If you’re spending more time in your kitchen at the moment, being able to modernise the space probably sounds like a dream. But with most budgets tighter than ever before, an updated kitchen may feel like a luxury you simply cannot afford.
The good news is, modernising your kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank. By focusing on a couple of key features, you can achieve the look you want for a lot less.
Getting the modern look
When modernising your kitchen, it’s important to understand the key design trends:
- Natural materials: In addition to helping warm up the space, natural materials (like timber and bamboo) are timeless and easy to incorporate (e.g. as benchtops or shelving). Quality laminates that look and feel like wood are a great budget option as they are not only cheaper but also usually more hardwearing.
- Open shelving: Many modern kitchens are switching out upper cabinets for simpler shelving solutions. This can make your kitchen feel brighter and more spacious and is usually cheaper than enclosed cabinetry. But putting too many things on open shelving can have the opposite effect, and make a space feel more cluttered.
- Adding colour: While white and cream kitchens are the traditional favourites, modern spaces are starting to feature a little more colour. Darker palettes are particularly popular and can be easily achieved by painting or replacing your existing cabinetry.
- Integrated storage: Nothing says modern like clean surfaces and minimal clutter. One of the best ways to achieve this is by making sure you have plenty of space in your cabinetry to tuck away all of those things you use regularly, but don’t want to leave on permanent display.
- Pendant lights: While recessed downlights are preferred in most areas of the modern home, a statement pendant is a must-have for the stylish modern kitchen. Usually positioned over a kitchen island, a pendant is a great way to inject a little personality and break up an open plan space. While some pendants can be pricey, there are also some great budget friendly options.
Refresh v Replace – which is better?
When renovating on a budget, the natural inclination is to reuse and repurpose as much as possible. The thinking is that the less you need to buy, the more cost-effective the end result. This is not always the case…
Making small changes, like painting the existing cabinetry or updating the hardware (door handles, tapware, etc.), can have a big impact on the overall look. However, if you want to make the space more comfortable and usable, a more significant renovation will be required and this can still be done even with a smaller budget.
While you may think replacing key elements of your kitchen may be more expensive, you can always consider budget friendly alternatives and go the DIY route with fully assembled flatpack kitchens. This is because you will save time by not having to assemble the cabinets yourself or money by cutting your installation costs in half because you don’t need to pay someone else to do it. Not only will this help reduce your overall renovation cost, if done correctly, it will also address the functional issues you deal with every day (e.g. not enough storage or bench space). A well-designed kitchen will last longer and can even increase the value of your home so the return on investment will be much greater.
Need help modernising your kitchen?
While it may not seem like it, lockdown is the perfect time to plan your kitchen. In addition to having more time to think about what you want to achieve from your update.
That being said, actually planning the makeover can be tough, as all of your research needs to be done online. Thankfully, Smart Kitchen is here to help!
Through our free design consultation service, we will help you plan a layout and choose finishes that suit your home, your requirements, and your budget. We can also create a 3D design to help you picture what your new kitchen will look like when it’s done.
Contact us today to book an online, phone, or video chat with one of our expert team.