One of the most frequently used rooms in a house is the kitchen—and it is also one of the spaces that tends to greatly benefit from updates. Whether you intend to place your home on the market soon or you plan to remain there for many years, a kitchen refresh can deliver practical amenities that make spending time in this area a delight. Plus, the right remodeling approach can increase your house’s overall value as well.

If you are considering kitchen renovations, these six helpful, simple remodeling strategies can give you distinct enjoyment (and appeal to home buyers in the future).

Easy Kitchen Updates that Appeal to Minnesota Homeowners 

If you like the current layout and space that your kitchen provides, are interested in budget-friendly options, or desire minimal disruption to your lifestyle, a streamlined remodeling approach may be the right fit for you. Fortunately, there are many ways to give your kitchen a fresh style and updated conveniences without the need to tear everything down to the studs. The following options are simple to implement and relatively affordable to execute:

1. Create More Pleasant Lighting

A bright, inviting kitchen is a definite plus—especially when there is a mix of natural lighting as well as enhanced illumination in the spaces where you need it most, such as above countertops for cooking. Popular designs include:

• Handy under-cabinet lighting to brighten counters
• Charming, artistic task lights above the island
• Attractive LED light fixtures to increase illumination

Replacing a window is a little more involved than updating light fixtures, but it can be a simple way to bring in more sunlight if your existing window glass is worn and cloudy. A new window can be more energy efficient and reduce drafts.

2. Invest in New Appliances

With matching appliances, you can achieve an attractive, cohesive look for your kitchen. Stainless steel refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers remain popular—or if you prefer, choose elegant black or shiny white styles, which blend with many kitchen color schemes. In addition, modern appliances offer the latest in features for easy living—such as smart-home integrations, energy-efficient low-water or low-electricity elements, quiet running, and much more.

If you like your current large appliances, keep in mind that smaller fixtures such as coffee makers, bread makers, and mixers come in a variety of bright hues. They can provide splashes of color in a neutral kitchen and bring your overall design together more cohesively.

3. Replace Countertops and Backsplash

Because countertops get ample use every day, they tend to wear down and show their age. Their color and material may also feel outdated, especially if you own an older house that has its original fixtures. To give your kitchen a new style, invest in easy-to-maintain countertop materials such as quartz, laminate, granite or marble. Butcher block is also popular, especially for areas such as a kitchen island where you may do frequent chopping. 

The backsplash is also a feature worth updating. You can replace old tile and grout with a stylish new design that complements the space—such as white or grey tile to offset bold shades in appliances and cabinets, or a dark, intricate style to create visual interest in a neutral, light-colored space.

4. Choose Attractive Fixtures

Some elements within your kitchen, such as your sink and oven hood, may get overlooked in your planning, yet they are well worth thinking about more closely. Simply updating them can add more functionality to the space, but you do not need to stop there. Consider investing in a stylish design that turns these features into an eye-catching centerpiece. A bronze or copper hood will draw attention, for example, while a deep farmer’s kitchen sink with a decorative faucet looks elegant while adding convenient function at the same time.

5. Give Cabinets Fresh Paint and Hardware

Your cabinets are an essential – and significant – feature of your kitchen, and they tend to draw the eye. Why not take advantage of this by giving them a new look? Painting them a trendy color (such as sage) or a soothing modern shade (such as a soft, light grey) can transform your kitchen’s feel. If your cabinet doors are wood, you might also consider stripping them and staining them. To make the room seem more spacious, focus on light, neutral hues.

Then, create a brand-new style with updated hardware. Choose handles, knobs, and hinges in a metal that complements your chosen paint or stain. For added charm, consider hardware that has a unique, contemporary look—such as recessed ring pulls or square twist T-handle knobs.

6. Paint or Install New Flooring

A simple, cost-friendly kitchen upgrade is to replace or refresh the flooring. After all, this area receives heavy foot traffic, and a brand-new floor can tie your whole kitchen’s look together. If you have hardwood floorboards, you can sand and refinish them with stain or paint them to match the rest of your room’s new color scheme. 

If you are ready to replace existing flooring (such as worn, aged linoleum), there are numerous materials and designs worth considering. Stone slabs and ceramic tiles are popular because they are durable and stylish. For low-maintenance appeal, vinyl flooring is handy, and it can even mimic the attractive appearance of hardwood. 

Delight in a Remodeled Kitchen from Your Local Pros at Beissel Renovation

As you consider ways to update and add value to your house through remodeling projects, your kitchen is a key space that is well worth investing in an upgrade. Create a beautiful, refreshed kitchen with ease by calling on our expert Beissel Renovation team. We take pride in listening carefully to your goals, and we welcome questions so that we can help you achieve your vision. Discover how our kitchen renovation process can give you the functional, stylish, beneficial kitchen space you desire—and increase your home’s value at the same time.

