Thinking about selling your home, or just thinking about updating its current look? Renovating your own kitchen can add a ton of value to your home and make living there more enjoyable! Here are some options to really vamp up the look of one of the most important rooms in your home. 

Start with a clean slate: 

Giving your kitchen a deep clean can vastly improve the look of the space for little to no money. Don’t forget these important areas: 

• The splatter zone – This includes the underside of upper cabinets, inside vent fan, light fixtures, and fans in the cooking space 

• Fridge coils and drip pan 

• Inside appliances – This includes dishwasher, fridge, and oven 

Update hardware: 

Now that you’ve got a clean kitchen to work with, start thinking about your budget. What are you willing to replace and what needs to stay? Consider starting by giving your kitchen a fresh look with new hardware. There are plenty of styles to choose from, making it one of the easiest and least expensive ways to inject a pop of personality. 

Let there be light: 

Simply replacing lightbulbs can be a huge change; especially when you upgrade to consistently colored LED lightbulbs in every fixture. If you’re able to go a step further, updating the style of your kitchen with new pendant lighting, under-cabinet lighting and more can make a drastic changes. 

Replace outdated appliances: 

Updating kitchen appliances can be expensive, but there are plenty of ways to find a good bargain: 

• Replace panels on the front of the fridge, dishwasher, or oven. This is a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire appliance and is an effective update when the appliance still works for your needs. 

• When shopping for appliances, look for floor models. You’re usually only giving up the box the item came in. (Be sure to check with the dealer about the warranty. They might be willing to extend the warranty to unload the item.) 

• Shop in early fall for appliances. Last year’s models need to go to make room for the next year’s models. 

• Ask for volume discounts, some places offer discounts if you buy all your appliances in one place. 

Bring in the backsplash: 

If you’re looking to really pump up the style of your kitchen, simply replacing the backsplash is an amazing option to add texture and color to spaces. From exposed brick, stone, glass, tile, and more…your options are endless! 

Refresh your cabinets and countertops: 

Often the biggest expense in a kitchen, new cabinets are out of reach at many price points. If you have an older kitchen, it may be wiser to repaint or refinish the existing cabinets, which are likely wood. It will cost half as much as the price of new wood cabinets — and smarter than downgrading to particleboard to fit the budget. Countertops can often be refinished at a lower price point as well, but If you think your best bet is to completely replace both, keep this in mind: 

• Look for cabinet retailers or wholesalers that offer free design services such as measuring your kitchen and planning your layout. 

• Go directly to the place that sells granite slabs. You can save 25 to 30 percent by cutting out the middle man. 

• Click HERE to read an article to help articulate whether it’s better for you to reface or replace your cabinets 

No matter the choice you ultimately make when updating your kitchen, renovations in this part of your home are not only a way to make your home much more enjoyable, but can add to your resale value! Consulting a contractor could be a good choice, or if you’re handy, jump into making some small changes to your kitchen yourself. If you’re looking for a second opinion or reference for companies that can help you create your dream kitchen in your current home, reach out to our team! 

Or if you think your current kitchen isn’t a good fit, we can help you find a home with the perfect kitchen to meet your needs. Call us at 412-965-6387 or email Rich@DallasFinchamTeam.com.