Improving the kitchen often sets a higher tone for the rest of the home. The kitchen, along with the bathroom, gets a lot of hard use over the years, and we expect a lot of it. It is the only room that is not created for relaxation. It is a workshop that takes a pounding from heavy, hot, pots and pans, cutting implements, and cutlery.

Unfortunately, a kitchen refit is expensive, and there is no way around it when yours looks tired, or so you thought. Here are a few hot tips for renovating your kitchen on a budget.

Let’s first take a look at the elements that make the kitchen look in a run down state.

Cabinet doors. These are the biggest part of the kitchen that we see. They often suffer from water damage or hinges wear out causing them to become misaligned.

Worktops. Worktops become worn and laminate peels away from the ends.

Taps. The taps soon lose their high quality shine and look outdated.

Sink. Plastic sinks suffer from damage and stainless steel sinks scratch over time.

Appliances. The appliance’s age with use. You cannot restore them; buy new when funds become available.

Cabinet Doors

Give the kitchen a new lease of life by installing new doors and drawer fronts. Always use new hinges so that the new doors align properly. Luckily, most doors and drawer fronts are a standard size, so they are available in most shops or by order.

Worktops

Replacing the worktops is a simple job if there are no joints in them. If there are, you must buy a router jig and learn how to cut the boards accurately with a good router. Joining worktops is not within the scope of this article as it is a very complicated procedure best left to someone with experience. Remove the old worktops by unscrewing the brackets that are holding them to the cabinets from below. Use the old worktop as a guide for marking out the new one. Install it using the same brackets that you took off earlier.

Sink and Taps

Unfortunately, there is no repair to carry out on worn sinks and taps, so you have no option, but to replace them. Stainless steel sinks are still the most popular choice and are fairly cheap. You have a chance here to add a modern, high quality feature by using new kitchen mixer taps. It is often the quality of the hardware that sets the standard for the whole room.

Flooring

Consider using tile effect laminate flooring to cover the floor quickly and cheaply. This modern product has the advantage over ceramic tiles in the fact that it is warm underfoot and easy to replace when the time comes.

Finishing Touches

Replace the kickboards at the bottom of the cabinets. They are often damaged by water and become dirty beyond repair. New kickboards frame the new floor covering perfectly.

Fit new lighting under the wall cupboards to make the kitchen more attractive in the evenings. Designers use new LED lights to great effect here because they understand the importance of selective illumination.

What you once thought was beyond repair can be brought back to life. As mentioned earlier, the quality of fittings and materials used will determine the finish. Renovating your old kitchen will typically cost less than a fifth the price of a new one; that is a significant saving.

BDST: 1659 HRS, MAR 19, 2015