Are you tired of your kitchen looking exactly like every other neighbourhood kitchen? Fortunately, if you are living in a new build that came with a standard builder grade kitchen, there are some easy kitchen update ideas to make it feel like your own! Some people think that a kitchen makeover for a newer kitchen is pointless or impossible. After all, everything is in good condition and a full-scale renovation doesn’t make sense financially.
However, since the goal here is not improvement but rather customization, there are a few easy and affordable small changes you can make for big impact. You can really make your personality and taste shine through, and with no interior designer necessary. In this post, I am going to share 5 creative kitchen update ideas to upgrade a builder grade kitchen without spending too much time or money, and make your kitchen the true heart of the home for your family. Let me share these easy kitchen ideas!
Swap Out Basic Faucets with Luxe Options
Builder-grade faucets are often neutral, chrome, and unassuming. One of the great kitchen update ideas that will really make your kitchen feel luxe and personalized is to replace this boring fixture with a new look that has a little more personality.
Have you heard of Delta Faucet? They make beautiful, stylish faucets using the latest in technology and fashion design that add an elegant touch. Plus, they incorporate some really creative innovations that will make your kitchen life easier. Touch technology, voice activation technology, and ShieldSpray technology are only some of the features you get with this brand. The ShieldSpray feature is really neat. Don’t spray yourself with dirty dish water rinsing off a plate ever again!
In my own kitchen I have a Single Handle Pull-Down Bar/Prep Faucet with Touch2O Technology from the Monrovia line, in Lumicoat Champagne Bronze. The Lumicoat technology repels liquid and keeps kitchen faucets looking cleaner longer, with no water spots and stains. I can easily wipe it clean with a cloth, with no need for cleaners or chemicals. This Wall Mount Pot Filler from the Broderick line in Champagne Bronze is a beautiful addition as well. I love that I was able to get two completely different faucets in matching finishes for a coordinated look. And I absolutely love the touch technology feature. It is so nice turning my faucet on and off with just a gentle tap! This brand was a great choice for my best kitchen life. The new faucets are one of my favourite kitchen update ideas.
Install Panel Ready Appliances
Maybe you are still at the stage of picking out appliances in your new builder grade kitchen, or don’t mind spending a bit of money to replace the current ones. If this sounds like you, then installing panel ready new appliances instead of stainless steel appliances is a good way to make your kitchen look luxe and elegant.
What are panel ready appliances, you ask? Dishwashers or refrigerators that have an unfinished front with no buttons or anything else visible are called panel ready, because a panel that matches your existing cabinets can then be installed over top of the blank front. This makes your kitchen look sleek, smooth, and cohesive. It even makes it look bigger, because you can customize the panel to look like extra drawers or doors. If you are putting appliances in anyway, why not maximize their luxe potential?
Swap Out Builder Grade Hardware
Just like the faucets we discussed earlier, builder grade hardware is usually very neutral in colour and style and does not add a lot of personality. By swapping out this hardware for new cabinet hardware you choose yourself, you can add so much to the overall look of your kitchen! You can see that I have swapped out the old boring handles and pulls for gold ones in my kitchen, which I think takes the luxe vibe to the next level! I love how a new color can really make drawer pulls pop! If you’re interested, you can find my handles here and the knobs I used for pulls here.
If you are feeling intimidated by changing your hardware, especially if it will involve drilling new holes to get the look you want, don’t worry. There is always a tool that makes things easier! I used the Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig. This took the guesswork out and allowed me to confidently drill straight holes with the correct spacing. This is not an expensive tool, and I highly recommend it. It really is the little things!
Add Layered Lighting to Create Warmth
The next kitchen update idea that will make your space feel high end and put together is layered lighting. This just means using multiple lighting types to achieve warmth, comfort, and a well-lit space that looks perfectly balanced. You can do this by making sure you have the three most important types of lighting represented in your kitchen: ambient, task, and accent.
Ambient lighting uses large light fixtures like pendant lighting to provide basic illumination of your space. Then, task lights are used to light up specific spaces where you perform tasks. This would include undermount cabinet lighting that shines on your counters from under your lower cabinets. These can be added after the fact in the form of puck lights. And lastly, accent lighting draws attention to special features in your space that you want to highlight. A wall sconce or picture lighting are both forms of accent lights and make a great addition. Choose the right light bulbs for each fixture for maximum warmth and brightness, and you will be shocked at what a huge difference proper lighting makes in your space.
Add a Pop of Contrast by Painting a Door
Nothing says luxe like a pop of color and a fresh coat of paint somewhere in your kitchen! I recommend painting a door to get this effect. Maybe your kitchen has a door leading outside, into another part of the house, or even a pantry door? Make it stand out and give your kitchen a serious sense of style. I could not be happier with how this space looks now.
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There you go, 5 simple kitchen update ideas to increase the wow factor in your house! If you’re interested in learning more about the cabinetry, backsplash, etc, all of those sources are available here. I hope you found some inspiration, and please do tag me @mintcandydesigns with your before and after pics. I would love to see the upgrades you do!
Looking for more kitchen update ideas?
Kitchen Island Makeover with Fusion Mineral Paint
In our previous home, the kitchen island was a rich brown colour. But I had NOT loved it for a while. Come see how I made over this kitchen island with a few coats of paint.
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