If you are like me, and you practically live in your kitchen, you want to love what you are looking at. If your kitchen space is not as lovely as you’d like it to be, we have some beautiful, easy kitchen updates you can do with any budget.
This post is all about easy kitchen updates. It contains affiliate links, meaning, I might receive a small commission, but at no cost to you.
I’m so excited to show you a peek at the heart-of-our-home and what we used to update our kitchen space to make it cozy for this momma bear’s “living arrangements.” If you are in that room most of the time, you want to make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Whether you are looking for bigger renovations or tiny tips to spruce things up, we have some quick ideas to pass along that will help inspire you to make you fall in love with your kitchen.
Upgrade Appliances to Beauty
You may have never thought of a refrigerator, range, microwave, or dishwasher as being pieces of beauty in the kitchen, but when you have the right appliances, they really do add such value and can give the space a greater elegance because of their presence.
When deciding on new appliances, there are so many beautiful options to consider. I’d like to share my experience with ours, and explain what has worked out super well for us, and held up longer than the standard appliance life-span.
We brought the refrigerator, dish washer, microwave, and oven with us from our old house when we moved into our current one. They were in such good shape, and plus, this house didn’t have any appliances. It actually had no kitchen at all, so it was quite the work in progress.
Easy Kitchen Updates- Range
This allowed us to create the kitchen we wanted. Minus the already existing tile floors! That would have been a bigger job than what we signed up for at the moment. I can dream though about my hardwood kitchen floors that will be laid, at least one day.
So, we opted to go with a larger 36” range. Verona does not disappoint when it comes to their ranges. I LOVE ours! They also come in the standard 30” versions.
Refrigerator
Our LG refrigerator, we just recently replaced, after a 16-year run, and we ended up going with the same one that we had before, because of how well it held up. The average life-span of a regular sized refrigerator is 14 years.
Dishwasher
Our dishwasher, also an LG, lasted about 14 years, before we had to replace it. Going again with an updated LG brand! The average life expectancy of a dish washer is 12 years. WAHOO for winning extra life years.
Here are a couple quick dishwasher tips that will help make it last longer. Place one cup of vinegar in a shallow bowl, on the cleaning cycle, every other week, or at least once a month, to wash it out. And, open the door to dry it out every night, all night long.
Microwave
As for our under-cabinet microwave, you are not going to believe this! It is still going strong to this day, after about 16 years of service to our family. Another LG product, baby! LOL! Microwaves in general only last about 7 years.
LG has STELLAR quality appliances and great prices too. I believe no matter the appliance you decide to go with, you will make the best choice for your family. Whether it’s LG or another great brand, adding new appliances are an easy kitchen update and add such beauty to the kitchen.
Click the Pics Below to Shop
Add a Pot Filler to Make Life Practical
I’d encourage you to add a pot filler only if you have NOT yet installed a backsplash. Otherwise, things will quickly turn from easy kitchen updates, to longer time-consuming kitchen updates because you may have to remove some of the backsplash to install it.
As far as where to position the pot filler, it can go in multiple areas within the wall’s range-space. The option we preferred to use was to line up the pot filler so that its entire structure was in the middle of the space. That means the hole needed to be drilled off-center a bit so the pot filler unit itself can be smack-dab in the middle. Check out our pictures to see exactly how we positioned it.
Install a Backsplash with Beauty
Adding a backsplash will certainly elevate the look and feel of your kitchen. Subway tile is the way to go if you want to incorporate some of the hottest trends.
This kind of tile’s appearance has returned with a very strong comeback. That tells you how much this look has withstood the test of time. You can’t go wrong using these classic rectangular pieces.
When installing a backsplash, you will need to decide on the ceramic tile size, color, style, grout, and edging. If you tend to get tired of things fast, I’d recommend going with tone on tone. If you allow the tile color to match the grout, your eyes will see it as one cohesive piece, rather than a checker board effect.
