How to Decorate an Outdated Apartment Kitchen

Paint the cabinetry. If your wooden cabinets have already been painted, or you simply do not want to go to the effort of stripping and restaining them, paint them. For a small kitchen, select a light color, such as white, ivory or dove gray. For a larger kitchen, consider darker colors, such as navy, green or salmon. Kitchens are rooms for gatherings and warmth -- use this as your guide to selecting a color that will add warmth to the room.

Replace door and drawer hardware. New drawer and door pulls can instantly change the way a kitchen looks, and they are available in a variety of different colors and shapes. For a contemporary design, choose chrome or brushed nickel hardware. For a country kitchen, choose wooden knobs or black wrought-iron pulls.

Add a peel-and stick-wallpaper backsplash. A new backsplash quickly brightens up a kitchen, and with peel-and-stick wallpaper, you won't be making any permanent change that the landlord might take exception against. Choose a color or pattern that fits in with your wall and flooring color choices.

Cover over old flooring. If you have old vinyl or linoleum in your kitchen, cover over it with new peel-and-stick vinyl tiles, or even a brand new sheet of linoleum. Laminate flooring can also be used in kitchens to bring in the look of expensive wood flooring without the added cost and upkeep.

Replace the kitchen faucet. Faucets get a lot of use and if you have hard water, chances are your faucet may have seen better days. Replace it with a new model that matches the finish of your new drawer and door pulls.

Paint the walls. A fresh coat of paint in a light and airy color such as pale yellow, light blue or light green will also instantly freshen up a room. Pick a color you like from your new flooring and put it on your walls, or find a complementary shade for the color you painted your cabinetry.