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The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it should be a great room that you enjoy spending time in. Sometimes, we’re not blessed with the space or the budget to have the kitchen of our dreams, with beautiful new kitchen units and a huge snazzy fridge, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s no need to splash out on a kitchen straight from the showroom catalogue, and there’s no need to put up with your tired old cabinets either – here’s how to get the kitchen you want on the budget you have.
If you have a tight budget, you can still improve the aesthetic of the kitchen by renovating what you already have. You can turn a traditional kitchen into a modern masterpiece with a few DIY tips and tricks. With any kitchen renovation, you should start with the layout. You should work on the triangle tactic with the smallest distance possible between the fridge, stove and the sink – and the fridge should be close to the door. You can then get to work on the cabinets – paint the units, swap the cabinet handles and change the worktops. This doesn’t have to be expensive if you scour eBay and your local DIY store. The next port of call should be the backsplash behind your stove, as this can be used to express your personal style. Subway tiles look clean and fresh, whilst glass is sophisticated and stylish. A new sink is also easier to install than you think, and will make a huge difference to your kitchens aesthetic. Lastly, lighting can transform a room – you should have lights above your worktop, the sink and the dining area. If you opt for LED, you will be able to save money on your bills.
Used kitchens are a great way to get a fresh new look without spending years paying off a loan. They are also ideal for adding your own stamp to them – you can take the above steps, and create a kitchen which is truly unique to you. The best kitchen to buy if you want to personalise it is a wooden shaker style kitchen – the units are easiest to paint and change. Your used kitchen should come from a recognised reseller so that you avoid being mis-sold or stung. A great way to buy a used kitchen is through Used Kitchen Exchange. They survey all of the kitchens on their website for their quality, and list them with full measurements – you can even arrange to view them. The kitchens are then professionally removed and can be delivered or stored for an additional fee. There is purchase protection, so if you’re not happy with the kitchen once it arrives in your home, you can get your money back.
If you’re willing to splurge a bit, you don’t have to pay the showroom price to get the kitchen of your dreams. Have you ever heard of an ex-display kitchen? This is simply kitchens which are fresh out of the showroom which need to be sold to make way for new stock. The urgency means that they are often sold at a heavily discounted price, with accessories and appliances usually included. You can purchase ex-display kitchens from sellers who are partnered with showrooms, such as Used Kitchen Exchange. Used Kitchen Exchange also offers a 3D visualisation service, so if you send them a floor plan, their clever designers will show you how the kitchen could look in your home.
What does your dream kitchen look like?
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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