Any Idea to make this kitchen look a little lively till I can afford a

Question

just bought a new home well it's new to us this is the kitchen so ugly any ideas how to make it more appealing till I can afford a remodel

Peabutton's Mom · Answer

What wonderful pallet to work with! LOVE the wood cabinets! Depending on your budget...paint the cabinets a much lighter color, change the hardware. I can't tell what the wall/backsplash is but if it can be painted or papered then do so. Could cover with tile or even paint pegboard and install for extra hanging décor options. Open the space above those cabinets! Decorate with anything from flowers to vintage to big cookware seldom used. I will be following to see what you come up with now! I will be tackling my own kitchen in a few more months and will need some of these ideas :)

Debra Romans · Answer

thank you I think the wall is like pressed board very ugly

Carolyn Faye Blizzard Lanier · Answer

Paint your cabinets a lighter color, change the color of your walls if possible, if you paint your cabinets and walls make sure you use a washable paint, put up some back splash and change your hardware, it will look amazing. Below are some pictures of my kitchen that we redone, didn't spend much money, either. I painted my walls, my husband added some trim to my cabinet doors an I painted them a gloss white, got a new curtain from Ollie's for $4.00( Ollie's ) is a store about like Big Lots. We added a new sink and faucet from Lowe's, added some back splash that was on sale at Lowe's, the butcher block table in the middle of the floor is one my husband made out of some scrap oak wood he had left from a project, and the hardware is some that my step daughter gave me for Christmas one year. I love my kitchen, and with some simple things that you can do you will love yours too. Good Luck on your project.

Carly Swirtz · Answer

I am a wood lover and would not paint the wood. I would clean it with Howard Restore-a-finish. The back walls could be covered in mixed material mosaic wall tiles. They typically come in !2 X 12 sheets and can be found in a large variety of colors. You could find colors to tie in your cabinets countertops. They are reasonably priced,but you can watch for sales such as the Menards 11% sale. Most home improvement stores also offer free installation classes or step by step installation info.

Mark Hopple · Answer

I painted my horrible formica wood grain cabinets...they look so much better I added hardware there was none before...or you could paint every other cabinet or stain them a different color or only paint/stain the rim of the doors a different color like a frame.. there are several different tiles you can stick on the wall...maybe a nice peal and stick floor tile... so many options... just use your imagination...if you are not happy with your choices you can always paint over it... good luck to you...I hope I have given you some ideas ...

Debra Romans · Answer

thank you I didn't even think of wall tile and yes I am a wood lover too thanks for the input

Debra Romans · Answer

Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.

KathrynElizabeth Etier · Answer

Paint and lots of it. Rather than putting money into features that may not work when you remodel, pick out colors and paint those cabinets and walls. Either pick a paint chip with colors you like and use the lightest for the walls and the darkest for the cabinets, or pick two vibrant colors that will bring life into the kitchen. Get new cabinet hardware (if you can't use it in your remodel, you can use it for decorating and storage projects), and buy an indoor/outdoor rug for the floor--something with a pattern that picks up the colors you choose for your paint. If painting similar colors, pick a rug that incorporates those colors into a pattern that includes an accent color you love.

Colleen Knight · Answer

Since you like the wood tones, why not sand and stain the cabinets in a tone you like, add some moulding to the front and new hardware, paint the walls and maybe add a neutral colored tile backsplash. Also you could put some glass inserts into some of the cabinet doors if you are handy with a router or buy a couple replacement doors with glass fronts unfinished to stain the same color as the cabinets. Good luck and have fun!

Z · Answer

I love the wood grain on the cabinets too Debra, so I'd recommend painting just the walls or maybe using some Anaglypta wallpaper and painting that to give added interest.

Dawn Miller · Answer

My parents had those same 1970 cupboards. I refinished them and changed the hardware to something more modern. Minwax golden oak is what I used . I bought vinyl shelf liner for the aged insides.

The walls are OSB so they need tile under the cupboards and wallpaper if more extensive than visible. When you can afford it change the counters to solid surface or granite. A bright valance would help over the sink.

Tabby · Answer

I like what @Dawn Miller said and did. To save money/time, I'd just paint the OSB walls, and change the hardware if you can find a contractor's price on bulk kind that you like. People like a nice balance of wood (cabinets/floor), metal (faucets/sink/hardware), stone (counters/some sinks/ tile backsplashes and floors) and glass (window/cabinet doors/ some counters look glassy). So you need some of all four, it seems like the kitchen has too much wood-look right now.

Wanda sinnema · Answer

First thing I notice is tooo much same color. I'd paint / wallpaper the wall/backsplash area. I'd remove 1-2 cabinet doors and do the same treatment on the back inside of those, that would break up the look of so much wood. Add a curtain, valance, topper or roman shade to the window. If privacy or hot sun is an issue go mini blind, they are inexpensive and can be cut to sizeat your local home improvement store..I'm not sure what the white bar or pipe is, I'd remove it if you can. I'd change out the cabinet knobs, that can get expensive, so check around, online etc. A couple of long runner rugs (washable) would also help to break up the close colored look of the floor. GREAT thing about this is you can play a bit, since you want to remodel in a while, try some things, to find out WHAT YOU REALLY LIKE or DON'T LIKE when it comes time for the big REDO....Its hard in a new home to want to do everything FIRST,,,, I know the area you are in, friends in Butte and out on the Ruby River past Alder,, its beautiful country, congratulations on your new home..

