Spruce Up a Cluttered Kitchen
Resale value isn't the only reason to redo a kitchen. Even if the home is a rental or you don't plan to sell your home for quite some time, since families spend much of their time in the kitchen, sprucing it up and making it more enjoyable and efficient is time and money well spent.
Simple inexpensive cosmetic changes can create a big impact—such as a boldly patterned area rug or eye-catching small appliance, like a toaster. These changes are practical and double as decoration, too.
To really spruce up your kitchen, though, concentrate on the walls. Removable wallpaper or wall decals can even help with design challenges.
Have a kitchen with no windows? A strong pattern on an open, light-colored background can help "open up" a windowless space. Consider a bold graphic wallpaper for the largest wall in the kitchen to make a strong design statement and create a feeling of stylish space and openness in a small area.
Crowded with cabinets? Having adequate storage space in a small kitchen can create an area that looks over-crowded with cabinets. To tone down this visually overwhelming look, consider replacing solid cabinet doors with glass ones or remove the doors altogether. To create even more visual interest, line the back of cabinets or the walls behind the shelves with wallpaper in a bright, fun pattern.
Galley doldrums? Use wallpaper or decals to establish a focal point and eliminate a plain, utilitarian galley style.
Staring at the walls? If all the seating in your kitchen faces a wall, you'll want something nice to look at, even for just drinking your coffee. Nature-theme patterns are in vogue now. Bring the outdoors in and create a restful atmosphere with nature scenes, or even a simple pattern that evokes an element of nature, such as bamboo stalks.
Simple inexpensive cosmetic changes can create a big impact—such as a boldly patterned area rug or eye-catching small appliance, like a toaster. These changes are practical and double as decoration, too.
To really spruce up your kitchen, though, concentrate on the walls. Removable wallpaper or wall decals can even help with design challenges.
Have a kitchen with no windows? A strong pattern on an open, light-colored background can help "open up" a windowless space. Consider a bold graphic wallpaper for the largest wall in the kitchen to make a strong design statement and create a feeling of stylish space and openness in a small area.
Crowded with cabinets? Having adequate storage space in a small kitchen can create an area that looks over-crowded with cabinets. To tone down this visually overwhelming look, consider replacing solid cabinet doors with glass ones or remove the doors altogether. To create even more visual interest, line the back of cabinets or the walls behind the shelves with wallpaper in a bright, fun pattern.
Galley doldrums? Use wallpaper or decals to establish a focal point and eliminate a plain, utilitarian galley style.
Staring at the walls? If all the seating in your kitchen faces a wall, you'll want something nice to look at, even for just drinking your coffee. Nature-theme patterns are in vogue now. Bring the outdoors in and create a restful atmosphere with nature scenes, or even a simple pattern that evokes an element of nature, such as bamboo stalks.