If you can't afford to fully renovate your kitchen this year, it doesn't mean you can't make a few simple changes to give the room a more modern, refreshed look. Choosing just one of the cheap and simple ways to update your kitchen below could give it a new lease of life for just a little bit of time and not much effort.
Tile transfers
Tiles often reveal when the last time your kitchen was refurbished, as they date quickly. However, an easy way to freshen up the look of your kitchen is tile transfers. Retiling your kitchen could cost anything upwards of £200, but tile transfers will set you back a fraction of this.
They mostly come in an easy-to-apply format – just peel off the backing and stick to clean tiles – and they're usually waterproof and heatproof too, so can withstand use in even the most frequently used kitchens.
New cupboard handles
Those of you who are able to remove the handles on your kitchen cupboards could instantly update the aesthetic of your kitchen with new ones.
Large DIY stores usually sell a range of handles available in single units, so you could even opt for a different design on every cupboard for an alternative look.
Modern lino flooring
Like tiles on the walls, floor tiles can easily age a kitchen's design. By replacing or covering your existing kitchen floor, you could make a bigger impact with your cash and instantly update the whole look of the room.
While lino is largely considered unfashionable and something to be left in the past, you can now buy lino flooring that is a fantastic tile alternative and almost as good as the real thing.
You can purchase a range of finishes from most carpet stores – anything from wood effect, to marble to the ever-popular Victorian tessellated tile trend.
Turn everyday items into accessories
Mismatched mugs and chipped crockery can make a kitchen look tired. So why not spend money on new kitchenware, which can also make stylish accessories?
Attach small hooks to the underside of your kitchen cabinets and hang matching mugs on them for a chic aesthetic, or fix patterned plates to the wall as kitchen-friendly artwork.
Think about buying small electrical appliances in the same colour for a more consistent look and feel and match these with storage jars and boxes to keep food packaging out of sight.
New window covering
Our eye is often drawn to the window in a room, so it's important to get this focal point right. Swap out a tired roller blind for a contemporary pattern, or replace a fabric blind with a white wooden one for a fresh finish.
If you have curtains in your kitchen, get rid of them – they absorb odours and grease easily and can look grubby, especially if they're a light colour.
