25 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look More Expensive
Sprucing up a kitchen can be as easy as getting new linens or rug to extensive as new flooring. Many of the options are affordable.
NEW YORK – It's easy to get kitchen envy when you see stunning photos on social media all day. The polished kitchens that celebrities and affluent people enjoy can cost tens of thousands of dollars to build, but you can create a stylish and striking space without taking out a bank loan.
Fortunately, there are some easy and affordable ways to elevate your kitchen and make your space Instagram-worthy. Try some of these ideas and watch your kitchen transform into a space as tasteful and elegant as Martha Stewart's.
1. Upgrade the small details
When major changes are out of the question, focus on the small details. Upgrading your soap dispenser, tea kettle, dish rack, utensil holder, toaster, or spoon holder revitalizes your kitchen.
Choose items that feel luxurious and utilize high-quality materials. Avoid plastic items and trendy patterns that might look tacky in your kitchen.
2. Refresh cabinet paint
You don't have to paint your entire kitchen to breathe new life into it. Cabinets experience plenty of wear and tear, so a new coat of paint will often make them look brand new.
Consider a wood stain or a new hue to enhance your space.
3. Add a backsplash
We know a fancy tile backsplash is expensive, but you can opt for a peel-and-stick backsplash for a fraction of the price. These affordable backsplashes often cost less than $100 and completely transform your kitchen.
You can do most of the room above all the counters or do certain spots, like behind the stove and sink.
4. Install a new sink or faucet
Unfortunately, distinct sink and faucet styles can quickly go out of style. Your old sink may be a giveaway that your kitchen needs a renovation.
Replacing the whole sink can cost hundreds, but switching out the faucet can be much more affordable and amp up your kitchen's appeal.
5. Opt for stylish lighting
One of our top tips is to avoid generic lighting at all costs. Generic lighting is soulless and looks cheap. Swap out bland, basic lighting with distinct options that feel unique to your home.
Eye-catching and one-of-a-kind lights will do wonders to elevate your kitchen.
6. Enhance Window Treatments
Window treatments are a cheap but effective way to revamp any kitchen. You can raise them to make ceilings look higher, play with colored and pattered curtains, add upscale shades, and more.
When a room feels like it's missing something, window treatments are often the solution.
7. Select paint colors wisely
Some designers advise using only classic, neutral colors, while others encourage embracing bold shades. It's hard to know what to do here. Our advice is to avoid choosing super trendy colors you may get sick of in a few months, but don't avoid conspicuous colors altogether.
Take your time, consider all your options, and think about how a color will feel one, two, or maybe 10 years later.
8. Keep cabinet hardware fresh
Cabinet hardware, meaning the handles and knobs, become dingy and outdated fast. Luckily, brand-new cabinet hardware can be affordable.
Swap out your old handles for something refreshing and appealing to make your kitchen look customized and stylish.
9. Use a kitchen centerpiece
If you want your kitchen to look luxe and sophisticated, always have a centerpiece. It could be on your kitchen table, island, or counter.
It could be a flower bouquet, artistic pottery, a plant, a candle collection, a fruit bowl, or anything else that catches the eye and feels aesthetic.
10. Utilize open shelving
Open shelving isn't for everyone. If you can't keep your kitchen items neat, open shelving will make the room feel messy.
On the other hand, organized kitchens with open storage look chic and lavish, giving off an expensive and high-end vibe. If unsure, live with one or two open shelves for a few weeks to see how well you can manage it.
11. Emphasize your island or table
If you have a kitchen table, don't tuck it away or cover it with items. Make it the center of the room. If you have an island, treat it as the focal point.
We recommend experimenting with bold colors and materials for these, making them tastefully contrast with the rest of the kitchen.
12. Try unique flooring
Tearing up and replacing your kitchen floors is costly, but let us introduce you to the magic of peel-and-stick flooring! This affordable flooring is surprisingly durable and beautiful.
