5 updates that will keep your kitchen from looking dated

5 updates that will keep your kitchen from looking dated that are DIY and budget friendly

We designed and built our home 20 years ago. I would like to think that we designed it with functionality, purpose, and good bones that would serve this house well for many years…..and it has. But after 20 years some design elements have needed a refresh to stay current and not look so dated.

I remember when we first built our home the kitchen had red and black walls, cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and a black sink. Don’t get me wrong, I loved that look ……back then. In fact, two of those original design elements the sink and countertops, are still in place ( ain’t broke don’t fix it kinda thing).

What has been done to keep my kitchen current and not look so dated are 5 items that are budget-friendly and things any homeowner could do easily in their own kitchen. To really appreciate the ideas, here are a few shots of the kitchen before I made the changes.

And here are the same views after I made the changes.

Two changes that are not included in my list today that also really changed things up in my kitchen, were taking out the butler’s pantry and installing a window, and changing out my black appliances to stainless steel. Both of those projects were not exactly something you can do in a couple of hours or what I would consider budget-friendly, like the 5 updates on my list.

5 updates that will keep your kitchen from looking dated

Paint

Painting the walls and cabinets in my kitchen during this time has without a doubt been the most significant change that I made to update my kitchen. Although it took a few years for me to put the first stroke of paint on the walls and longer on my cabinets, I had no regrets about putting a lighter color on the wall and the cabinets. I have some painting tips including what I think is the most important step if you are painting cabinets and the pros and cons of painting your cabinets white. Definitely worth the read if you are thinking about taking the plunge.

Lighting

Lighting can really make or break a room. It provides such a visual statement in a space. Nowadays there are so many options and styles at affordable prices. My go-to lighting sources for options and affordability are here and here. When I first moved in every piece of lighting was in an oil-rubbed bronze finish, today I have updated my lighting pieces with all different finishes and metals. Yes, it’s perfectly okay to mix and match. I have bronze, black, and even a clear glass pendant over the kitchen sink.

Here are some of my light sources:

Cabinet pulls and handles

Talk about an easy and inexpensive change. Changing the pulls, knobs, and handles can create a more dated look instantly. When I moved in 20 years ago I installed knobs on the cabinet doors and cup handles on the drawers. Recently I have started to swap out the knobs on my cabinets doors for longer handles that have a sleek and modern look to them. The process to replace all of them would certainly go faster but I need to create and drill a second hole.

Faucet

Honestly, not that my original faucet was dated, in fact, faucets haven’t changed drastically over the last 16 years. I just wanted something a bit prettier and modern looking than what I installed when we built our home.  Since you walk into my kitchen and see the island with my sink, I want a faucet that looks good. Kitchen faucets are like artwork in the kitchen. You can either go big or small as far as size and budget. My faucet is the Kohler pull and I just love it.

Backsplash

I made this update years ago and haven’t thought twice about changing it. I originally had a tumbled stone, then years later I actually darkened it ( yikes). When I decided to paint the cabinets I just painted over the stone with white semi-gloss paint. Occasionally I will have to wipe down the area behind the cooktop but for the most part, it has stayed fresh and maintenance-free. I shared the painting backsplash process here.

I hope some of these ideas show you that it doesn’t take a full-blown reno to create a fresh kitchen space that is 20 years old. Most importantly, you have to love your space….dated or not.

Have you done anything to update your kitchen that is not on my list? If so, share it in the comments so we can all be inspired.

grateful

for a kitchen that I love

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