A renovated kitchen is one of the most desired home makeovers. The kitchen is used so often that having the right layout and features is important. Fortunately, there are many ways to achieve your goals for your kitchen even if you are dealing with limited square footage. We have compiled 13 practical, fun ideas for maximizing the cabinet space you have in your kitchen.

Creative Ways to Increase Space in a Kitchen with Minimal Square Footage

1. Install a peninsula

If space is tight, you might not have room to install a full kitchen island. Still, you can enjoy many of the same benefits of an island with a peninsula—a swing-out counter that creates an “L” with your existing countertop, and new shelves/cabinets beneath to increase storage space.

2. Use all dead space

In older kitchens, there are often underutilized areas. These so-called “dead” spaces—walls and areas that are currently empty or minimally used, such as behind freestanding furniture—can be leveraged with shelving, a narrow table with drawers, or a coffee station.

3. Choose glass-door cabinets

Glass-fronted cabinets serve a multitude of handy purposes. They allow you to put attractive items on display without collecting dust. The glass panes also reflect light as they draw the eye, making your kitchen appear bigger and brighter. You can install brand-new cabinets or simply remove old doors and replace them with a different style of door to achieve this look.

4. Add tall, slim storage

One way to gain more storage space is the height of your walls, and this is a strategy for kitchens of all sizes. Choose cabinets that extend from floor to ceiling to increase the areas where you can keep your kitchenware. If you have dead space between appliances and the wall, add a pull-out storage or spice rack in that space to make full use of your entire kitchen.

5. Replace cabinets with drawers

Accessing stored pots, pans, and other bulky items can be difficult if your cabinets are too deep. Those back corners can be nearly impossible to reach, especially if a cabinet is too tall or it is too close to the floor. Why not maximize that space? Install soft-close drawers instead—so that it is simple to grab any item you need. Alternately, if you prefer to keep your cabinets, add racks that slide out for easier access. 

6. Update to soft-close, flat cabinets

There are many benefits to modernizing your kitchen with slow-close cabinets. They are attractive, easy to use, and protect your stored items without accidentally banging closed. Contemporary cabinet styles come with space-saving options such as push-open flat doors or recessed handles.

7. Incorporate open shelving with traditional cabinets

Open shelving is a practical and eye-catching way to add more storage room while also making your kitchen look more spacious. You do not have to eliminate all your existing cabinets to make this concept work. Rather, keep the cabinets you like or replace them with slimmer, modern designs—and then add shelves to walls to maximize storage options.

8. Blend décor with kitchenware

Because open shelves draw the eye, be creative as you arrange items. You can use unique canisters to store attractive dry goods such as pasta and hide other items inside decorative baskets to create a tidy, minimalistic display.

9. Curate thoughtful colors and textures

Ensure an attractive design by intentionally selecting colors that complement one another. Create a beautiful backdrop for your kitchen by combining pale and dark woods or incorporating carefully chosen materials such as glass, tile, wood, and wallpaper. Lighter shades open up the space, while bright splashes of color help create a bit of cheer. For shelving, consider reclaimed wood for cozy warmth, or glass with bronze or brass brackets for a touch of artistic flair. 

10. Hang frequently used utensils and pans

Another eye-catching way to make the most of your space is to display the pans and other items you use regularly. Install a decorative hanging rack above a kitchen island, peninsula, or sink, so that you can suspend pots and pans —saving valuable space in cabinets for other items. A magnetic strip on the wall near the stove is handy for holding knives and metallic cooking utensils.

11. Stack appliances to create vertical storage spaces

Kitchen appliances take up a lot of space, but you can maximize the room you have by finding ways to streamline. Incorporate items like an oven and a microwave into an existing wall to free up countertop room. Consider adding built-in shelving for items like spices on the wall above appliances to create visually appealing vertical storage.

12. Look for hidden potential

Often, a small kitchen, especially one that is older in style, can have hidden potential in terms of storage. For example, cabinets beneath countertops may have ample space between the bottom of the cabinet and your flooring, where a shallow drawer could be installed to house baking trays. A movable kitchen rack with shelves could be placed underneath the countertop or along a wall and then rolled out whenever you need more space to work.

13. Build storage into seating areas

Consider replacing free-standing furnishings like large kitchen tables and bulky chairs, with a comfortable, space-saving banquette (built-in seating). This cozy approach feels warm and relaxing, but it is also practical because you can hide storage underneath the built-in benches.

Enjoy a Spacious Kitchen Remodel with the Expert Team at Beissel Renovation

Whether your dream kitchen involves a creative use of existing space or an addition to get more square footage, our dedicated team of designers and builders at Beissel Renovation, a part of Beissel Window & Siding,is here to serve you. We will listen to your goals and offer thoughtful guidance on achieving a beautiful, spacious kitchen with features that delight you. We invite you to check out our home renovation services—and see how we can bring your vision to life.