Not Ready for a Full Remodel? Try These Kitchen Upgrades First

Not everyone has the budget, time or patience for a full kitchen remodel. The good news is you can make your kitchen look better and work better without a full gut renovation. Here are the upgrades we recommend most.

Update the Look

Paint or Refinish Cabinets

Dated cabinet styles and colors can age a kitchen quickly. If your cabinets are structurally sound, refinishing them is a smart option. Re-staining solid wood is labor intensive and costly, so painting usually gives the best bang for your buck, with nearly endless color choices.

Replace the Countertops

Laminate and solid surface tops look dated, and stone is in. Granite offers a natural, updated look with lots of colors and holds up well to heat and spills. For even more durability, quartz is virtually maintenance free. In a modestly sized kitchen, the price difference may be smaller than you think. Compare options in our granite vs. quartz guide.

Upgrade the Sink and Faucet

New countertops are the perfect time to switch to an undermount sink, which eliminates the hard-to-clean lip around a drop-in sink. Choose from single bowls, split bowls and sinks with built-in accessories like strainers and cutting boards. Touch-activated faucets are handy when your hands are messy.

Refresh Backsplash, Hardware and Paint

New backsplash tile makes a big impact, though tile work is best left to a pro unless you have experience. Swapping hardware and painting the walls are easy DIY wins. Slow-close hinges add a high-end feel for little cost.

Improve Function

Add Smart Storage

Roll-out shelves make deep lower cabinets easy to organize so nothing gets lost in the back. Drawer dividers, tray dividers and pull-out trash cans help too, and many can be ordered online or installed by a handyman.

Upgrade the Lighting

Good lighting is essential. Replace an old fluorescent fixture with recessed lights, add pendants over an island or peninsula, and add task lighting over the sink and under cabinets. Undercabinet lights come in hardwired, plug-in and battery-powered options. Learn more about kitchen lighting design.

Ready for More?

Any of these updates will bring your kitchen up to date and make it more functional every day. When you are ready for a full transformation, browse our kitchen remodel portfolio and call Tracy Tesmer Design and Remodeling at 678-450-1700 or contact us online.

This article originally appeared in the May 2022 edition of Lakeside on Lanier.