Kitchen renovations can often be a pricey exercise, especially if you’re someone who has been accused of having expensive taste. Luckily, there are a few workarounds to make your kitchen look and feel expensive on a budget. Here’s how:

Meet the power of an accent wall

Repainting a kitchen wall with a vibrant pop of colour is quite simply one of the easiest ways to revamp the room without splurging too much cash. You can go for one solid, bold colour or you can opt for decorative wallpaper. When it comes to wallpaper, we have a nice variety of affordable, luxe wall-covering brands in SA. A personal favourite of mine is Dream Weavers Studios.

 

A splash of paint on the cabinets

Like we said before, there’s nothing that a splash of paint can’t fix. If your cabinets are looking a little dreary or worn, sanding down your paint for a new coat is another affordable option to redo your space. Look for colours that aren’t too overwhelming or OTT (you’ll have to live with those cabinets and see them every day!) We love creamy whites and soft pastel pink shades for a luxe touch.

 

Switch to statement lighting

The best way to make an expensive statement in the kitchen is with ornate taps and statement lighting. Lighting, despite what you may think, is relatively easy to install and low-cost if you’re happy to shop around for the perfect fit. Achieve an expensive version of ‘homey’ with low-hanging warm lights. Go for interesting lightbulbs that aren’t similar to your usual run-of-the-mill screw-in.

 

Spruce up with a splashback

Listen, we love a splashback, especially when it’s giving Moroccan vibes. To spruce up your high splash areas (above the sink and stove) install a tiled or painted splashback area. There’s so much you can do with this. Hand-painted tiles are always a luxe edition but are on the pricier end when you’re buying a lot of them. If you’d like to minimise costs, stick to installing a splashback above your stove only. Alternatively, paint a splashback of your own, you can even match it with your accent wall.

 

A new take on taps

A tap is one of the most prominent features of the kitchen, a boring tap will drain out the space, but an ornate tap will enhance the area. When you’re looking for taps, avoid steel colours. Go for something that will make the rest of the room pop. If you have gold, brown or wooden accents in your kitchen (or on your accent wall) go for a brass tap to match the colour scheme. Don’t buy a complicated tap that has an exact hand gesture and password to access. Stick to the knobs you can turn or pull. No one likes a fussy tap.

Written by Savanna Douglas for Woman&Home

Featured image: Chastity Cortijo via Unsplash