You can have brand-new, fabulous kitchen floors without breaking the bank. It might be the easiest way to elevate the room.
13. Choose one custom luxury
Replacing every kitchen appliance and feature with a luxury version is ridiculously expensive. Fortunately, you don't have to do anything so drastic.
Changing just one item or installing a new luxury feature will make your kitchen feel swanky and personalized. It could be a fancy range hood, wine shelf, ice trough, or high-end beverage station.
14. Extend your cabinets
This idea is a bit more expensive but will have a substantial impact. If your cabinets do not reach the ceiling, extend them. This change makes the ceiling feel higher, and the cabinets look bigger.
Overall, extended cabinets create a cohesive and impressive appearance.
15. Avoid matchy-matchy
High-class kitchens don't match everything perfectly, which can look tacky or cheap. When choosing paint colors, appliances, decor, and more, focus on finding complementary colors, not necessarily matching ones.
Using the same color throughout can make your kitchen seem overly simple.
16. Use wooden countertops
Swapping out your countertops isn't the cheapest option, but it's one project that will have a massive impact. It's especially ideal if you lack counter space. Marble, quartz, and granite counters are wildly expensive, but materials like concrete or laminates look as cheap as they are.
Wood is a happy medium that looks attractive but costs much less.
17. Use minimalist flatware
Changing what's in your cabinet can elevate your whole kitchen. Intricate and artistic plates and bowls may seem lavish, but they can complicate your kitchen and make it less cohesive.
Stick with simple flatware and cutlery, like plain white, gold, or black.
18. Keep it clean
You might be rolling your eyes at this, but it's a surefire way to make your kitchen look more expensive. Messy kitchens don't look deluxe or impressive. Aside from keeping surfaces clear and the obvious things clean, get into all the nooks and crannies so the room feels pristine.
Baseboards, light switch covers, and cabinet edges are just a few places people often forget to clean.
19. Add plants
Plants are a splendid way to liven up your kitchen if it feels cold and lifeless. Don't overcomplicate it. Get easy-to-care-for, green plants that will add color to the room and keep the air fresh.
We recommend placing the plants in high spaces and to fill empty or awkward spots.
20. Hang art
People hang art in their hallways, bedrooms, living rooms, and entryways, but folks sometimes forget that your kitchen needs art, too! Opt for sophisticated and uncomplicated art if you want your space to look and feel expensive.
We love food-themed art that suits the kitchen's vibe.
21. Deliberate seating
Haphazard bar stools or random chairs in your kitchen make it look messy. High-end kitchens often have organized seating, making it clear where guests should sit.
Ensure all your seating has a designated spot, whether under the kitchen island or beside your kitchen table.
22. Get new linens
Buying new kitchen linens can make your kitchen feel fresh and clean. Replace your oven mitts, dish towels, aprons, cloth napkins, and tablecloths if they're old or don't match the atmosphere anymore.
Consider playing with refined patterns or cosmopolitan colors that will pop but still look polished.
23. Add a perfectly sized rug
Many people underestimate the benefits of a kitchen rug. They prevent foot fatigue when cooking or doing dishes, and dropped items are less likely to break on the soft surface. You can't just get any rug if you want a posh kitchen.
Measure the floor area where you want the rug and find one that perfectly fits, allowing for two to three inches of space on the sides.
24. Display attractive kitchenware
You might already have stunning pieces in your kitchen, but they may not be getting the spotlight they deserve. Quality cutting boards, charming copper cookware, and state-of-the-art kitchen tools are kitchen items that look fabulous when displayed.
Designate a place for attractive items on your counters, tables, shelves, or racks. They'll make your kitchen look homey and upscale.
25. Decorate with containers
Product packaging is generally an eyesore. Use nice containers for open-storage food to create a clean and cohesive space. Display everything in your pantry, from flour to cereal to raisins to crackers.
You can also put dried herbs and spices in matching jars! Display everything on open shelves or counters for a classy appearance. Just be sure to keep everything clean and free of dust.
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