10 DIY Projects to Transform Your Kitchen
Undergoing a DIY project can be a lot of fun, and there are certain parts of the house where we tend to focus more of our creative energy. Bedrooms and living rooms get most of the love, but there are a lot of great ways you can transform your kitchen through the power of DIY. From the sink to how you display your spices and seasonings, we have plenty of projects that you can do in your home without breaking the bank. Here are 10 project ideas to get you started.
Custom Backsplash
In between your sink (or countertop) and the wall is the splashback, which prevents moisture from getting into your walls. While most backsplashes are pretty bland and worry more about function over fashion, don’t be afraid to jazz things up a bit. Even something as simple as a vinyl adhesive (including one that looks like bricks) can really liven up the kitchen as soon as you walk in. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can paint the backsplash or create your own using glass or wood.
Cabinets Done Cheap
Among the first projects for any kitchen renovation is replacing the cabinets. However, that can be expensive and might require the assistance of a professional to ensure they’re even and stay in place. Instead, try to focus on adjusting the ones that you have. One project that you can do is to sand down the cabinets and add a stain to change things up. Also, you can paint your cabinets with a color that really pops.
Counter Measures
We don’t really think about it at first, but countertops can really make or break the entire aesthetic of your kitchen. It might not be the easiest project since you don’t want to replace them yourself, but there are plenty of epoxies that can easily be applied for a complete transformation.
Light It Up
Lighting can really set the mood for any room, and the kitchen is no exception. Feel free to experiment with the lighting depending on how you want to theme your kitchen. If you want a more rustic look, you can place a sifter or mason jar around the bulbs, while large globe pendants can make things feel more luxurious.
Visiting the Island
Not everybody has an island in their kitchen, but if you’re one of the lucky ones who do, then feel free to mix things up a bit. There are a lot of ways you can transform your kitchen with the island from adding new chairs that make it look like you’re opening a rustic burger restaurant to repainting it completely. Some have even upcycled old pieces of furniture (like doors or office desks, transforming them into beautiful islands.
Stock the Shelves
It can be difficult to come up with ways to create more space in the kitchen (and we’ll talk more about that later, too), and shelving can help tremendously. Whether you want to buy some small shelves or create your own, they can help to clear up some cabinet space in a snap. Most people who add shelves to their kitchen tend to place their spices and cookbooks on them so that they’re easily accessible.
Open the Window
Windows can be a bit of an afterthought for kitchen decoration, and most of us opt for bland curtains that can sort of get in the way. To really spruce things up in the kitchen, though, try some treatments like shades that let a little bit of light in (woven shades), or even ditch the curtains altogether and add a window film that can help eliminate some of the glare from the sun while also helping the kitchen to feel wide open.
Chalk Talk
Have you ever wanted your kitchen to feel a bit like a restaurant? A lot of smaller restaurants will have a chalkboard waiting right outside of the entrance with the day’s specials while others will have an entire chalk wall behind the bar. If you want to go the latter route, it’s easier than you think! Apply a coat of paint that allows you to write on it with chalk, and you can let the family know what’s for dinner every day!
Hanging Around
Storage is everything when it comes to a kitchen, and a lot of us, unfortunately, don’t have enough space, especially for all of the pots and pans. With that said, you might want to look into creating racks where you can hang your pots and pans. Hanging them above the island is a great way to use up some empty space and clear out a lot of room in your cupboards and drawers while looking like a professional kitchen.
Know New Knobs
Sometimes the biggest changes can be among the smallest. That even includes the knobs that are used on your cabinets and drawers. If you’re satisfied with the overall look of your kitchen but want to make a minor adjustment, then look no further than the knobs. Of course, there are some that are available at the store, but you can also make your own. Some have even taken to converting some of their children’s small art projects into knobs so that they have an entirely new life.