Last weeks blog post went over the best home remodeling projects to do to increase your home’s value.  One of the best projects to do is the kitchen.  The kitchen is the “heart of the home.” Instead of having a formal dining room, new homebuyers are looking for a more open kitchen floor plan in order to entertain guests. Renovating a kitchen can be quite expensive, but with these tips – you can make your kitchen look fresh, without all of the heavy expenses.

Cabinets
New cabinets are often a huge expense. If your current cabinets are in good shape, try renovating them by painting them white! White will brighten up the room and hide outdated designs. However, if your cabinets can’t be salvaged by a little white paint, consider updating them with some new doors instead. If you choose a door with a window, consider using designer shelf liner to make the inside pop.

Counter Tops
Buying or updating counter tops can be expensive, especially if you want to use granite. However, there is a way to get the granite countertop you want without breaking the bank. If you only have a small amount of countertop to cover, you might be able to catch a good deal on remnants at a granite supply yard.

Kitchen Backsplash
The backsplash in your kitchen has more function than simply looking nice; it also protects the wall from splashes, grease, and other cooking stains. Backsplashes take up little space and can be relatively inexpensive depending upon the material. You can use glass, porcelain, ceramic, pegboards, vinyl, or wood.

Lighting
Updating the lighting can do wonders within the kitchen and it doesn’t have to be too expensive.  Install under-cabinet lighting to help with task lighting without shadows. Having pendant or hanging lights can help light up other workstations or the center island.

Flooring
The floors are typically one of the most expensive parts of renovating a kitchen, but there are ways to do it without going too overboard on a budget. Using a less expensive material such as ceramic tile, vinyl flooring, or plastic laminate flooring are all good choices compared to wood. In general, they are also much easier to clean!