Keys to a Successful Kitchen Makeover

Budget-Conscious Makeovers

• If funds are limited, establish a budget ceiling, and stick to it to avoid compromising funds for living expenses. A list of what you most want replaced or refurbished in order of importance makes purchase choices easier. Thrifty facelift options for kitchens include adding houseplants to a shelf or sill, mixing herbs with flowering and nonflowering houseplants. Instead of replacing your kitchen cabinets, refinish or repaint them or give them a new look with updated knobs and handles. Installing stick-on lights under and over counters brings attention to new areas of the room. You can brighten the kitchen with back-splashes behind the sink or stove using stick-on tiles purchased from the bargain bin at a home improvement store. Browsing in a 99-cent store for decorative kitchen-themed wall hangings, baskets and vases typically turns up interesting options.

Moderately Priced Makeovers

• For homeowners with a bit more to spend, more construction-oriented renovations are possible. Replacing ceiling or hanging light fixtures gives cooks clearer vision during cooking and baking and gives the room a more modern appearance. If your cabinets don’t have molding, you can update them by adding trim to their tops and bottoms. New curtains or window shades change the look of the kitchen for a modest cost. Installing a new counter top or adding a butcher block to the counter adds value to the house and beautifies the room.

High-Priced Makeovers

• Hiring a contractor to completely remodel your kitchen is expensive and exciting. If money is no object, consider replacing all your major appliances with modern, upscale models. Instead of refacing cabinets, you can replace them and change their configuration. If space permits, have a kitchen island built in the room. Installing a new floor that complements the new appliances and cabinets brings the colors of the kitchen together and creates a harmonious environment.

Makeover Considerations

• To keep makeover costs in check, avoid including replumbing, rewiring or moving or building new walls in the plans. If the remodel is intended to increase the value of a home for resale, weigh the costs of the renovations against how much they will increase the home’s value. Keeping the kitchen makeover design conservative and amenable to personal decorating touches will appeal to more prospective buyers, if the house is being sold.