Give your kitchen a facelift without breaking the budget
Budget Kitchen Makeover
Dreaming of a kitchen update?
Storytime:
I like old houses.
I grew up in old houses, my husband lived in an old house, and my kids are doing their childhood in an old house.
By old I mean properly middle-aged. Houses built in the previous century. Places that haven’t had any improvement other than a coat of paint since before the Springboks started winning World Cups again and we became a Rainbow Nation.
These houses, more often than not, have the best gardens, and the best chance of a proper old tree in the backyard…and it’s no secret that I buy houses based on their greenery. Other people might place a high premium on modern amenities and stylish neutral bathrooms. I on the other hand, will gladly excuse the avocado green bathtub in exchange for the Avo-tree in the back yard.
That is why I have never had a new kitchen either. I have lived with the 70’s kitchen dream kitchens of all the previous home cooks who called my house home. So I have learnt a few basic, affordable “high impact for low effort” kitchen décor hacks. These are the things that can make or break your kitchen and give it an instant facelift if you do it right.
A fruit bowl
There is quiet luxury in a fruit bowl. Not only does it mean you have enough food that you can keep the “spare” fruit until later, but it means you have more than one bowl, and a safe space which you are relatively sure you’ll return to later today to keep it at. This said, a fruit bowl filled with seasonal fruits is a great way to draw attention to a certain area of you r kitchen and give a vibe of homely opulence.
A bread bin
Honesty time: My bread bin is also my junk drawer…Yes, it is where I keep my Sasko Premium (one day it will be home made sourdough) but it is also where that spare charger cable or paper clip and the broken McDonalds Happy Meal toy that I’m not allowed to throw away yet, resides. Depending on the design choices of your kitchen a bread bin or hamper can be a great place to store your sarmie ingredients, clear some counter space and also add a splash of colour or style to your kitchen. A white vintage rolling door bin for a farmhouse style kitchen, a wooden chest, a woven basket or a bright enamel tin can all add some allure to your space. The choice is yours.
A kettle tray
Once again – this sounds old fashioned but by consolidating your countertop clutter you can give your kitchen an updated look while still keeping it functional. It doesn’t have to be a tray. In my own kitchen I have a large yellowwood plank under my kettle, because I would never use it as a chopping board but love the look and feel of it in my kitchen. If wood isn’t your thing, you can have a classic brass tray, a modern glass and metal affair, or a fun-coloured tray that fits your aesthetic. Your options are limitless!
A spice rack
Yet another countertop-clutter buster. If you have a built-in spice rack or drawer (lucky you!) skip this one, but if you end up with a mash of orange and green topped herb and spice bottles standing around your stove, why not consolidate it all in an aesthetically pleasing dedicate rack or shelf, that gives “Home Chef” energy and will keep it close by for easy seasoning while staying organized.
Hide the air fryer
Having a mix-a-match array of visible small appliances is a great way to get a headache every time you walk into your kitchen. Your air fryer is probably black, your kettle white and your coffee machine silver? Add to that a stainless-steel fridge a black and silver microwave and a brushed steel stovetop and it’s a total attack on your senses. I have taken to hiding those appliances I do not use at least twice a day. My egg cooker, toaster and smoothie maker all sleep in cupboards these days. (I have never had an air fryer…) This has cleared up kitchen counter space for the aforementioned fruit bowl and bread bin, and I even have space to keep a bright, flowering begonia or miniature rosebush in my kitchen, which gives me and my guests, immense joy.
Swop the sockets and light fixtures and shred the net curtains
The final favour you can do yourself counts for the whole house. Swop out and replace any mismatched, broken or damaged wall sockets, light switches and light fixtures. A new light fixture in your kitchen will make a massive difference without breaking the bank.
If you have your heart set on a total kitchen redo, a new bread bin won’t be enough for you, but if you are still a bit on the fence about the massive commitment that in-house construction is, put out that fruit bowl and hide your air fryer. Maybe it will tide you over for another tax season.
