Kitchen Guides
How to Make Your Kitchen Look Expensive on a Budget
Turn your kitchen into a swanky cooking haven without breaking the bank
From upgrading your hardware and facelifting your tiles to introducing lush foliage and investing in statement light fixtures, here are some ways to make your kitchen look like a million bucks – for a fraction of the cost.
Introduce some stools
Transform your kitchen into an uber-chic bar by night and a cosy breakfast nook by morning, with head-turning stools. Stools can add instant oomph to a lacklustre space, taking a kitchen’s look from high-street to high-end. Plus, they can be functional additions to a kitchen small or large, providing extra seating while serving as pleasing design statements. If you don’t have a kitchen island to tuck them up against, a tall and sturdy trolley table can work just as well!
Transform your kitchen into an uber-chic bar by night and a cosy breakfast nook by morning, with head-turning stools. Stools can add instant oomph to a lacklustre space, taking a kitchen’s look from high-street to high-end. Plus, they can be functional additions to a kitchen small or large, providing extra seating while serving as pleasing design statements. If you don’t have a kitchen island to tuck them up against, a tall and sturdy trolley table can work just as well!
Facelift your backsplash
A designer makeover for your backsplash doesn’t have to come at a designer budget. Consider overlaying your existing tiles with mosaic stickers and give your kitchen a classy Bohemian spin.
Tip: Tile stickers are design gold if you’re living in a rented property, or if you want to have the option of changing your look in the future, because they can be cleanly peeled off to reveal your original tile.
Here are the four best materials for backsplashes
A designer makeover for your backsplash doesn’t have to come at a designer budget. Consider overlaying your existing tiles with mosaic stickers and give your kitchen a classy Bohemian spin.
Tip: Tile stickers are design gold if you’re living in a rented property, or if you want to have the option of changing your look in the future, because they can be cleanly peeled off to reveal your original tile.
Here are the four best materials for backsplashes
Add foliage
Lush green foliage can breathe forest-y lustre into a kitchen, turning it into a luxuriously verdant escape. Scatter little planters across your kitchen surfaces or settle on turning a single large one into a focal point. Alternatively, consider cultivating a bijou kitchen garden, to serve equally as a charming aesthetic display and a source of fresh herbs.
Know more about low-maintenance indoor plants that can up your decor game
Lush green foliage can breathe forest-y lustre into a kitchen, turning it into a luxuriously verdant escape. Scatter little planters across your kitchen surfaces or settle on turning a single large one into a focal point. Alternatively, consider cultivating a bijou kitchen garden, to serve equally as a charming aesthetic display and a source of fresh herbs.
Know more about low-maintenance indoor plants that can up your decor game
Install a statement light
A chandelier or pendant light can add oodles of character to a pared-back kitchen, lending an upscale, parlour-esque vibe. Of course, while a worthwhile design might have you shelling out a little more money than you’d like, consider this a one-time investment that will reap you returns (and compliments) in the long run.
A chandelier or pendant light can add oodles of character to a pared-back kitchen, lending an upscale, parlour-esque vibe. Of course, while a worthwhile design might have you shelling out a little more money than you’d like, consider this a one-time investment that will reap you returns (and compliments) in the long run.
Put up artwork or a nicely bordered mirror
A piece of painterly artwork, displayed as a focal point, can give your kitchen a plushy appearance, akin to that of a swish, upmarket art gallery. Light up a bare wall with a painting, mirror or artwork to give your cooking area dignified flair.
A piece of painterly artwork, displayed as a focal point, can give your kitchen a plushy appearance, akin to that of a swish, upmarket art gallery. Light up a bare wall with a painting, mirror or artwork to give your cooking area dignified flair.
Display your crockery
Excavate stowed-away crockery and china from your boxes and lofts and arrange them in rows on open shelves (have these installed if you haven’t already). Clear counters and crockery-curated shelves can channel elegance and sophistication into your kitchen, and give it the effortless look of a high-end boutique.
Excavate stowed-away crockery and china from your boxes and lofts and arrange them in rows on open shelves (have these installed if you haven’t already). Clear counters and crockery-curated shelves can channel elegance and sophistication into your kitchen, and give it the effortless look of a high-end boutique.
Or, if you have a collection of decorative plates or bowls, give them pride of place in your kitchen by arranging them vertically, as seen here. See how these monochrome plates elevate the plain wood kitchen by giving it a sophisticated, silent-movie-era air.
Go for gold
Nothing spells luxury like gold and white. Giving your kitchen a gilded makeover is as easy as updating your hardware. Gold hardware doesn’t have to cost the earth. Pick out gold-toned knobs and pulls (or consider spray painting your existing ones a shade of soft gold) and gilded accents. Put your money in a brand-new golden faucet to serve as the hero piece in your gold-and-white decor scheme.
Discover why white and gold is a colour combination made in heaven
Nothing spells luxury like gold and white. Giving your kitchen a gilded makeover is as easy as updating your hardware. Gold hardware doesn’t have to cost the earth. Pick out gold-toned knobs and pulls (or consider spray painting your existing ones a shade of soft gold) and gilded accents. Put your money in a brand-new golden faucet to serve as the hero piece in your gold-and-white decor scheme.
Discover why white and gold is a colour combination made in heaven
Dress up your windows
Your windows can play a big role in setting the ambience of your kitchen. So, if you’re looking to recreate a high-end look, it’s a good idea to outfit them in sumptuous materials. Opt for patterned Roman shades, woven wood shades, sheer blinds, or faux wood blinds or shutters (these are all practical options for carefree cooking escapades) to flatter your windows, and to add softness, charm and understated luxury to your space.
Read more:
20 Contemporary Indian Kitchens on Houzz for the Masterchef in You
Kitchens: 5 Biggest Problems Solved
Tell us:
Which of these ideas would you use to take your kitchen from low-key to luxe? Tell us in Comments below.
Your windows can play a big role in setting the ambience of your kitchen. So, if you’re looking to recreate a high-end look, it’s a good idea to outfit them in sumptuous materials. Opt for patterned Roman shades, woven wood shades, sheer blinds, or faux wood blinds or shutters (these are all practical options for carefree cooking escapades) to flatter your windows, and to add softness, charm and understated luxury to your space.
Read more:
20 Contemporary Indian Kitchens on Houzz for the Masterchef in You
Kitchens: 5 Biggest Problems Solved
Tell us:
Which of these ideas would you use to take your kitchen from low-key to luxe? Tell us in Comments below.
Cluttered counters can pull down your kitchen, giving an impression of disorder and disarray. A clever way of instantly elevating the glam quotient of your cooking area is clearing your counter and re-homing utensils, masala boxes, appliances and other space-swallowing items. Treat this as a necessary first step to your luxury makeover. You’ll find nothing spells class and character like a clean and tidy kitchen.