For the backsplash in our home, we went with a ceramic 4×14 subway tile with a timeless look. Going with a neutral creamy white, and tone on tone, was a must in my heart for our kitchen so I wouldn’t tire of the look.
Don’t forget to take into consideration your flooring, counter tops, and cabinet colors when deciding on your perfect backsplash. Ask for samples and bring them home to see which tile tones look best.
View them at all points throughout the day. The shadows in your kitchen will actually make them look like they have different hues at different times. Just know, this is normal, but can also make it difficult to nail down the right one. Choose the tile that looks best in the daylight hours, since that’s when you will be seeing it most.
Just an FYI, Amazon offers a fun adhesive backsplashes, too. These options are a SUPER easy and quick kitchen update.
Fancy Faucet Change
Does your faucet need an upgrade? Feel free to think beyond your cabinet hardware color and use a different metal for your faucet. Choose something that coordinates with the other metals in your kitchen.
If you have black hardware, and you like the look of gold, feel free to add in gold as a statement piece. You can incorporate the gold color a few other places as well so that the hardware ties in with the rest of the kitchen. Think of picture frames, bowls, bar cart, or your utensil jar as options that could be accessorized in gold.
The touchless kitchen faucet is a top trending resource these days. Amazon has some amazing finds that will suit any taste or style.
Another easy kitchen update is to add a reverse osmosis (RO) to your sink space. It’s a practical way to have good clean water available for your family. We are big fans of ours. Just remember to add the minerals back into your diet because the RO removes them all.
Add a Cozy Rug
When adding a rug to a high traffic kitchen space, it’s best to go with an indoor-outdoor rug. The rug you see in the picture is exactly that. They come in so many sizes and colors, you will be able to find the best style for your kitchen. Go with something neutral so you can build up on deigns with embellishments and art work.
If you don’t have a kitchen island, feel free to go with a larger rug instead of multiple little rugs. It will provide a greater flow to the floor space by having one cohesive covering.
Give Your Hardware a Face Lift
Changing the hardware in your kitchen can be another super easy kitchen update, especially when using the same holes from the previous knobs. You can get super creative with it or go with a classic look that will carry your knob preference for a long time.
The hardware that we originally chose for this kitchen is very traditional. My style has since changed. Don’t remind my husband! LOL! I prefer a cleaner, more straight line in design these days; like what comes with the transitional look. So, keep in mind when deciding, if you tend to get tired of things quickly, go with something plain-jane in terms of style.
Paint Your Cabinets a Color You Love
Rather than replacing all of your cabinets, have you thought about painting them instead? It’s a very cost-effective way to go and can elevate the look of your kitchen in a matter of a long weekend, or a couple of weekends.
Just make sure you sand down far enough so the paint will stick to the wood. My sister learned a valuable lesson from her cabinet painting experience. Make sure you sand, and SAND well so the paint doesn’t chip or peel.
A fun trend in cabinet color design is what’s called a “tuxedo” look. This means the upper cabinets are one color and the lower cabinets are a different color. Usually, the uppers are lighter and the bottoms are darker. The lighter cabinet color on top flows better esthetically because the eyes are drawn upwards.
Hang Joanna Gains Style Floating Shelves
The very trendy Joanna Gains floating shelves idea is super easy, fun, and practical. You can hang them just about anywhere, usually in groupings of two or three, and they can be styled with every day dishes. Or, feel free to use them to stage the décor that you want to keep safe from little hands.
Kitchen Jewelry-Light Fixture Swap
Adding a new chandelier or pendant lights is a fun change you can incorporate, too. I like to think of light fixtures as the jewelry in the home. They can help make your kitchen gorgeous.
The general rule of thumb when it comes to chandeliers and pendants is that they should be hung 30”-36” above the table or counter. If you have a larger space in your kitchen or dining room, don’t be afraid to hang more than one chandelier next to the other.
For pendants, they are usually hung in groupings of two or three. They do not have to match the other lights in the kitchen, but should coordinate and flow well. An easy way to do this is to make sure they have the same metal finishes within the same style category.
