Sure you have the stove, the fridge and the appliances and gadgets you need to cook, but what is your kitchen missing? Use these ideas to make your kitchen serve your needs. Some are easy, some are simple and some may take hard work. But you’re up to the task, right?
1. Dress up the kitchen – You spend a lot of time washing, rinsing, slicing, dicing, chopping, cutting, cooking baking in the kitchen. But what do you have to look at while you’re hard at work. There’s no reason you can’t dress up the dark corners or unused spaces on your counter with something attractive. Treat yourself to a vase full of fresh flowers, or buy a decorative conversation piece to liven up the decor.
* If you have the bills in piles sitting out and your favorite tea pots hidden in a cabinet, do some rearranging. Display the items you want to see daily.
2. Upgrade one major element – Choose from the 1970s linoleum or dated kitchen cabinets. New surfaces freshen up the kitchen and bring you into modern times. Newer floors and cabinets may also be easier to clean and keep clean.
3. Make more counter space – Is there every really enough counter space? It may seem like there is on some days, but when you try to cook for a small dinner party or go into a baking frenzy during the holidays you may wonder where all your countertop space went.
* Down-size large appliances that you don’t use regularly but are taking up prime countertop real estate. You may have a large toaster sitting out but nobody in your home toasts anything.
* Upgrade appliances to newer, smaller models.
* Consider a small kitchen island or rolling butcher block to create temporary, extra countertop space.
4. Add more electrical outlets – You may need some help on this one, from an electrician. Consider where you need more outlets and what you need them for. If the kitchen has become the room where everyone leaves their phones to charge, you’re going to need to either find a better place or add outlets. Add power strips where you can to expand your options.
5. Shed some light on it – Some places in your kitchen may be needlessly dark. If you have deep cabinets you may not be able to see into the back corners.
* Add simple battery-operated push lights which can hang on interior cabinets on a small nail.
* Replace outdated overhead lights. If you have high enough ceilings, invest in a ceiling fan. That way you get a light and a fan all in one.
* Install lighting under kitchen cabinets to reduce eyestrain.