. How much money is going to cost you?

Typically, you will need around $20,000 for remodeling your kitchen, as it’s about $150 per square foot. The majority of homeowners will spend something between $12,500 and almost $35,000, with prices ranging from $75 to $250 per square foot. The kitchen size, material quality,  and how much you’re going to alter the layout of the room count for the final spending.

2. So how much you’ll spend on remodeling a “medium” sized kitchen?

To give you the numbers, you will spend anything from $15,000 to $30,000 on a 100 square foot kitchen. Anything of this size is considered to be the medium-sized kitchen.

3. What if the kitchen is small?

Prepare to pay anything from $5,000 to $20,000 for a small kitchen. It depends a lot on the upgrade, installation, and repairs that you’re going to tackle. A small project includes refacing cabinets, painting the walls, installing a tile backsplash, and upgrading the sink. it ranges from $10,000 to $15,000. Should you also be interested in installing granite counters, changing the hardwood floors, and buying the high-end appliances, you will need to pay more than $30,000.

4. Is it expensive to redo the kitchen counters?

There are numerous and various options for the kitchen counters. Even if granite surfaces are accessible, you can find anything similar that is less expensive. Corian (it’s engineered stone imitating quarts), and tiled surfaces (marble, porcelain, or ceramic) is an affordable choice that looks nice and doesn’t empty your pockets. Don’t forget that you can also use concrete as it’s easy to install and customize for a more appealing look.

Most of the time, you can pay from $40 to $100 per square foot when installing the new countertop. Granite countertops can cost from $50 to $250 per square foot, whereas tiles start at $10, going up to $30 or $35 for solid surfaces.

5. Is it possible to remodel a kitchen on a fixed budget?

Take a good look at your kitchen and decide if you need to change the cabinets or not, as they’re the most significant spending when remodeling. Maybe you can get away with giving them a fresh new look and not replacing them altogether.

White paint is a great trick to save money and give the old cabinets a new look. You can consider adding new hardware for better results. You can do it only when the cabinets are in good shape. Otherwise, you may need to get new ones.

You may also add better lighting and more lighting for your kitchen. It should be bright and focused on zones where you’re cooking.

It’s all in the details, so you should be smart when remodeling. For instance, under-cabinet lighting doesn’t empty your wallet, but it definitely changes the feel and appearance of that space.

6. How much will you pay for installing cabinets?

As they keep everything organized, cabinets are essential for a kitchen’s appearance. Installing six cabinets for a 200 square foot can cost you a bit over $3,500.

Professional cabinet installers ask for $50 to $200 per linear foot. The price typically includes planning, preparation, setup, work for installing the cabinets, and cleanup.

The necessary materials and supplies, such as connectors, fasteners, and finishing materials, should be around $40.

7. What other trick works when remodeling the cabinets?

Upper cabinets may lead to a claustrophobic feel in a kitchen, but the storage space is essential for anyone with a lot of items to display. You may very well replace the old solid cabinet doors with some glass-paned fronts. This way, you don’t lose the storage space, and you can show off your impressive collection of mugs.

8. Can you update the kitchen floor without spending a lot?

For the wood floors, a refinish can work miracles, like sanding and staining the floors give impressive results.

Should you consider replacing the vinyl/tile floors, you can go with sealed cork as it’s pleasant on the feet and affordable too.

9. Is painting the floor an option?

Even if the wood floor isn’t in the best shape, you can still expand its durability without calling out the professionals. White looks very modern, but you need to clean every crumble falling on the floor. Blue and pale gray also look chic, and modern designers recommend stenciling a design for a more contemporary feel.

10. Can you do something with the refrigerator?

If you don’t want nor need to get a new refrigerator, you can always give it a brand new look. You may look for a wallpaper that fits the modern décor in the kitchen and cover your refrigerator. It would help if you sealed it with polyurethane for better water resistance.

11. How about upgrading the metals?

It’s not only the clothing that goes out of fashion, but also metals. Some were popular a decade ago, and metals used for hardware in your kitchen make no exception. Manufacturers are continually developing better materials that surprise with the properties and appearance.

Merely changing the drawer pulls and lighting fixtures with modern metals can change the whole vibe in your kitchen. Matte aluminum brushed gold, stainless steel, and copper are some of the top choices at the moment, and they look amazing in a kitchen.

12. Should you get new appliances?

It would be best if you didn’t consider purchasing new appliances when they’re not running anymore. Many of the kitchen appliances are outdated, and you need to look for energy-efficient options. Not only that, you’ll save water and energy (which is right for your wallet and the earth too), but you’ll also obtain a modern appearance in the kitchen.

Now it’s also an excellent time to replace the plumbing fixtures, with low-flow kitchen faucets saving you plenty of water.

New appliances will always give a kitchen a feel of updated and fresh. Should your wallet be generous enough, get a stainless steel refrigerator, another coffee machine, or the latest model for microwave. Of course, they should all be Bluetooth and compatible with your phone.

13. Which are the best lighting options when modernizing the kitchen?

It would help if you never skipped lighting when remodeling/renovating your kitchen. Not many people think about it, but the light is actually essential for ambiance, safety, and versatility in the kitchen. If you’ve only used overhead lighting so far, it’s time that you check the modern alternatives for illumination.

Installing a dimmer switch will give you the versatility you need for cooking, entertaining, or simply enjoying a cup of tea in the afternoon. Go with a pendant lighting over the kitchen island, and use under cabinet lighting for illuminating the countertops.

Swing-arm sconces above the open shelves will create a pleasant ambient light and give a personal touch to any kitchen. It’s better that you talk to an electrician for installing the sconces, as you don’t want to see any cords.

14. Can we talk about upgrading the accessories?

Truth be told, the kitchen isn’t the room where you’re displaying your art collection. However, you should get the best out of anything the prime wall provides. You can create a “view” with seascapes or bohemian landscapes. Use some antique portraits for a happy vibe.

It’s all about using the proper fabrics and options when decorating the kitchen. Place a couple of wooden boards on the counter to show some pantry items with cute packaging. Have your kids use their finger painting abilities for some charming paintings to display in the kitchen. It’s all about creating a warm and welcoming feel in the kitchen.

In closing, some tips for kitchen renovation on a budget from Do It On A Dime

About Amanda

I love to buy a lot of products for the home, and dissect them out. I split them into duds and winners, and share the findings here on my site. As a reader of my site, I'm aiming for your next purchase to be an informed and inspired one.

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