Kitchens have evolved from being a room with just a sink, stove, and fridge to becoming a space where we cook, work, do homework, and entertain. It is now often the most important room in the house. It's where you start out your day with that fresh cup of coffee, so the mood of the kitchen can really set the tone for the rest of the day.

Kitchen renovations can be costly. But you don't need to do a complete kitchen renovation to simply update the look of your kitchen. We're going to provide you with seven of our top ideas to spruce up your kitchen and create a space where you can be inspired.

Before we get started, the best way to spruce up your kitchen is to start by removing anything that doesn't belong there. Whether it's an old microwave or outdated dishes, you want your kitchen to be as uncluttered and organized as possible and truly represent who you are today.

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1. Paint

One of the easiest ways to update your kitchen is with a fresh coat of paint.

Changing the colour of the wall paint in your kitchen can have a huge effect on the atmosphere of your space. When it comes to painting your kitchen, you have a lot of different options. You can go with bold colours, neutral colours, or something in between.

Bold colours will make your kitchen seem more lively and upbeat, while neutrals will give it a more calming vibe. You may also consider adding some accent colours like turquoise or orange to make your kitchen pop and feel creative.

When selecting your paint colour, you should also consider what other furniture and appliances you have in your kitchen and how that might impact your choice of paint colour. For example, if your furniture in your breakfast area has a warm, cozy, country kitchen look, then dark browns or dark reds might be a good choice.

2. Artwork and accessories

Another easy way to spruce up your kitchen is by adding some interesting or colourful artwork, paintings, or even some new accessories.

We did a kitchen renovation many years ago for our client in North Oshawa. It was a very neutral white, grey, and black kitchen. To add some interest and colour, she looked high and low for just the right tea kettle. She purchased a gorgeous teal kettle and paired it with similar-coloured tea towels. She found some beautiful artwork that had touches of teal paired with black and white tones. She took a very simple, neutral kitchen and turned it into a work of art with the right touches of colour in her accessories.

Do you have some old vintage plates, or maybe just some colourful ones that you no longer use? Try hanging them on the wall to become part of the decor and add some interest and texture to your room.

If you have an eating area, either at an overhang or breakfast table, purchasing some new chairs can really make a difference to the feel of your kitchen. Get rid of those yard sale bar stools and find some gorgeous upholstered stools in a colour you love!

3. Light fixtures

If you have a hanging light, ceiling fan, or ceiling mount light in your kitchen that's been there for longer than you can remember, it's time to swap it out for something a little more contemporary. Even adding some lights where you didn't have them before can change the whole mood of your kitchen.

Add some pendant lights over the island, put a hanging light or pot light above the sink, get rid of that old Tiffany lamp over the breakfast table, and opt for something that suits your current lifestyle.

There are so many different light fixtures in brushed nickel, matte black, and even rose gold that you're sure to find something you like without breaking the bank.

Make sure you also consider the type of bulb in the light. LED light bulbs are super efficient and can brighten up a whole room. But do you want a warm light (3000K) or the look of daylight (4000K)? Edison bulbs are really cool, but they don't provide a lot of light. If possible, ask the store where you're buying the light if you can see it with warm and cool light bulbs. The type of bulb will also make a difference in how your furniture and paint look.

4. Backsplash

If you don't have a tiled backsplash or your existing one is out of date, consider installing one. You can keep it simple and inexpensive with subway tiles or go bold with some interesting shapes and colours.

If you're opting for subway tiles, there are so many sizes, styles, and colours available, including glass subway tiles. You can create a great focal point with relatively inexpensive tiles.

When considering the type of backsplash to install, take into account what your countertop looks like. If it's extremely simple and plain, you'll want your backsplash to be a focal point. Make it the star with colour, texture, shape, or a mix of all three. If your countertop is already fairly bold with lots of design and interest, keep your backsplash simple. A subway tile works well here in any style.

5. Show off your collectibles

If you've got some pretty bowls, elegant china, or some fine stemware, consider putting them on display as part of your decor. You can accomplish this by installing some floating shelves or adding a glass front to an upper cabinet.

You can even remove the door completely from an upper cabinet and display your collectibles there. Paint the back wall of the cabinet a fun colour to add some interest to your kitchen and ensure your collectibles become a focal point. You can also add some wallpaper to the back wall. Select the removable kind to make it easy to change it out when you get tired of the look.

Bonus Idea: add cup hooks to the underside of your upper cabinets or shelves to display pretty tea cups.

6. Change the hardware

It's incredible the difference new pulls or knobs can make to the overall look of your kitchen. If your hardware is really old or dated, putting in some new, fresh, up-to-date or even creative and funky hardware can really change the look of the cabinets.

For example, if you have classic white cabinets with brushed nickel or chrome knobs, try changing them out for matte black pulls. It will take the look from traditional to contemporary or transitional with just that simple update.

The best part about this update is that it requires very little investment and can usually be done as a DIY project. However, if you're not great at using a drill or you are concerned your finesse skills may not be up to par, hire a handyman or professional to install the new handles. Nothing is worse than finding gorgeous new hardware and installing it crooked!

7. Update your island

If you've got an island in your kitchen, there are some things you can do to update the look and functionality of it.

If you don't currently have an overhang on your island, consider getting one. You can just replace the current countertop with a larger one that includes an overhang on one, two, or three sides of your island. Make sure your new overhang, which should be 9–12" max, will not impede on your walkways, which should be a minimum of 36".

You don't have to replace the countertops in the rest of your kitchen. If you can't get the exact same countertop (discontinued, different dye lot, etc.), just get a complementary countertop. Don't try to match it with something close, as it will always look off. Instead, find one that complements your existing countertop.

Another idea for your island is to install shiplap on the back of it. If you just have a plain panel on the back side of your island, try some shiplap, either in a natural wood look or painted a complementary colour.

In summary...

If you're not ready for a complete kitchen renovation but want to update the look of your kitchen, try some of these ideas for a quick and inexpensive refresh. It's amazing how the simplest thing can change the entire appearance of a room. Think about what you don't really like about your current kitchen or a space that you think lacks interest. Then review the ideas we've discussed here to see if one of our suggestions will work for you.