Looking for some DIY projects to kick off your starter-home revamp? Besides unfinished basements and antiquated carpeting, your kitchen is one of the fastest ways to improve the value of your home. With a few quick weekend projects, you can significantly improve the value of your house and give yourself a kitchen worthy of a master chef.
Read on for six low-cost do-it-yourself undertakings that can add value to your home without breaking the bank.
1. Hang Out
Let's be honest—most people wish they had more storage space in their kitchens. With pots and pans often taking up a full cupboard or drawer on their own, it's easy to see just how quickly your usable space can dry up. A recent trend in kitchen décor has homeowners abandoning the concept of hiding pots and pans behind cupboard doors altogether. Instead, they're opting to hang their cooking companions on the walls or from the ceiling over their stoves or kitchen islands. The intentionally "untidy" look solves your storage issues and adds a unique and interesting visual element to you kitchen's vibe.
2. Watch Paint Dry
A fresh coat of paint is every homeowner's secret weapon when it comes to revamping the feel of a kitchen. Color schemes have changed a lot through the years, so, no matter how old your kitchen cabinets are, they could likely use an update in color and style. Generally speaking, water-based enamel paints hit the sweet spot among look, durability and maintenance. Need a little help picking the perfect color scheme? Check out this great color guide from Lowes.
3. Upgrade Your Hardware
Sometimes, your kitchen cabinets need a bit more love than a fresh coat of paint can offer. If this is your situation, consider upgrading your kitchen cabinet hardware. A set of fresh handles on your drawers and doors can work wonders when it comes to bringing your kitchen into the modern age. If you're worried that your cabinets are too old to bring back, consider keeping the cabinets but replacing the doors. We love cabinet doors with a glass insert that properly display your more visually appealing dishes, while hiding away your souvenir cups and baby bottles.
4. Make a Splash
Updating your backsplash is one of the most impactful changes you can make when it comes to the look and feel of your kitchen. Not only does backsplash protect against grease splashes and stains on your walls, but it also offers a simple yet significant change to your kitchen's aesthetics. With a wide variety of backsplashes to choose from and application options ranging from peel and stick to grout and mortar, you're sure to find a style and method that fits your kitchen.
5. Tap Into Something New
Who said tap water needs to be boring? Outside of appliances, a good kitchen sink is one of the best investments you can make to your starter home's kitchen. Adding a semi-professional or pull-down faucet and a large, modern sink basin does more than increase your kitchen sink's utility; it serves as a statement piece that catches the eyes of visitors and potential homebuyers alike.
6. Find an Outlet
The kitchen-gadget industry is huge, and, if you're like most homeowners, you want to use the outlets that your kitchen has for more than just the toaster. Unfortunately, most kitchens have a disappointing number of outlets when compared to the number of gadgets those outlets need to power. Upgrade your electricity game by swapping out your older outlets with more useful alternatives, such as a combination outlet with both traditional and USB ports or a double outlet with four traditional ports. You'll appreciate your efforts next time you want to charge your phone while cooking.
Regardless of your budget, there are almost certainly a few low-cost kitchen renovations that can transform your starter home's kitchen into something of which you can be proud. Just by making a few minor changes each year, you can add enough value to your kitchen to noticeably impact the value of your home.
