How to give your kitchen a makeover without having to do major work

The kitchen is one of the spaces in the house where we spend the most of our time, and now more than ever due to the coronavirus outbreak in Portugal. The kitchen is the centre of attention in so many homes; the place where we traditionally receive friends, cook and have a good time. Because of frequent use, it's also normal to feel the need to make some changes in the kitchen from time to time, and leave it with a fresher look. Although this seems like a big task and one which is much easier in other rooms, in the kitchen it's also possible, even if you're working with a limited budget.

With the help of the online home improvement site Habitissimo, here are some tips so you can leave your kitchen looking like new without having to do construction work or break the bank.

Change the colour of the walls

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This is a quick kitchen makeover to do, it doesn't cost much and it will leave your kitchen looking totally different. Choose a colour that matches the decor of the space well, so that the final result isn't too dramatic. If your kitchen is small, try to choose lighter shades, which will help to brighten up the space and make it look bigger. If, on the other hand, you have a bigger kitchen, you can be more daring and use darker colours like blue, black or dark grey.

Use adhesive vinyl or wallpaper

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Long gone are the days when you couldn't put vinyl or wallpaper in damp places like the kitchen and the bathroom. Today, there are several different types that are suitable for these spaces because they are resistant and durable. Choose the design you like best and put it on a full wall or just as a small feature in your kitchen. Make sure the type you choose is suitable for kitchens and, if necessary, ask a professional for help to make sure you choose a suitable vinyl that will withstand wear and tear well.

Coloured furniture

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Due to fumes and inevitable fat that accumulates in kitchens, no matter how clean you keep it, it is completely normal that over the years furniture will wear out and no longer look so appealing. However, if the structure of your kitchen units is still intact and this is the only aesthetic problem you face, the solution is simple and low cost: paint. Choose appropriate paint for the material your kitchen units are made of (typically wood) and sand everything very well before painting, so that the paint penetrates well into the surface and lasts longer. The result? A new kitchen, without spending a fortune.

Change the floor

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In the past, it was often necessary to completely change the floor of a house by removing the previous material and laying a new floor, but nowadays there are flooring materials that simply can be placed on top of the existing floor. This is the case with burnt cement, epoxy resin, laminate and vinyl flooring. There are many different types and colours available, meaning you can perfectly match the floor to your kitchen decoration. If you want to keep the existing floor and change it, you can always paint it, making sure you buy suitable floor paints.

New handles

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This may seem like a change that won't make much difference in the kitchen, but give it a go and you'll see what change it makes. Changing the handles of cupboards is very economical and helps to modernise the look of the kitchen, even if you haven't changed anything else. Choose a model that is to your liking and at the same time practical, trying to keep the decoration of the space in mind. Then, just remove the old handles and attach the new ones. Alternatively, you can always paint the handles you already have, and then put them back on.

Add new elements

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If you have a lot of free space, try to bring new elements into your kitchen. For example, if your kitchen has a large space in the middle of the room and you don't have the money to install a kitchen island, why not get a table and some chairs and create a dining area? If you also have little storage space, think about getting some shelves or bookcases and have fun decorating them, as well as making them functional so they can be used in everyday life. The possibilities are endless, so use your imagination and make the most of your kitchen.