Peabutton's Mom · Answer

I had another idea. You could decoupage some pretty paper onto the wall. Find something inexpensive that you like....say wrapping paper.....and use mod podge or a homemade version. Apply spray on acrylic sealant or even some Thompson's Water Seal. This would add color and pattern without the expense of wall paper. Also, you can decoupage pattern cut outs from the paper onto the cabinets. :) Still yet again you can always use contact paper....much more expensive though.

Lindcurt · Answer

I have a friend that redecorated her kitchen and ran short on $ before the backsplash was purchased. She used a vinyl flooring remnant. It was a red and white 12' checker board pattern. It was cheap and so cute. She decided not to replace it because it turned out so nice and easy to clean.

Wanda sinnema · Answer

a great hint I learned years ago.... for lining cabinets and drawers, especially OLD and beat up ones.... go to your local Lowes, of Home Depot..... but SHEET VINAL flooring off the rolls, you can buy it for about $10.00 a foot, remember its 12 ft wide....they cut it (by the foot). I got a piece 1 ft, and a piece 2 ft.. for $30.00 lined kitchen and part of one bathroom........ it heavy duty, remove and wipe out...best part,,,,,,,,,,NOT DEALING WITH CONTACT PAPER.. or the shelf liners,,,,

Amy Anson · Answer

There are some great ideas here. I've been struggling with my old dark wood cabinets fro the 70's. I found a light marbled contact paper at the Dollar Tree which I used on the doors (they have a dark wood frame around them so the light color inside the frame really lightened them up) I liked the contact paper because it was cheap and much easier than painting them. Vinyl floor tiles would have worked nicely too but I didn't want seams. I had an idea for your backsplash. I saw it somewhere else and thought it was suck a cool idea. Use pennies like tiles. Just glue them on and if you want you can grout them or just seal them for easy cleaning. I saw a floor done like that and it looked amazing. A floor might be a bit too much work for me though. But a backsplash would be easy enough and add a spot of interest. (and it's cheap) Painting the rest sounds good too. I'm always looking for new ideas to update the kitchen (especially inexpensive and easy ways) so I'll be following this one.

Bonnie Carstensen · Answer

Paint the Cabinets to the color you want, for the counters go to any tile store and tile it I did this to my Daughters Counters if you go ask what they have that there not getting back in you can buy it real cheap mix and match, I used big ones then if i had any spaces i just took the tile out side and busted it up and finished it that way cause i did not want to cut tile, Make sure you take the stuff off of the old counter it will pop right off. it Was BEAUTIFUL

Michelle · Answer

paint the cabinets, put new hardware on the doors, back splash , not sure what you have there but paint, contact paper are inexpensive ways to up the cute factor

Jean Thompson · Answer

Paint the Door Pulls a Bright Red, hang some Bright Potholders just under the Cabinets, and some bright Fabric at the Windows, ( not Valance because it cuts the height of the window...

Kathy Bitzan · Answer

You would be surprised how it will look just clean every thing up and use the counter colors to give it a boost or choose any coordinating color also could help till you decide what to do..don't forget to add in some plants they always make a big difference.

Jean Thompson · Answer

Love the idea that Kathy suggested about adding Plants... also if you have some bright Colored mixing Bowls or serving dishes you could set them out on the Counter for Color.. some baskets or bright colored Canister sets ( pick up cheap set at thrift Store or even walmart,, if you don't like the Color of the Thrift Store ones Spray paint them ( walmart has the spray paint..) What is on the Wall under the cupboards and between the cupboards? you could always give that area (Back splash area) a coat of Bright Paint and paint the space above the Cabinets too... That would help some...

Amy Anson · Answer

Another idea: You could paint the space between the top cabinets and the ceiling white which would open it up a bit. The back splash could also be painted or even just the section without a top cabinet to add some contrast. Love adding plants. You could also stencil or paint on an accent design to the cabinets which would change the look and add some visual interest. There's a wide variety of stencils available which could make that process fairly simple (could even use spray paint to do it). Bright colored accents like colored glass bottles or containers (thrift store comes in handy here) will add a little color. You could also just get a paint color either a little darker or lighter than the cabinet color and use a sponge or feather duster to pattern it in some places to break it up from being all one color. (can do just the backsplash, or make a faux frame on cabinets with paint). Lot's of potential here. Let us know what you decide to do.

Laurie · Answer

Paint the cabinet add some trim to them

Julie Rollins Andrews · Answer

Buy a Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformation Kit in the color of your choice. You could also paint , wallpaper or tile the walls with colors you like. You can also buy an onlay or two to high light the area above the stove or the sink to add some nice details. They make just about every kind of onlay you can think of.You could also buy some rope onlay to trim your cabinet doors to spruce them up a bit if you like. Just go with your own taste and it will turn out beautiful. :-)

Donna Mac Donald · Answer

Get new hardware for the cabinets and the walls need to be a contrast to the cabinets

Trixie63 · Answer

I think the cabinets are beautiful. I'd paint everything else to compliment your counter top or new backsplash. Embossed wallpaper you can paint perhaps. Embrace what you have now and be happy until you can get your dream kitchen.  Congrats on your new home!

Jeannette · Answer

The birch cabinets are beautiful. Change that brown wall and the soffit to closely match the counter top color. When you paint the soffit to match the ceiling the cabinets will not look like they have been jammed into a corner. Make new door pulls. Use a flat 2' round wood knob with a recessed top; fill the top with color mosaic tiles and white grout.

Gladys · Answer

The cabinets look nice to me too! (What is on the walls?) You could just hang up some great art on the wall and add coordinating curtains and a rug.

Sherry · Answer

Paint everything!! You'll be surprised what an impact it makes!

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