Simple Interior Concepts: 10 Kitchen Remodelling and Makeover Ideas

Are you looking at your kitchen right now, wishing you had a magic wand to transform it into a beautiful space?
Are you tired of its current style and hate the colour scheme you loved 10 years ago?
Do you find that its layout is not so functional after all?
Is it all getting to you, making you dissatisfied and restless?

Answering yes to any of these questions means you need a kitchen makeover. But:

How can you bring life back into your kitchen?
How much do you have to spend?
Are you thinking of a minor or a major change?
Will it be a change of concept and style?

Beautiful kitchen design.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

Before You Set Out to Shop for a New Kitchen

Decide on a theme, style, or look.
Draw up a budget.
Determine if it’s a task you can do yourself (DIY).
Know if you need to call in the professionals.
Sketch a simple/rough floor plan of your idea.

Sketch of a kitchen upgrade idea.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

10 Kitchen Remodelling Ideas to Ignite Your Mind

Here are ten ways to give your kitchen a makeover.

1. Change kitchen cabinet doors and drawer faces

If you want your kitchen to look stylish, replace the doors and drawer faces with new and attractive ones. The body structure is basic, but it’s the doors and drawers that make kitchen cabinets look appealing (or not).

2. Change the countertop material

Replace the old-style laminated countertop with a natural material like marble, slate, or granite. A stone counter will transform a dull, lacklustre kitchen. For a monochromatic scheme, use coloured marble or granite and for white cabinets, slate or black marble will give your kitchen a high-end look.

(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

3. Change the wall finish

If your kitchen walls are painted and you are tired of their look, jazz it up with some decorative wallpaper. Fresh-looking walls really brighten up a room and show evidence there's been a makeover done. On the other hand, if you have wallpapered walls, have them removed and prepare the walls to receive a fresh coat of colour co-ordinated paint.

And for previously tiled walls, if you are not ready to go the lengths of removing (hacking off) wall tiles, install decorative wall decals (stickers) right onto the tiles (if plain) to create a specific theme. For example, flowers, herbs, and fruits for a country look; black or white circles for a domino effect, which is quite modern, or something nice and geometric.

4. Change handles and knobs

A simple inexpensive way to upgrade your kitchen cabinets is by changing the knobs and handles. For a more traditional theme, change plain boring hardware to more ornate pieces. And if you wish to make your kitchen look modern, change them to shiny chrome, ceramic, stainless steel, or crystal types.

Cabinet hardware is known as the "jewellery" of kitchen cabinets, and changing them will make your units and the whole kitchen very decorative.

5. Add kitchen-enhancing units

If you have the space, add a breakfast counter in your kitchen. The size and shape of your kitchen will determine if you can have one installed or not. Ensure the countertop is at least 110cm high (higher than the 90cm [3ft) base cabinets' standard height). Add two or three counter stools with seats made in colours that match the kitchen's colour scheme.

You can add a false ceiling over the breakfast counter with recessed or beautiful pendant lights.

6. Enhance the kitchen windows

Beautiful window treatments enhance kitchens in remarkable ways and can make them look pretty. Select nice prints with lots of colour and bold patterns, especially for wide or bay windows. For a dramatic look, add a valance or cornice. For smaller windows, Roman blinds, roller shades, or a swagger of chintz draped over the window will add texture and pattern to the room.

7. Add colourful backsplash, kicker, and kitchen accessories

Add an energizing colour to your existing cabinets. For an all-white scheme (or gloomy hues), make the room look bright and modern by adding a backsplash and kicker in a bold colour like spicy orange, an eye-catching neon, a rich sapphire blue hue, or a welcoming sunny yellow.

Adding bands of colour to a plain kitchen this way peps up the room considerably. Install a rack to hang colour-coordinated cooking pots and utensils. Add a couple of containers and appliances in the same dramatic colour.

8. Glaze hanging units' doors

Changing the top (hanging) cabinet doors to tempered glass doors is an amazing kitchen makeover idea. Unframed: clear, bevelled, tinted, frosted, coloured, or beautiful stained glass. Your theme will determine which type works best.

9. Replace standalone cooking units.

For a sophisticated and stylish look, get the modern built-in integrated cooker, microwave, and oven. Streamlined and space-saving, their aesthetics please the eye.

Although built-in units cost more than freestanding units, their beauty surpasses stand-alone units.

Enhance the refrigerator and dishwasher. Hide them behind fitted cabinet doors so that the entire kitchen looks perfectly built-in. If you prefer the traditional-style kitchen, create a traditional theme with a standalone cast iron stove like an Aga cooker.

10. Add new light fittings and fixtures

Choosing the perfect type of lighting when you remodel can have a major effect on the room and complement the overall design of the kitchen. Good lighting can make a modest space look grand, and a larger space stunning.

For dramatic effects, use a combination of three lights: task, accent, and ambient. This can apply in both large and modest-sized kitchens. Task lights are under-cabinet lights over the work area, the cooking area, and the food preparation area. Accent lights accentuate a particular part of the kitchen, highlighting features you want to stand out.

And don't overlook the beauty of concealed ambient lights like strip and cove lights. They illuminate from out of sight.

While some of the kitchen upgrade ideas are simple and affordable, others require non-complex construction work. Some will inspire your thoughts, and you can expand on them. However, the great thing is that most of them can be achieved without you breaking the bank.