How to Make your

Kitchen Look Wow-Worthy

Are home renovations and upgrades a part of your New Year’s resolutions? Start with upgrading your kitchen. A functional, trendy kitchen can greatly increase the value of your home, and will make your space more enjoyable to utilize while you are still residing there. Kitchen upgrades do not have to break the bank, and many updates can easily be done yourself. Here are some ways to amp up your kitchen, and increase the value of your home if you are planning to sell in the near future.

Upgrade Your Appliances

Upgrading your kitchen appliances will add major value to your kitchen, but does not have to put a major dent in your wallet. Stainless steel appliances are a must these days, so if your kitchen is still sporting white appliances, it is time to make the switch. Another trend for appliances are those that are integrated into the kitchen cabinetry and that blend in easily. Transform your kitchen island into a stove top and choose a dishwasher or fridge with cabinet panels.

Replace Your Cabinets

The brown, wooden cabinets that were once so popular are slowly fading away. Instead, white cabinet doors are becoming much more common. Swapping out – or painting – your cabinets can bring a renewed energy into your kitchen. For a clean, minimalistic look, opt out of traditional cabinets all together and choose a glass front cabinet or floating shelf to store your dishes on. Floating shelves are increasing in popularity with rustic farmhouse looks, and create a classic vibe for your kitchen.

Consider Your Counter Space

Are your counters overflowing with cookware and loose items? Store these items out of the way, and let the beauty of your counters shine through. Once you’ve upgraded your counters, you still might need additional space for all your cooking needs. Adding in a butcher block island in the center of your kitchen will give you extra counter and storage space, and can be utilized when your kitchen is full of guests. If you have enough space in your kitchen for an island, it can help separate the room and create a natural flow for people to follow.

Maximize Storage Space

Take advantage of unused storage space and enhance the look of your kitchen. Wall space is great for mounting hanging racks for utensils, paper towels, or adding in floating shelves to store dishes on. Stop stacking your pots and pans in cabinets, and add in a hanging ceiling rack to display them on. If dangling pots are not your preferred style, you can also add in organizing shelves to your cabinets. These shelves are easy to pull out, and make kitchen organizing a clutter-free process.

Add a Backsplash

Adding a backsplash behind your kitchen sink serves a functional and aesthetic purpose. As you scrape away dish dirt, the backsplash keeps items from splashing directly onto the wall and is easy to wipe clean. With different tiles to choose from, your backsplash also adds in texture and personality to an otherwise dull kitchen wall.

Install a Pull-Down Faucet

Stiff faucets that cannot be moved are a thing of the past. Maximize your cleaning and the look of your sink by adding in a faucet that can be pulled down to better clean dishes. No plumber needed, this is an easy DIY fix. You can also switch out your existing sink for a stainless steel drop-in sink that will give you ample room for cleaning. If you really want to get fancy, install a drop-in sink that already has a built-in dish drying rack.

Furniture Fix

Ditch the outdated kitchen table and swap it for newer, sleeker kitchen furniture. If you have unused counter space, consider transforming it into a bar-top table to dine at and bringing in bar stools. If you’re short on space but like to entertain, you are better off getting a small kitchen table that can be extended to accommodate more people. This will save you space when you are only feeding a few, but can easily allow more space when your home is full of guests. Swap out a round table for a rectangular one that can easily be placed flesh against the wall to optimize space.

Cut the Clutter

This one might not be a kitchen renovation, but minimizing your kitchenware and those pesky tupperware piles will surely enhance the look of your kitchen. Plus, when you do get closer to moving, this will cut down on items that need to be packed. Take advantage of storage items to better utilize space and display your kitchenware, and toss out unused, unnecessary pieces.  

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The kitchen is meant for creating meals and memories, and should reflect a bit of your personality. Making these upgrades will be sure to make your kitchen look wow-worthy, and create an organized, functional space. These popular upgrades will help enhance the value of your kitchen and home, and ensure your kitchen is in tip-top shape when you are ready to sell. Written by Haley Kieser