How to Love Your Kitchen if You Hate Your Finishes
Let’s face it: most people don’t live in their dream homes, whether that be because they are renting or, like me, they purchased a builder-grade home. If you struggle to love your kitchen, this post is for you. You will find ten ways to love your kitchen if you hate your finishes.
When loving your kitchen, we must consider the space’s aesthetic and functionality. If every time you go to prepare a meal for your family, things aren’t organized in a way that makes sense for you; it will drive you nuts! However, in this post, we will focus on the aesthetic side of your kitchen.
How to Love Your Kitchen if You Hate Your Finishes
A full kitchen remodel is costly and challenging to manage during the project. Keep reading if you are looking for budget-friendly ways to love your kitchen.
Paint the cabinets
Painting your cabinets can completely change the look of your kitchen. Whether you have stained cabinets that you want to be a solid color, want a two-toned kitchen, or need some freshening up, painting is an affordable way to create a new look. Sometimes all you need is to paint your cabinets to love your kitchen.
I recommend using the Benjamin Moore Advance paint line for cabinets. We have started using this line for all of our built-ins, and it is the best quality paint on the market for the average homeowner. A semi-gloss finish is perfect for a kitchen.
Add drawer inserts to your cabinets
Drawers for lower cabinets make sense. They make it easier to find what you are looking for and eliminate bending down and searching for what you need in the back of the cabinet. If you are one of the lucky ones with regular cabinets for your lowers, adding drawer inserts to your cabinets might be a great solution!
Rev-a-shelf offers so many options and sizes for drawer inserts. These are perfect for Tupperware and pots and pans storage, and they are also DIY beginner-friendly—even better! I guarantee you will love your kitchen after this!
If you don’t have a designated spot for a trash can, consider adding a pull-out drawer trash can. We put ours to the right of our sink, and I love that it’s right next to the sink for easy cleanup, and the trash is concealed from our eyes. Just empty it every night and sanitize it every few weeks!
Add lighting you love
This is an even easier swap if your kitchen has preexisting lights. Pendant lights make a statement in a space, and adding lights you genuinely love can make you love your kitchen even more!
Here are some of my favorites:
Add a decorative tray on the counter
Love your kitchen, and give it some accessories! Sometimes, adding some pretty decor on your counter can create that cozy, inviting feeling you want. I love using a tray to anchor my decor so it doesn’t feel cluttered.
Add an odd number of items to that tray for the best aesthetic look. I like having a vase with some faux greenery, a candle, and another little decor piece.
Add a cozy rug
If you hate the floors in your kitchen, try adding a cozy runner. Not only does it feel good to stand on when working in your kitchen, but it also brings in something you love.
Here are some of my favorites:
Switch out the cabinet hardware
If you are stuck with the basic builder-grade cabinet hardware, try swapping it out for something you love. I added a warm champagne-colored pull to mine to warm up my kitchen. You can go as decorative as you want, or swapping out the color can make a big difference.
Put in a new faucet
Switching out a basic chrome faucet can make a massive difference in the kitchen. I have my eyes on this one from Lowes. This can even enhance the functionality of your kitchen if you don’t have a nozzle sprayer or the faucet is too low to fit larger things under it to clean.
Add a backsplash
Not only is a tile backsplash easier to clean if there are any food messes, but it also creates something beautiful besides a blank wall.
There are so many options for backsplashes. If you are renting, a peel-and-stick option would work great. If you are a homeowner, there are many good ideas on Pinterest.
Another option besides tile is to use bead-board or a vertical shiplap. We added beadboard to our current kitchen because we plan to renovate it entirely down the road and didn’t want to tear out the tile backsplash. However, using beadboard can create a cozy cottage feel in your kitchen.
Cover your range hood
If you have a stainless steel range vent, covering it can make your kitchen feel super cozy. We added this range hood to our kitchen for under $150!
Paint the pantry door
Painting the pantry door can be a fun way to add a pop of color to your kitchen. Since the doors are so small, you can buy a paint sample for this project at the store.
How to Love Your Kitchen if You Hate Your Finishes
I hope this post inspired you to give your kitchen some love this week. It is possible to love your kitchen even if you hate your finishes. Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Have a great day!