For example, you don’t want to put a farmhouse chandelier over your kitchen table, and then go with something more modern for your pendent lights over your island. Keeping things cohesive will make your kitchen space flow well and look it’s very best.
For trending chandelier ideas, feel free to click here to view our beautiful Amazon finds.
Add Warm Ambiance with Under Cabinet Lighting
Undercabinet lighting will make any kitchen feel warm and welcoming. It will soften the look from the larger brighter lights, especially if the under lighting is dimmable.
They come in many styles, from strip, to puck, to bar. Bob Villa, has you covered with the ins and outs on what you need when it comes to under cabinet lighting. Feel free to check out his guidelines here.
Create a Cute Coffee Bar Station
A coffee station in the space where you always prepare your morning cup of joe, can be a sweet little upgrade to your kitchen. Just add a cute coffee maker (they come in so many colors and styles these days) and choose one that makes you smile. Those smiles in the wee hours of the morning are priceless.
You can add cute coffee mugs, put your coffee grounds in a pretty ceramic container, add a sugar and creamer vessel, and voila, a super simple coffee station. Feel free to check out our coffee bar ideas post here, where you will find elegant pics and more fun tips.
Add a Stylish Bar Cart to be Your Second Pair of Hands
Ahhh! A bar cart! There is nothing like a stylish piece of furniture that mimics a second pair of hands. A bar cart is just that.
You can dress it up or dress it down. You can put it off to one side of your kitchen or dining room and have it staged sweetly with décor that matches your gathering, or you can make it portable and bring the party to any room in your home.
Bar carts are perfect to help stage extra food, goodie bags, presents, and decorations for a party. For more bar cart ideas, feel free to take check out our fun post details here.
Change Wall Paint with a Fresh Splash of Color
Adding a fresh coat of paint will brighten up any space. Your kitchen is no exception. Find the perfect color that you have fallen in love with and add the new splash of color to your walls.
I prefer to go super neutral with just about any paint color I choose, so it withstands the test of time. I like to add more color with décor pieces that are easily changeable. Paint would be considered a little more permanent, in my humble opinion.
Feel free to style your walls with whatever color makes you happy. If you like bright and cheery, go for it. If you like dark and moody, enjoy the ambiance. It’s your space, and should reflect what YOU love.
Sherwin Williams offers peel and stick paint samples. This sounds way better than painting brush strokes on the walls to see which one you like best. The peel and sticks are super convenient and a great tool to help you decide on the perfect color.
Thank you for joining me as we highlighted some classy and easy kitchen updates that you can do with any budget. Loving your kitchen space is a huge plus, especially when you spend most of your time there and enjoy having people in that space for gatherings. May you be inspired to create a kitchen that you love to live in.
P.S. Note of Encouragement
Trust the process! Whether it’s deciding on a new appliance, choosing the right paint color, or living life today and making decisions as you go, trust the process.
It’s a lot easier said than done because we as humans have a tendency to “help” the process with our worrying. Can you relate? I certainly can!
In reality, worrying only hinders the process because our hearts and minds are not at rest and ease. Have you ever tried to be creative when you were super stressed? The creative juices don’t seem to flow very well.
In this season, I’m learning how to trust the process. It’s a style of learning I do not have control over. I just have to trust that God will do what He said and get me ultimately to where He wants me to be.
Today, I believe that as you trust the process and embrace all that this day has for you, you will make great strides towards your future. And, towards who God has called you to be.
Make a conscious effort and shift your mind to say that whatever path is set before you, you will take your hands off the steering wheel of control, and trust the process. When we release the control we actually can soar and thrive. Like the eagle!
An eagle glides. He catches the wind, however the wind chooses to blow, and rides the wave to get to what and where he needs to be.
As you glide through this day, do so with grace and ease knowing that you will become the person you are called to be. All the paths that you walk on, to get to where we are supposed to go, will make sense one day as you trust the person who is guiding you. God!