The kitchen really is the heart of the home, with many of us spending a lot of time there as a family and also entertaining guests in there, as well as cooking, obviously.
The amount of time many of us spend in our kitchens means that this room is also very important to prospective buyers. Ideally, your kitchen fixtures should already be of reasonable quality, so you probably don’t need (or want) to spend a lot of money in order to attract buyers.
There’s always some room for improvement, though, so try these simple – and cheap – moves to add a bit of new life into your kitchen.
Give the walls a lick of paint
Whatever the colour of your kitchen walls are, the chances are that they could do with a scrub and some new paint. Check out which shades are trending at the moment and opt for the more neutral among them – the one time you can’t afford to be bold is when you’re selling. Aim for simple, stylish and fresh.
Replace some of your smaller appliances
You’d be surprised by how much smaller appliances like kettles, toasters and mixers influence the look and feel of your kitchen. Have a look at the machines gracing your countertop right now and ask yourself if some of them are looking a bit tatty. If they are, then it’s time to replace them with something shiny and new and if you can coordinate them with your new colour scheme, that’s even better.
When it comes to your larger appliances, such as your fridge and oven, you should only think about replacing them if they’re really old as you might not get your investment back.
Improve your kitchen’s layout
Your kitchen isn’t just a place to gather, it’s also a workspace and as such it should be ergonomic and functional. Have a think about how you use the kitchen and how you can improve your kitchen’s layout to make the most of the space. If you give the kitchen some “flow” and make it easier to work in, it’ll seem larger and more accommodating. You might need to downsize some items of furniture or get rid of them altogether, but whatever you do, make sure that you maintain the “work triangle” of fridge, hob and sink so that they’re all within easy reach of each other.
Add some interesting details
You don’t have to tear out your cupboards and counters in order to make a big difference to the look and feel of your kitchen. Switching up drawer handles and cupboard doorknobs can have an impact, as can putting up some colourful tiles – as long as you don’t go over the top. Another good idea is to install a splashback behind the hob and sink, as this brings in an interesting modern look.
Make your kitchen easy to keep clean and organised
If a prospective buyer walks into your kitchen and sees chaos, with scratched and stained counters, scruffy cupboards and loads of clutter, it could be an instant turn off.
Even if your kitchen is neat and orderly, the materials your fixtures and furniture are made from can be important. Wooden or bamboo counters, for example, need a bit more TLC than laminate or synthetic granite. It may be worth changing a counter that needs oiling regularly to one that just needs a brisk wipe down every day.
