Many people spend a lot of time in the kitchen area of their home, whether it is to prepare and cook meals, eat or entertain. The kitchen is the hub of the home. This is why the kitchen is one of the rooms that many homeowners are keen to improve when it comes to giving the home a facelift. Wouldn't you love to entertain in the above kitchen designed by kitchen designer Susan Serra? I like its modern- traditional mixture!!
A practical, comfortable and modern kitchen area is something that many people want – and something that can be created with relative ease. You don't have to have your whole kitchen ripped out and replaced in order to give it a facelift – there are many far more affordable, yet highly effective options you can choose in order to create a fresh, modern look on a budget.
Here are five tips and steps to give your kitchen a fresher look:

Painting the cupboards: rather than having your units ripped out and replaced, which can be costly, why not use special cupboard paint to give them a new look? You can simply freshen them up with a touch of paint or you can change the color for a whole new look. Lockhart's modern kitchen with traditional elements above presents beautifully painted wood cabinetry.
Decorating the room: a lick of paint, new wallpaper or unique tiles on the walls can help freshen up your kitchen. With the right choice of colors, you can add texture, pattern or make your kitchen appear more open and spacious. In the above image, I love kitchen designer Susan Serra's use of scale on the different wall surfaces.
Sort out the lighting: having a single bulb dangling lamely from a cable in the ceiling does nothing for the appeal of your kitchen. So, if that sounds like your current lighting, splurge on some new light fixtures that are practical and chic. Put several in a grid to make it look mod as well as help improve lighting in the kitchen. In the above image, kitchen designer Rebecca Reynolds is a master in showcasing cool lighting elements.
Freshen up your accessories: when you replace your old kitchen accessories you will be able to instantly add some sparkle to your kitchen. This could include anything from unique, and sculptural cabinet hardware, shown in the above image from DuVerre Hardware, to worktop surfaces. You can also add new accessories, such as modern stools or a bistro table and chairs.
Replace old appliances: if you have kitchen appliances that are the worse for wear, it may be worth considering replacing these. This will help to give your kitchen a whole new look while also providing you with increased practicality and convenience. Look at appliances such as your fridge/freezer, dishwasher and cooktop to see whether you could benefit from upgraded models. Miele is a fabulous company whose appliances stand for quality and will last a lifetime. Read more about Miele in my past article.
While some of these tips are more costly than others to implement, they can all help to have a dramatic effect on the overall finish of your revamped kitchen!
Bonus tip: check out the NKBA website. The National Kitchen and Bath association is THE association for kitchen and bath professionals. It is a great resource for design inspiration and to find a design professional. Read more about the NKBA on this article.